[pochamago]

I think for the people who are so passionate they can't imagine not engaging with politics at work should look for careers in NGOs. I don't feel any disdain for activists, I just don't really want to work with them, and I think we'd both be happier if they were engaged in work that had first order effects on their beliefs instead of second or third

[randoramax]

Not necessarily work for a ngo, but volunteer for one, join a union, join the local political groups that actually make a difference locally in your community. So many options, besides the work place.

[fighterpilot]

This assumes that it's an earnest desire to improve society (which it sometimes is), and not a desire to gain/maintain status or power through virtue signalling.

[seoaeu]

> a desire to gain/maintain status or power

What you're describing is basically a textbook definition of 'politics'. I find it funny that you call this virtue signalling when that term was literally invented to describe the opposite: halfhearted political activism that isn't trying to build power.

[fighterpilot]

Well, the word "politics" has various connotations in general usage, and many of them don't describe the phenomenon I'm talking about.

What I'm talking about is a cynical attempt at elevating one's zero-sum standing in a social group by showing conspicuous adherence to the group's purported moral orthodoxy.

This[1] is good reading on the phenomenon.

[1] https://scottbarrykaufman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Ok-...

[majani]

Or a job in actual politics

[grphtrdr]

lol come on, that makes too much sense.

[cblconfederate]

People who are passionate about something would most likely like to recruit new people to their cause. Working for an NGO is a dead end as everyone is already on the same page there.

[seoaeu]

It is also a dead end because corporations have most of the power in the country.