In part, I think I am. Leftists who virtue signal are not risking anything when they make performative "progressive" statements that they collectively pretend are brave. They know they won't be censored, they know they'll get positive attention and social support from likeminded people, and they know they won't lose their jobs. However, they also know that if they are threatened, they can turn to mainstream media, social media, a local leftist politician, the courts or humans rights boards etc. to rally behind them and clean things up.
"Right-wing" statements akin to virtue signaling don't have that security. "Brave" leftist statements are, therefore, emptier and less sincere than similar but opposite right-wing statements. For that reason, I don't think it's possible for a Westerner to make a right-wing statement analogous to leftist virtue signaling with the same motivation. The motivation for virtue signaling exists and is so performative and disingenuous because it's so completely safe.
In part, I think I am. Leftists who virtue signal are not risking anything when they make performative "progressive" statements that they collectively pretend are brave. They know they won't be censored, they know they'll get positive attention and social support from likeminded people, and they know they won't lose their jobs. However, they also know that if they are threatened, they can turn to mainstream media, social media, a local leftist politician, the courts or humans rights boards etc. to rally behind them and clean things up.
"Right-wing" statements akin to virtue signaling don't have that security. "Brave" leftist statements are, therefore, emptier and less sincere than similar but opposite right-wing statements. For that reason, I don't think it's possible for a Westerner to make a right-wing statement analogous to leftist virtue signaling with the same motivation. The motivation for virtue signaling exists and is so performative and disingenuous because it's so completely safe.