4 ms·

It isn't the "not owning" a tv that's hipster. It's the _humblebragging_ about not watching TV. (Also known as "virtue signaling": https://en.wikipedia.org/w

by jasode 9y ago

It isn't the "not owning" a tv that's hipster. It's the _humblebragging_ about not watching TV. (Also known as "virtue signaling": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtue_signalling https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtue_signalling)

pault 9y ago
It annoys me to no end when I ask someone if they've seen $tv_show and they respond "I don't watch TV." A simple "no" will suffice. It's extra annoying because I don't habitually watch TV either, but that doesn't mean I've never seen a TV show. The smug superiority is maddening.
- kaybe 9y ago
  You might ask about $tv_show2 next, and then $tv_show3, which makes for boring conversation.
- reitanqild 9y ago
  You try to start a conversation, they know they cannot participate but give you a hand by opening up and give you another interesting thing to discuss. And instead of asking why or what/if they miss something and having an interesting conversation you get annoyed? Have I understood you correctly?
bamboozled 9y ago
It's healthy for people to discuss this and similar topics such as unplugging. People should be able to do so without fear of being ridiculed and accused of "Virtue Signalling. While going around accusing people who advertise a lack of Televesion ownership as virtue signalling I think you're missing other reasons they might be doing it, for example: - Openly seeking some validation from their peers about their lifestyle change - Find people who feel similar about owning a Television and share ideas. - Yeah, some people might brag, so what? Why be so quick to judge?
- jasode 9y ago
  >It's healthy for people to discuss this and similar topics such as unplugging. I agree that people should discuss it as long as it's genuine conversation. The negatives of tv have been discussed for a long time. Neil Postman's 1985 "Amusing Ourselfs to Death" talks about unplugging from tv. The 1953 Ray Bradbury book "Fahrenheit 451" has been often analyzed for its themes of censorship and burning books but the author has stated the larger theme was television and its effect on dumbing down society. Yes, it's healthy to have an ongoing dialogue about this subject. >People should be able to do so without fear of being ridiculed and accused of "Virtue Signalling. The "Virtual Signaling" is a good label because it helps separate the meaningful from the superficial. Many people who don't watch tv (or have other strong beliefs such as "not eating meat", etc) lack self-awareness as to how it's perceived by others when it comes to advertising their positions. They think it enhances their appeal when in fact, the opposite happens: the people roll their eyes at the smugness. If "virtue signaling" as a meme helps people become more self-aware, that's a good thing. >Openly seeking some validation This is reasonable and possible, but in my observations, I've never seen it. >Why be so quick to judge? I'm not judging. I was clarifying to the poster (odiroot) that it's not about the "owning" -- it's the "signaling".
- matwood 9y ago
  Perfectly healthy to discuss. But it's not a discussion when the conversation starts with a condescending 'I don't watch TV'. I've mostly given up on the discussion, because after a few questions it often turns out they watch plenty of YouTube or Netflix on their computer.
timthelion 9y ago
I keep on reading these complaints about virtue signalling, yet I rarely come across it myself, at least on the internet. Perhaps things are different in America, where people are much more talkative. In Prague people don't talk about themselves to nearly the degree that people do in America. However, you're speaking in an international environment, and you're really "throwing the dirt around" (to use a Czech phrase) at those who try to be ethical. I know, you're probably jumping at the edge of your seat wanting to protest that there is nothing unethical about watching TV. But those who don't own a TV often have ethical reasons, such as not wanting to be entrenched in consumerism promoting advertisements and product placement, or not wanting to have their political views overly influenced by sensationalist mainstream-ism.
- jasode 9y ago
  >, and you're really "throwing the dirt around" (to use a Czech phrase) at those who try to be ethical. I have no idea how you extracted that from my comment. >I know, you're probably jumping at the edge of your seat wanting to protest that there is nothing unethical about watching TV. I don't own or watch any tv so you're preaching to the choir. My point is that I understand exactly _why_ The Onion wrote the sarcastic article and _why_ they're called "hipsters". Many people who "don't watch tv" are ignorant of how their pronouncements are perceived.
odiroot 9y ago
I guess you mean sort of like Vegans at parties telling everyone about their dietary choices?

