Kissing as a standard social greeting. I hate it. Am I strange?

I'm glad to see lots of people here who feel as I do. Like many English people, I wasn't brought up to hug or kiss people who are not close (and even then rarely) and feel uncomfortable.

Makes you wonder if all this hugging and kissing all and sundry in recent times has greatly contributed to coughs, colds, sore throats, flu etc.?

I an glad to have met my sort of people. I really don't like hugging and kissing people when me meet. My sister lived in France for a number of years so is very much into kissing but until recent years I have tried to politely avoid hugs and kisses from people other than close family so am so pleased not to have to kiss people now.

I love hugging my dgs though.

Oh no yuk, kissing strangers, kissing friends nah not for me, hug for friends that’s ok,

I can't be on with all the kissing and hugging either. It makes me feel very uncomfortable, particularly with people I'm only just meeting.
I do love a hug from my grandchildren, and have missed them during the lockdown.

I am sure we didn't do all this social hugging and kissing when I was growing up. I don't like that sort of intimacy with strangers.

Worst of all are manhugs!

morethan2
I’m a beauty therapist and I can do without hugs from my clients.

I’m with you op. I once stopped going to a very good hairdresser because he used to do that continental kissing malarkey. I use to think “your my hairdresser not one of my family’”

Definitely not the only one. I hug and kiss and cuddle those I love.
I don’t want to do the same with anyone else.

I hated it! I never learned one is not supposed to kiss the other's cheek but just kiss the air. I like my own social space and always have except for dogs, horses, babies , and sex.

I'm glad it's ended too.I only liked hugging and kissing my husband. Although I did hug and kiss my young grandchildren and great grandchildren before Covid. Oddly enough one of the few to spontaneously hug me since my husband died is my GP who is very much a people person..A hug from her was very comforting.

I hate it too. Hugging and kissing certainly wasn't something that our family did when i was growing up, and as far as I was aware, no one in my parents' wide circle of friends ever greeted each other like that either.
Even now, the only people I am comfortable about hugging are my grandchildren (kisses too when they are little, but only on their heads).

My youngest dgc (age 2), despite being very affectionate, has made it clear from very early on that she doesn't like cuddles, not even from her parents. She will happily race up to any of us as if to cuddle us, but makes the quickest contact you can imagine. She's also only ever given air kisses, never on the face, unlike most young children. Unusual, perhaps,, but nice. My kind of girl

I don't like kissing and hugging people I don't know well and I'm glad I'm not alone. I reciprocate out of politeness.

Well I'm glad it's not just me. I hate it
It's awkward and embarrassing.

Hugs and kisses from family and hugs from good friends .....lovely.
Anyone else...... No thank you.

Hate it and don't kiss anyone. It was/is one of the reasons I've always hated NYE - all that false bonhomie and kissing everyone in the room at midnight. Ugh!!

Family and friends only,why would anyone kiss anyone they work with ?.
My gs tells me he owes me 28 kisses and hugs since Covid19 adviced us not to , i can`t wait !!!.

I am not a natural hugger unless I really care for someone so I am happy that physical contact is now frowned upon.

However I have always been happy to shake hands on introductions and was horrified to have automatically done so at the weekend. Both of us mid handshake realised that we shouldn’t be doing so. Cue lots of laughter and apologies.

Never been much of a hugger and kisser. Even in the family, and usually only hug small children. Did not like the so false kissing upon meeting of people who were virtually strangers, quite happy that it will be out of order for a few years at least.

I've always hated it too unless it's a bloke I may fancy a bit. I certainly don't want to kiss any women. My grandchildren want to kiss me on the mouth and I don't like that either so the pandemic is a good excuse to keep it to cheeks only now.

I so agree. We never used to hug and kiss everybody. For me, it is embarrassing and awkward. I just don’t want to do it.

I shall keep using the pandemic as an excuse for years to come if possible.

Oh definitely with you here! You can be very friendly towards people without all the touchy freely nonsense.

I've never been a kisser or a hugger.

So if the virus stops this it's good news for me

I was never brought up to receive any affection let alone kissing so all this has come hard to me and I do not like it.

One of our neighbours always goes for the mouth and I hate it.