@matt4077: > Here's an analogy, a term I abhor for the > same reason: "mansplaining". > > It's a similarly cheap and unfair argument, because > it's

@matt4077: > Here's an analogy, a term I abhor for the > same reason: "mansplaining". > > It's a similarly cheap and unfair argument, because > it's completely generic and can be used in any > discussion. It's also impossible to argue > against, because it uses any answer as proof. Yes, agreed. That term often gets used when somebody isn't merely re-explaining what somebody already knows and is in fact giving new information from their own personal experiences in good-faith. I don't really use the term 'virtue signalling' anymore, but I do get annoyed when somebody uses it and another person jumps in to tell them that they're not allowed to say it because it is used by the wrong sort of person or because it has no meaning. It does have a meaning and it is sometimes appropriate: male feminists who turn out to be using this identity to cloak their misogyny, politicians preaching about peace but consistently voting to bomb countries, Ivanka Trump harnessing a feminist image to hawk sweatshop clothing, etc. Actually, I feel the same way about 'mansplaining'. There are cases where men step-in to re-explain what a woman just said to her or to others in a louder, more-confident tone and in these cases I think it's a great word. Edit: You deleted your comment but I had already written this so I've posted it anyway.