Hugs!

[sprinks]

http://www.lefthandedtoons.com/toons/justin_hugs2.gif
This made me laugh :lol:. It does get quite awkward when that happens :p.
But it made me wonder... How do you guys hug? Do you even hug people?

One of my most favourite video clips EVER is the one for All The Same by Sick Puppies. All The Same is known as the Free Hugs song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4

http://www.saynotocrack.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/chicken_cactus1.jpg
That one made me laugh too :p

As for me, I don't think I hug any particular way. Depends on who it is. But I think generally I go right arm up, left arm down. Not sure why... I just do :p

A big, warm, free hug to each of you!! :)
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/1631/hugzi8.jpg

[sofia82]

Ohhh, I cannot remember how i hug, of course it depends on the person but this time I should be caureful how I hug :D then I vote.

Hmmmmmmmm ... I think first right arm up but I am not sure.

[Anatoliy]

right arm up, left arm down

[Sweets America]

Eheh, funny pics. :p I think the only person I really hugged was PrinceMyshkin, and I think I always did it with both arms up.

[Madhuri]

Here I hardly see anyone giving a hug. Its not much in the culture. I recall recieving a hug by my grandmother or my mother, 2-3 times in my entire life ! and vice-versa ofcourse. There is a possibility of a woman hugging a woman, and similarly for men, but that sight is rare. Its not that people dont hug because there is no love or affection or respect, its just that the way of showing it is different.

When people meet within the family, we touch the feet of elders to recieve their blessings, and may or may not hug the younger ones (because, anyways they would be touching our feet, so that we give them our blessings). This is what usually happens in our family.

I recall an incident that happened about 6 months back. My younger brother was home, with a friend of his from the US, and my elder brother and I went to see them. After a week's holiday at home, my elder brother and his wife were leaving, so we all were standing outside the house to say goodbye, including my other brother's American friend. She was surprised to see that none of us were hugging each other, instead, we all were touching the feet, depending on who was elder or younger. Later on, I had to explain to her that this is the way we greet or say good bye to each other. At other times we also greet by folding hands and saying Namaste.

If its outside the family, then usually it is folded hands and saying Namaste. With friends it is usually Hi, but, with them also there was no hug exchange or very rarely done. In official situations it is just a hello or a hand shake.

I am giving too much explanation for a hug?? :p

[sprinks]

Here I hardly see anyone giving a hug. Its not much in the culture. I recall recieving a hug by my grandmother or my mother, 2-3 times in my entire life ! and vice-versa ofcourse. There is a possibility of a woman hugging a woman, and similarly for men, but that sight is rare. Its not that people dont hug because there is no love or affection or respect, its just that the way of showing it is different.

When people meet within the family, we touch the feet of elders to recieve their blessings, and may or may not hug the younger ones (because, anyways they would be touching our feet, so that we give them our blessings). This is what usually happens in our family.

I recall an incident that happened about 6 months back. My younger brother was home, with a friend of his from the US, and my elder brother and I went to see them. After a week's holiday at home, my elder brother and his wife were leaving, so we all were standing outside the house to say goodbye, including my other brother's American friend. She was surprised to see that none of us were hugging each other, instead, we all were touching the feet, depending on who was elder or younger. Later on, I had to explain to her that this is the way we greet or say good bye to each other. At other times we also greet by folding hands and saying Namaste.

If its outside the family, then usually it is folded hands and saying Namaste. With friends it is usually Hi, but, with them also there was no hug exchange or very rarely done. In official situations it is just a hello or a hand shake.

I am giving too much explanation for a hug?? :p

No, not at all!! :) Thankyou for posting that, it was interesting to hear about greetings in other cultures. I don't think a day goes by that I don't get hugged at least once, so it was interesting to think about the fact that other cultures have other alternatives! :)
Our school tries to ban hugging, they are afraid it will "lead to other things" :lol:. Doesn't work though, we all still hug! :p

[Madhuri]

If hugging was done in schools, then I am sure, instead of banning hugs, the students who were doing it will be banned. And, it will become a sensational news! :lol: Okay, maybe that was exaggerated (because, I am not aware of how much the culture has changed in schools these days), maybe they will be given a warning.

[Eggys]

Haha, no way. I don't like hugging, or getting hugged. Don't touch me, leave me alone!

