First time I have changed anything to do with my profile in 18 years........well worth it!

Highlighting specific instances of attacks of civilians is a worthy course of action, in a place where from some have outright denied that such things have even taken place. Those who changed their flag to Russias btw (which nobody took issue with, unlike now). A growing component of modern warfare is the flow of factual information, and its suppression in order to influence public opinion. It forms a not insignificant part of Russia's approach to this war. So facts matter, opinions matter, protest matters, and they can act together to influence wider actions from our governments (such as sanctions etc).

While there are certainly 'Hollywood' style acts of genuine 'Virtual Signalling', ultimately it's a term (mis)used so very frequently now that basically any act of care, support or opinion towards anything is jumped on as 'virtual signalling'. I personally made a donation (admittedly all I could afford) that I hope makes its way to do at least some good, but not everyone can, and people can only sell up their assets once so the idea that they don't care unless they go all in, and that small shows of support are invalid, is clearly not a reasonable one.

Virtue signal implies looking for approval or praise in relation to something you either don't believe or don't genuinely care about. You don't really get to decide if people care about something based on popping here and setting an arbitrary criteria for them. Indeed, you're the one grandstanding and sweepingly dressing down on a subject that you don't seem to care about. So what is that if not 'signalling' from an ill informed, self appointed perspective.

You appear to imply that you've personally done nothing (unless you've adhered to the arbitrary bar you've set and 'sold up'), but also that Putin takes doing nothing as a green light to wage war against the west. As such, maybe you'd like to inform us of what you now plan to do to help the Ukrainian people? Don't be shy about sharing your noble intentions with us. We are eager to learn from you.

Edited by BlueJay (07 Mar 2022 1.31am)

Knob head . its a show of support .

Show off .

It's difficult for the public to do much in a practical sense.

Probably the best they can do, apart from donating money, is to point out to the rest of us companies and individuals that are dealing with the Russian government in the hope that we boycott them.

Edited by Badger11 (07 Mar 2022 11.05am)

One more point

We do live in this bizarre world in which some people complain about what others perceive to be trivial things and then other people get upset about those people and complain and then we end up with some human centipede of the left, the right, the libertarians, the socialists, etc, etc. all eating each other's sh!t. We're all contradictory b@stards, but then if we weren't we'd all be pretty dull. Getting upset about virtue signalling on a football forum seems about as futile as changing your little flag. Anyway, I've donated goods and money to Ukraine. I expect to receive my virtue flag in the post shortly, but for now I'll claim my little flag on this here forum!