On virtue signaling

Just today I was at the Mountain View Farmer's Market and sat down in a small crowd to listen to some live music. I sat behind an elderly white man who was wearing a tshirt that said "Immigrants Welcome"

I saw this and really appreciated it. I was unexpected by my own reaction, because I've never really felt unwelcome during the 2 summers I've been in the Bay Area. I read and hear a lot of noise online, but nothing I've experienced in person has made me feel unwelcome. Yet seeing a real person be inclusive to me in this way was still comforting.

As I reflect on my own reaction, it has changed my perspective on "virtue signaling". The most natural example for me to reason with where I'm on the other end is Pride.

I was never one to call out a pride flag as virtue signalling to begin with, and I would always have voted for progressive policies, but at the same time I never truly believed something as little as wearing a pride flag or going to a pride parade would make a difference. My own reaction is a counterexample to that viewpoint, and I want to spread that feeling.