Hugging

I’m like you. I’m quite an introvert though.
I am very happy hugging children but I find hugging adults uncomfortable. I always tensed up pre-COVID if anyone initiated that air-kissing-on-both-cheeks-thing.

I agree. I hug my immediate family happily but feel uncomfortable with friends etc. Maybe we could have a special badge to keep 'random huggers' at bay.

Apart from close family I'm not a big hugger. Hugging didn't feature in my upbringing and I'm not sure if people want to be hugged by me or not so I wait and take the cue from them. As for air kissing I hope that's gone.

I have been telling friends how much happier I am now that hugging is banned and hope that once it is allowed they will remember that I prefer not to.
I am an affectionate person but hugging and kisses with people who are not close just feels so artificial.

To be honest I am more concerned that hugging was an occupation that this government believed that it could allow or not allow. I do wonder how many people have received a criminal record for hugging. As far as I am concerned no one tells me whether I am or am not allowed to hug my children or grandchildren. I would suggest that it would have been far more productive to recommend not hugging than an outright ban.

A complete stranger hugged me a few weeks ago and I came home and changed my clothes

JaneJudge

A complete stranger hugged me a few weeks ago and I came home and changed my clothes

Why ???

why did she hug me? or why did I change my clothes?
I suspect she hugged me because she was upset and I was kind to her. She smelt like she'd just had a shower though

I am a bit obsessive about laundry and changing my clothes. I always used to change them if I'd been to the hospital or done gardening or cleaning anyway, pre covid. I have realised during covid this isn't necessarily a normal thing to do. My Mum changes her clothes a lot too

rubysong

I agree. I hug my immediate family happily but feel uncomfortable with friends etc. Maybe we could have a special badge to keep 'random huggers' at bay.

?
I wonder what the badge might have written on it?
How about... Hugs? No thank you!

I guess that I change my clothes on a regular basis too. But it wouldn’t cross my mind to change my clothes because I had been hugged. I thought that the idea that the virus lived or thrived on clothing or other inanimate objects was debunked many months ago.

My friends and family know that I'm not keen on hugging anyway - so they won't start now.

I really can't see any problem in just saying 'I won't hug you, if you don't mind, I'm just not comfortable with it.'

My badge might say "I only hug trees".

If my Dad were still here though, I'd love one of his big comforting bears hugs.

MissChateline, I can't keep up with the information and guidelines so I decided to just be as careful as I could be and minimise contact with others. This weekend though I went to the garden centre AND the antique shop and I didn't change my clothes afterwards

Sorry everyone - I’ve just noticed there’s another thread running on Hugging! Thanks for your thoughts - I’m glad I’m not alone in finding the previous thing of hugging friends unnecessary and slightly awkward. I’m a very affectionate person, but I want to dispense with the hugs (apart from my toddler grandchildren!). A warm smile and “hello” is all that’s needed.

I don't mind the hugs (from friends) what I dislike is the air kissing. I have a friend who doesn't just air kiss each cheek once but goes back and forth 5 or 6 times! I would appreciate any advice on how to stop that without causing offence!

Well I like a good hug! ?. Giving and receiving. Tbf I didn’t know it was banned! I thought it was just a guideline ?. Oops.

Not a hugger here, just dont feel comfortable.

Polarbear
It was never banned it was guidelines.

We are all very different. Some of us hate hugging, others like me love hugging family and friends and some are very touchy-feely with anyone. I can't wait to give and receive a hug from my family and friends, most of whom I haven't seen in over a year.

MerylStreep

Polarbear
It was never banned it was guidelines.

They were saying on the news it was banned? Illegal even. Usual making things up to give themselves a story. ?

If it wasn’t banned and illegal then why is BJ making such a fuss and taking all of the credit about hugging now being allowed? How many of us actually stopped hugging our friends and family?

I stopped hugging family and friends. In fact I haven’t been close enough to anyone for over a year apart from DH and the dog to hug them.

I have found that hugging has replaced the hand shake, and I have never been comfortable with hugging people I have just met, or acquaintances. Friends and family, no problem.

MissChateline

I guess that I change my clothes on a regular basis too. But it wouldn’t cross my mind to change my clothes because I had been hugged. I thought that the idea that the virus lived or thrived on clothing or other inanimate objects was debunked many months ago.

Why do we clean if germs do not stay on things for a time . If sick bugs or flu I thought one of the main things to do was clean door handles, banisters etc.