[motherhubbard]

I'm a big hugger! I hug all different ways so I really needed an all types of hug option, but I went with bear hug. But I find myself hugging men with one arm most of the time. I'm a kisser too. A kis goes so nice with a big hug!

[Eggys]

I'm a big hugger! I hug all different ways so I really needed an all types of hug option, but I went with bear hug. But I find myself hugging men with one arm most of the time. I'm a kisser too. A kis goes so nice with a big hug!

Okay, now kissing is just nasty, why would you want to suck someone's skin, I just don't get it.

[motherhubbard]

I love big fat smackers! I want all of the kisses!

[Eggys]

I love big fat smackers! I want all of the kisses!

You ain't gettin a kiss from me :p

[sofia82]

Okay, now kissing is just nasty, why would you want to suck someone's skin, I just don't get it.

I remember when I was child, I got angry whoever kissed me and with great anger clean my face with my hand :D

[Eggys]

I remember when I was child, I got angry whoever kissed me and with great anger clean my face with my hand :D

Oh, and if the person had lipstick on, geez, forget it, I'd go nuts.

[sofia82]

Oh, and if the person had lipstick on, geez, forget it, I'd go nuts.

:lol:
Here in our culture, hugging and kissing is so natural that when two person (friend, relative, ...) see eachother they kiss and hug of curse it depends on the relationship, too.

[Sweets America]

Okay, now kissing is just nasty, why would you want to suck someone's skin, I just don't get it.

:lol: That's a funny way of seeing things. But hey, there are some skins I would have been/ would be so glad to suck. Just my opinion.

[motherhubbard]

I remember when I was child, I got angry whoever kissed me and with great anger clean my face with my hand :D

sometimes I kiss the boys in that spot on their back that they can't reach just so they can't wipe it off. Sometimes I wipe off their kisses just so they will give me another. Sometimes we (the kids and I) just kiss and kiss until we are all out of kisses, but I still want more. I don’t think I’ve ever had enough.

[Virgil]

I'm not actually sure how I do it. :lol: So Sprinks you're going to have to come here and let me give you a big hug. :D

[SleepyWitch]

with my best friend (girl) I usually do right arm up, left arm down/ bordering on bear hug. with my hubbers it's the same. with my not so close female friends or guy friends it's both arms up with a lot of space between us..

[Bakiryu]

With my family is usually somebody grabbing you and crushing the breath out of you regardless of arm position :lol:

[amanda_isabel]

love the comic strips, Sprinks!

I usually hug right arm up, left arm down; maybe it's because I'm right handed and the right arm touches the other person first?

Most people don't dare to touch me so the only peole who really get to hug me are the people really close to me (and know that I don't mind being touched)... And most of the time I don't initiate the hug.

As friends though, we do greet each other with hugs. They're definitely more intimate than the cheek-to-cheek kiss, whichis more common and can be used along with or in place of a handshake, depending on the setting and of the genders of the people involved, of course.

Greeting elders here is traditionally done by kissing their hands, or putting them near your forehead... It's not so strictly observed already in some laces but in general it's still practiced.

Before I go: I love bear hugs!!!!

[Sarasvati21]

I usually go both arms up and stand on my toes, because everyone is taller than I. But for the most part, hugs are reserved for very close friends and family. Kisses are only for family and a certain someone. ;) Everyone here seems very touchy-feely, though, so it can be hard to avoid hugging and getting kissed by complete strangers sometimes. (Ew!)

[kilted exile]

I dont hug - explained here (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32187&page=5)

[motherhubbard]

I dont hug - explained here (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32187&page=5)

Kilted, I think you did a good job of explaining yourself. My husband was raised much the same way. Over the years he has become very good at showing affection. I think he was just outnumbered by a snuggly wife and four snuggly children. For a long time that stayed inside of the house but more recently I have seen him hug grieving people and even siblings. Still there are many many times that he is uncomfortable in physical situations.