by jasode 9y ago

pault 9y ago

It annoys me to no end when I ask someone if they've seen $tv_show and they respond "I don't watch TV." A simple "no" will suffice. It's extra annoying because I don't habitually watch TV either, but that doesn't mean I've never seen a TV show. The smug superiority is maddening.

kaybe 9y ago
You might ask about $tv_show2 next, and then $tv_show3, which makes for boring conversation.
reitanqild 9y ago
You try to start a conversation, they know they cannot participate but give you a hand by opening up and give you another interesting thing to discuss. And instead of asking why or what/if they miss something and having an interesting conversation you get annoyed? Have I understood you correctly?

bamboozled 9y ago

It's healthy for people to discuss this and similar topics such as unplugging. People should be able to do so without fear of being ridiculed and accused of "Virtue Signalling. While going around accusing people who advertise a lack of Televesion ownership as virtue signalling I think you're missing other reasons they might be doing it, for example: - Openly seeking some validation from their peers about their lifestyle change - Find people who feel similar about owning a Television and share ideas. - Yeah, some people might brag, so what? Why be so quick to judge?

jasode 9y ago
>It's healthy for people to discuss this and similar topics such as unplugging. I agree that people should discuss it as long as it's genuine conversation. The negatives of tv have been discussed for a long time. Neil Postman's 1985 "Amusing Ourselfs to Death" talks about unplugging from tv. The 1953 Ray Bradbury book "Fahrenheit 451" has been often analyzed for its themes of censorship and burning books but the author has stated the larger theme was television and its effect on dumbing down society. Yes, it's healthy to have an ongoing dialogue about this subject. >People should be able to do so without fear of being ridiculed and accused of "Virtue Signalling. The "Virtual Signaling" is a good label because it helps separate the meaningful from the superficial. Many people who don't watch tv (or have other strong beliefs such as "not eating meat", etc) lack self-awareness as to how it's perceived by others when it comes to advertising their positions. They think it enhances their appeal when in fact, the opposite happens: the people roll their eyes at the smugness. If "virtue signaling" as a meme helps people become more self-aware, that's a good thing. >Openly seeking some validation This is reasonable and possible, but in my observations, I've never seen it. >Why be so quick to judge? I'm not judging. I was clarifying to the poster (odiroot) that it's not about the "owning" -- it's the "signaling".
matwood 9y ago
Perfectly healthy to discuss. But it's not a discussion when the conversation starts with a condescending 'I don't watch TV'. I've mostly given up on the discussion, because after a few questions it often turns out they watch plenty of YouTube or Netflix on their computer.

timthelion 9y ago

I keep on reading these complaints about virtue signalling, yet I rarely come across it myself, at least on the internet. Perhaps things are different in America, where people are much more talkative. In Prague people don't talk about themselves to nearly the degree that people do in America. However, you're speaking in an international environment, and you're really "throwing the dirt around" (to use a Czech phrase) at those who try to be ethical. I know, you're probably jumping at the edge of your seat wanting to protest that there is nothing unethical about watching TV. But those who don't own a TV often have ethical reasons, such as not wanting to be entrenched in consumerism promoting advertisements and product placement, or not wanting to have their political views overly influenced by sensationalist mainstream-ism.

jasode 9y ago
>, and you're really "throwing the dirt around" (to use a Czech phrase) at those who try to be ethical. I have no idea how you extracted that from my comment. >I know, you're probably jumping at the edge of your seat wanting to protest that there is nothing unethical about watching TV. I don't own or watch any tv so you're preaching to the choir. My point is that I understand exactly _why_ The Onion wrote the sarcastic article and _why_ they're called "hipsters". Many people who "don't watch tv" are ignorant of how their pronouncements are perceived.

odiroot 9y ago

I guess you mean sort of like Vegans at parties telling everyone about their dietary choices?