Critical Thinking: Do Some People Act Moral In Order To Abuse Others?

On one hand, there is what one says and, on the other, there is what they actually do. Now, while it is easy for one to say something, it is not as easy for them to actually do what they say.
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It is for this reason that it is often said that actions speak louder than words, and this is then why someone shouldn’t pay too much attention to what another person says. However, even if someone realises this, it doesn’t mean that they won’t be caught out from time to time.

Looking Back

If one wanted to say something in the past, they would have needed to have been in the company of at least one or on the phone. Nowadays, one no longer needs to be with another person and neither do they need to be on the phone in order for this to occur.

Thanks to social media, the only thing that one needs is to have some kind of device, and this will give them the ability to speak to other people. This can include their so-called ‘friends’ and people they don’t know.

A Bigger Challenge

When one says something to their ‘friends’, and this could take place through sharing a status, it might only be a matter of time before they need to back up what they have said. This is not to say that every person on their friends list will want to see the evidence, but a number of them probably will.

Yet when it comes to the people who they don’t know, it is going to be a lot harder for them to find out if one is actually following through with what they say. For example, if one is relatively famous, it is going to be a lot harder for people to find out if one is just putting on an act.

A Facade

Ultimately, social media allows people to present themselves however they want to present themselves. And how one comes across online can be completely different to what they are like in the real world.

There are, of course, a number of ways for one to present themselves online, and they can even hide their true identity. Nevertheless, it is not uncommon for someone to come across as though they are a virtuous human being.

It Is Effortless

This can take place though the articles and videos that they share, and there can be what they talk about. In addition to this, one can also give themselves all kinds of different labels.

These can be added to their profile to create the right impression, thereby allowing them look virtuous without having to even say or share anything. The labels that they use might not mean anything to the average person, but there will be plenty of people who understand them.

Virtue Signalling

But while someone like this can believe that they are a model human being who is making a difference, there are others who have a very different outlook. As far as they are concerned, these kinds of people are more interested in looking good than they are with doing good.

Along with this, they argue that someone like this is simply going along with whatever will allow them to receive approval. It is then not that someone like this is really a virtuous human being, who believes in what they stand for; it is that they are attention seekers who lack a strong sense of themselves.

An Analogy

This is then similar to how a company can end up selling items that are good for the environment simply to make money. Therefore, it is not that they are selling them because they care about the planet; it is just that they want to increase their profits.

It won’t stop there, though, as this company will end up creating the impression that they do care about the planet. This company is then saying all the right things, but it is nothing more than an act.

Collectivism

So, though creating the impression that they are holier than thou, it can allow them to receive a lot of positive feedback. One can also feel connected to other human beings, which might not have been the case before they behaved in this manner.

They may felt incredibly insignificant before they were part of this movement, but now they can feel as though they are part of something significant. Their ability to think for themselves may also have been put to one side, that’s if it was ever there to begin with.

Avoidance

If one was to take a break from their moral crusade, they might start to experience guilt and shame. What this comes down to is that one of the reasons why they started to behave in this way to begin with could be due to the fact that they felt bad about themselves.

By positioning themselves as being morally upright, they can displace their own issues onto other people. One can then delude themselves into believing that they are not the ones who need to look at themselves in the mirror - it is the people who have different views.

Another Form of Abuse

If someone like this was to turn their back on their need to look virtuous and took their pain out on people directly, it would perfectly clear that they have problems. But as they have hidden their pain by coming across as moral, it can be a lot harder to work out what is going on.

When someone sees past their virtue signalling and their labels that they use, it soon becomes clear what is going on. This is then another mask that someone can wear to avoid their true feelings.

Conclusion

Ideally, someone like this would take a step back and reach out for external support. This would give them the opportunity to look into what is taking place within them and to work though this pain.

If something like this was to take place, they might no longer need to prove to others how moral they are, and this would give them the chance to truly make a difference in the world. They could focus on doing things that will change the world as opposed to simply saying things.

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Oliver JR Cooper
http://www.oliverjrcooper.co.uk