I like kissing and touching, but when I see Americans do this, I roll my eyes. (FTR: I am American, but my family's Mexican, so I was brought up greeting with kisses.)
I am from a culture that kisses A LOT and we were discouraged to do so, nobody paid any heed, it's difficult to remember such things when culturally we are so used to it.
@Ailatan: same here. mom is half-french so giving family and friends there a kiss on both cheeks is something I personally enjoy (not to sound like a perv, it's just nice to touch cheeks with people you like). However, given the case of the oinks going around, I guess I'll be investing in handshakes + sanitizer.
@futuremouse: I have to say looking at that image makes me feel rather queasy. I can imagine the same child smacking their lips with pleasure in a matter of months when they get a taste of their porcine friends nicely wrapped up in a bun.
@bluebears: Actually they are much less personal than hugs. There is no lip to cheek contact--just a sort of sound with cheek to cheek proximity. I think it is probably much more sanitary than hand-shaking.
@bluebears: nope - me too. Nothing freaks me out like getting hugged by someone I've just met. I consider this a welcome side effect to a horrible public health problem.
Seriously, could I BE more selfish! People are sick and dying but noone's being affectionate to my sorry curmudgenly ass!
@bluebears: Speaking as a woman, a manly shake of the hands is quite enough for me. I am not keen on hugs either and find it very odd when I visit Finnish relatives who are very touchy feely by comparison.
@bluebears: I wish we could start a new dap greeting revolution. Why can't we all just perform a nice terrorist fist jab when we say goodbye? There's a very low risk of infection, and if it's good enough for the Obama's, it's good enough for me.
@keep_calm_and_carry_on: Yeah I like the cheek touch a lot more too. Though I have to say, I as kind of surprised that meeting new people in a professional setting last week, in a meeting, I got pulled in for a kiss. I would have thought in business you just stick to the handshake.
@andBegorrah: I was with one dude who was a little sloppy, and I learned to stash towels around my house in inconspicuous places, just to dry off. I wonder why it didn't work out.
@T_Bee: I know I laughed. Complete bafflement - what is this *bleeeeeeh".
Sometimes, I miss my crazy otaku days. Then I remember what a social pariah I was and go, "Oh yeah, we developed social skills for a reason. Tee hee, he bleeehhhhed out a torso."
Nobody really kisses like that right? I mean I lick my ice cream like that but kissing like that? I mean if one of them flinches she is going to end up missing his mouth and getting him all over the face...
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BUTTERFLY KISSES: THE KISS THAT COULD KILL.
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(okay, I admit, that just got gross)
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Never ceases to amaze me how, even in business, people get huggy on a goodbye. Sometimes life feels like junior high all over again.
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Seriously, could I BE more selfish! People are sick and dying but noone's being affectionate to my sorry curmudgenly ass!
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07/31/09
Sometimes, I miss my crazy otaku days. Then I remember what a social pariah I was and go, "Oh yeah, we developed social skills for a reason. Tee hee, he bleeehhhhed out a torso."
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05/21/09
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I puked in my mouth, I said I puked in my mouth.
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