It’s funny, I wanted him to be more comfortable showing affection and at the same time I found his reserve attractive. Now it is such a fantastic mix. He may be manipulating me :brow:

[Virgil]

I don't know. There is a type of hug between men. Lots of athletes hug on the field or court. I see soccer players as incredibly huggy men. Granted it's different than one between the sexes or between women, but it occurs. Some examples I pulled off the net:

http://www.nancarrow-webdesk.com/warehouse/storage2/2007-w45/img.68655_t.jpg

http://www2.jsonline.com/sports/marq/image/2001/hug1125.jpg

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/fifa/gen/fi/20040802/i/1314920229.jpg

http://www.canoe.ca/HockeyPittsburghImages/lemieux_lindros_hug.jpg

http://www.baltimoresun.com/media/photo/2006-04/22761754.jpg

Even soldiers hug:

http://www.lynnenglishalumni.org/Soldier_Hug.jpg

I'm not that huggy a person when it comes to non-family members but I occaisionally do it.

[dramasnot6]

I love genuine hugs. If someone hugs me and doesn't mean it, I can feel it.

[sofia82]

sometimes I kiss the boys in that spot on their back that they can't reach just so they can't wipe it off. Sometimes I wipe off their kisses just so they will give me another. Sometimes we (the kids and I) just kiss and kiss until we are all out of kisses, but I still want more. I don’t think I’ve ever had enough.

You are a great kiss lover :D

I like to be kissed and huged, but not by anyone even knowing the name not more. For example, you see a relative you even know who is she (not he cause we do not kiss and hug with guys except brother, husband father) and she hugs you so that you cant breathe or kisses you. If she could see my face, she would know how I hate that and would decide to kiss me never (at least wasting her kisses). It is ridiculous, sometimes I can't gues this one is going to kiss, hug or just handshake just wait for the reaction. Imagine doing the three at the same time.

[sofia82]

Most people don't dare to touch me so the only peole who really get to hug me are the people really close to me (and know that I don't mind being touched)... And most of the time I don't initiate the hug.



Oh, what will happen if a peron dares to touch you!!!:D

[sofia82]

I don't know. There is a type of hug between men. Lots of athletes hug on the field or court. I see soccer players as incredibly huggy men. Granted it's different than one between the sexes or between women, but it occurs. Some examples I pulled off the net:

http://www.nancarrow-webdesk.com/warehouse/storage2/2007-w45/img.68655_t.jpg

http://www2.jsonline.com/sports/marq/image/2001/hug1125.jpg

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/fifa/gen/fi/20040802/i/1314920229.jpg

http://www.canoe.ca/HockeyPittsburghImages/lemieux_lindros_hug.jpg

http://www.baltimoresun.com/media/photo/2006-04/22761754.jpg

Even soldiers hug:

http://www.lynnenglishalumni.org/Soldier_Hug.jpg

I'm not that huggy a person when it comes to non-family members but I occaisionally do it.

It is usuall that guys kiss and hug eachother here. I do not like that and do not have good feeling for that.

[sofia82]

I love genuine hugs. If someone hugs me and doesn't mean it, I can feel it.

This is great! So that is why when I have no feeling, I never hug. I can't understand what is the necessity for hugging when two have no feeling, just an obligation or custom!

[Virgil]

It is usuall that guys kiss and hug eachother here. I do not like that and do not have good feeling for that.

I do not know where you're from. Where is here Sofia? Are you Italian?

[sofia82]

I do not know where you're from. Where is here Sofia? Are you Italian?

No! Another place. Can you guess!!:wave:

[Virgil]

No! Another place. Can you guess!!:wave:
Well, we can't go post after post with a guess so how about I number them in the order I think most likely:
1) Romania? 2) Greece? 3) France? 4) Spain? 5) Croatia?

[sofia82]

Well, we can't go post after post with a guess so how about I number them in the order I think most likely:
1) Romania? 2) Greece? 3) France? 4) Spain? 5) Croatia?

No I am not from Europe! Asia: Iran.

[Virgil]

No I am not from Europe! Asia: Iran.

Oh, I wouldn't have guessed with the name Sofia. Well welcome Sofia it's nice to have you here. :) Is Sofia a common name in Iran?

[sofia82]

Oh, I wouldn't have guessed with the name Sofia. Well welcome Sofia it's nice to have you here. :) Is Sofia a common name in Iran?

No. It is just an ID. Thank you very much!

[motherhubbard]

I do love hugging and kissing, but I have to admit that I don’t hug much outside of the family anymore. It’s not because I don’t want to or that I have a lot of respect for personal space or something like that. I have a fear of getting head lice. So when it is my husband and the kids we really love each other up! And then I have two good friends and some extended family that I will hug and/or kiss. After that it feels risky.

