Great essay. I agree that virtue signaling lies at the heart of wokeness. It gives people an opportunity to feel good about themselves, and most people don’t have a lot to feel good about. I also think there is a tribal, almost primal element to the shaming of the non-woke. It gives the “enlightened” a sense of glee, as you say, to know that they are “better” than others who are being punished. It reminds me of the crazed folk in the Middle Ages who would throw stones at the thief in the town square or the crowds who would gather to watch people accused of witchcraft being burned at the stake. Not much has changed in humans in the last few thousand years. Many of the ugliest things in us are merely hidden better or disguised now with big words or psychobabble.