“virtue signaling” has officialy become the most overused and essentially meaningless word on FR. and it seems to have happen relatively recently.
I guess people think it sounds impressive.
A good example of virtue signaling are those insufferable people to put "Hate Has No Home Here" lawn signs in their yard. In fact those are the most hateful and intolerant people you will ever meet. These are the ones that will call the police if your daughter sells lemonade on the sidewalk next door to them. Or petition town hall to remove nativity scenes at Christmas time. It's time we called them out on this hypocrisy.