[motherhubbard]

Well, Antiquarian is my real name, believe it or not. Ask Virgil or Janine.

I can't tell if you are being serious, are you? I've heard stranger names- there was a woman who named her daughter Vagina in spite or the hospital staffs efforts to dissuade her.

[sofia82]

Well, Antiquarian is my real name, believe it or not. Ask Virgil or Janine.

Oh! A gorgoeous lady with beautiful and wonderful hair and great name!!

[sofia82]

sofia and motherhubbard, I am joking. My name is Yelena.

:lol: anyway, I believed it :D

[LadyWentworth]

Well, for the most part I don't hug anyone. I just don't care too much for being touched or touching anyone else. IF I would give someone a hug, I know for sure it is the right arm over and left arm under. But that is rare because hugs are rare when they come from me. :)

Except when it comes to my brothers' kids. I love to give the kids great big hugs. Mainly because I know it drives the older kids crazy. :D

[motherhubbard]

I love to give the kids great big hugs. Mainly because I know it drives the older kids crazy. :D

my older kids still love a good hug and kiss! I'm glad. Sometimes when kids get bigger and less smoochable and they don't have those big fat faces any longer they don't get loved up enough. Don't leave out the big kids- they need love, too!

[motherhubbard]

I still hold hands with my mom, dad, brother and sister when we are out together. That's not very often anymore.:rolleyes: of course we hug, too.

[Sarasvati21]

I always hug and kiss my older brothers and sister. And I hold hands all the time with my brother who is closest to me in age, and sometimes with my sister. We're all adults (I'm only three months away!) as well...well, legally, anyway.:p

[LadyWentworth]

my older kids still love a good hug and kiss! I'm glad. Sometimes when kids get bigger and less smoochable and they don't have those big fat faces any longer they don't get loved up enough. Don't leave out the big kids- they need love, too!
Well, the babies are just so cuddly that I absolutely cannot resist them. Besides, they welcome the hugs. :) As for the soon-to-be 8 year-old and 14 year-old, I can feel them cringe when I hug them. I generally do it when they least expect it, too. It is kind of fun to do that to them. :p


My brothers and sister and I still hug and kiss each time we see each other. Just a little kiss on the cheek. And we're all adults. One of my brothers has three children.
No, nobody in my family hugs each other. My brothers are more standoffish than I am. So kisses would definitely be out of the question! I think if one of them started to hug and kiss us we would have to think that he lost his mind! :) It just doesn't happen in my family.


I always hug and kiss my older brothers and sister. And I hold hands all the time with my brother who is closest to me in age, and sometimes with my sister. We're all adults (I'm only three months away!) as well...well, legally, anyway.:p
If I would even attempt to hold the one particular brother's hand, I can just imagine the look he would give me and what he would say (some words that I can't repeat here ;) ).

Yes, we're a very loving family. :) Actually, we aren't as bad as it may sound. It is just that everyone is really NOT at all even remotely touchy-feely.

[Pensive]

I don't hug. It's common with some people here while not others. Can't really generalise but I personally feel highly uncomfortable with it unless well it's some very very close friend/family member. Don't know why my psychology is this way though...

Oh and neither do I like being hugged. Especially by people I am not very close to. I think it comes naturally to me. Once this girl in my year hugged me as a greeting, a nice person and we were quite on friendly terms, and I don't know what happened to me that I suddenly reacted by breaking free of it or something and it was quite a strange moment, embarrassing for both of us. Had to make up something like 'I am not feeling well actually.' Wish it had not happened....but I think I just couldn't help it.

[sprinks]

I'm not actually sure how I do it. :lol: So Sprinks you're going to have to come here and let me give you a big hug. :D

:D I'd love to Virgil :p


I usually hug right arm up, left arm down; maybe it's because I'm right handed and the right arm touches the other person first?
I was wondering that myself... It kind of makes sense!


