Why do we signal virtue? Is it to give each other courage: you are not alone. I stand up for the good and the true - you can, too. Is it to do good by building collective confidence to fight the forces of evil - in other words, a tactic to combat evil? Is it a form of bragging? Is it to let your family, friends, and neighbors know that you're not one of Them?
These thoughts triggered by all the yard signs that have sprung up around the neighborhood signifying that the occupants are in favor of science, kindness, love, black lives, and women's rights. These are not brave gestures, given the progressive hotbed that my town is. I suspect the motivation is to build the Resistance.
Problem is, these messages imply that those who haven't gotten with the program are unkind, anti-science, unloving, racist, and sexist. Perhaps a good way to build solidarity with the already converted - not so effective at getting new converts.