> Not sure, I never said that. I said "virtue signaling" is a thought-terminating cliché, like "fake news."

Evidently you think the phrase, rather than its actual meaning, is the issue. OK.

> it's (using the term 'virtue signaling') only function is to stop an argument from proceeding further, in other words "end the debate with a cliché... not a point.

I personally don't think stating you believe a position is taken due to optics ends the debate. Likewise pointing out that information is being manipulated by those that seek to report it. The short term for these is 'virtue signaling' and 'fake news'. I'm not sure if you have ever lived in the US but in the current political climate it likely does the exact opposite of stopping arguments proceeding further.

The concept of 'thought terminating cliches' - that these concerns somehow aren't valid points - seems itself to terminate thought.

Please lets actually consider arguments here, rather than dismissing them because they're considered popular.

I don't think that either, and I never said it.

You just learned what they are. Maybe try to understand why they're bad before getting defensive. Or just call everything "fake news," your choice.

> > > I said "virtue signaling" is a thought-terminating cliché, like "fake news."

> > Evidently you think the phrase, rather than its actual meaning, is the issue. OK.

> I don't think that either, and I never said it.

ok

> Maybe try to understand why they're bad before getting defensive.

If there's a flaw in my understanding the best thing would have been to point out what it was.

> Or just call everything "fake news," your choice.

I don't think that either, and I never wrote it.

Let's leave the discussion here, it's not very productive.

The phrase's meaning is the issue; it's an oversimplification.

I encourage you to learn what a thought-terminating cliché is before getting defensive.

As you have declined to point out how my understanding is flawed when asked, I'd say my understanding is perfectly fine.

Again: let's leave the discussion here.