I usually go both arms up and stand on my toes, because everyone is taller than I.
That reminds me of what its like when my dad hugs me. He's incredibly tall, and I'm not... So pretty much he has his arms around my neck and shoulders when he hugs me and my arms are around his stomach :lol:


I love genuine hugs. If someone hugs me and doesn't mean it, I can feel it.
I know what you mean, and I agree. I hate the empty feeling of a completely meaningless hug. I also don't like the sort of awkward feeling when you are getting hugged but you don't really want that person to be hugging you, and also when you're hugging someone but for some reason they're not hugging back and it's like "well, do I keep hugging and wait for them to hug back, or let go now and look like an idiot?" :lol:


A number of you seem to mainly hug close friends and family, which got me thinking about me and my family. I hug my mum (but I didn't so much when she was pregnant, it was difficult :p) often, and my dad, but almost never my brother. He is about 3 years younger than me, but we have never been all that close. I think the relationships I have with my parents (and also to some extent, my brother) are more based on communication and being open. I'm always talking to my mum about everything, and often my dad too. We have moments of affection though, mainly it's after they all gang up on me because I am incredibly ticklish!! :lol:

I don't think I'd be a very huggy person if my friends weren't. Some of them need hugs like they need air.

It's a bit weird (to me) to think of how some cultures don't hug, when just the other week we had one whole drama lesson where we had to tell people in the class what we like about them, and then give them a really really long hug!! :p

When our school had Japanese students visiting, living with some of the students etc. they commented often on the affection here. Everyone was always hugging etc. So apparently Australians (not all, but apparently most of us, from what the Japanese students told us) are rather affectionate people in comparison to some other countries. :)

[Gaiam]

The only people I can really tolerate hugging are my parents, brother, and my boyfriend. I have a few girlfriends who are very "huggy", but I've never really been one for physical contact.
Hahah, my mom's very affectionate and she always felt horrible when I was a baby because apparently, I HATED being held. Poor mom.

[dramasnot6]

Interesting that so many of you discuss hugging your mothers. One could hypothesize that we hug in an attempt to recapture the closeness we once felt with our mothers when we were babes.
My Freud Prof. once told us that couples baby talk as a way of seeking security with their romantic partner by connecting to them through parental verbal expressions of love, ultimately to recapture that love.

[dreamsbegone]

Here in our culture, hugging and kissing is so natural that when two person (friend, relative, ...) see eachother they kiss and hug of curse it depends on the relationship, too

same thing here, i mean i live away from my parents and i only see them once a month so when i do i hug my mom and my dad, i also hug my grama when she comes to visit, i sometimes hug my friends that i have'nt seen in a while...those were pretty much all the persons that i hug.. oh yes and i use the one arm hug.

[Niamh]

I voted trees because there wasnt an all of thee above option. :p

[miss tenderness]

Right arm up, left arm down .

Hey
what brought this to your mind, Sprink? :D

[Sarasvati21]

If my husband ever talked "baby talk" to me, I'd take him to a doctor. I didn't even like that as a little kid.

Ew, I can't stand it when couples baby talk to one another. Luckily, I think my boyfriend knows better than to try it...;)

[Virgil]

Right arm up, left arm down .

Hey
what brought this to your mind, Sprink? :D

Miss T!! How have you been? I'll send you a PM. :)

[miss tenderness]

^
I was thinking the same , but I'll wait for yours : )
I always feel like home when I see you around here . The forum is
all changed .

[sprinks]

Right arm up, left arm down .

Hey
what brought this to your mind, Sprink? :D

I'm not sure really!! :lol: I think it was just when I came across the first comic that I posted! :p And then I thought about how I hug... And wondered about how all of you hug, or if you do hug! :)


Interesting that so many of you discuss hugging your mothers. One could hypothesize that we hug in an attempt to recapture the closeness we once felt with our mothers when we were babes.
My Freud Prof. once told us that couples baby talk as a way of seeking security with their romantic partner by connecting to them through parental verbal expressions of love, ultimately to recapture that love.
That was interesting, but I also really don't like baby talk. Luckily my boyfriend doesn't either, it's just.... not right. No offence to those who do, but I just don't get it. But then again, I don't even talk like that to babies, not even my sister, babies are little people and thats how I treat them.


I'm sorry, to all those people who wanted to vote all types of hugs!! :( It was late and I was tired and I completely forgot to put it in!! And I knew I'd forgotten at least one thing!! :rolleyes: Please accept my apologies and a hug!! :)
http://www.ursine.com.au/Images/2BearsHug.gif