Hugging

[Nefarious]

One side of my family does the whole 'hug and kiss on the cheek' thing for greetings and goodbyes as well. I wasn't really a fan of all the contact, but I've always been pretty touch adverse as well, only really tolerating hugs from my parents (but even then I would make a fuss about it lol). I've grown to tolerant them more as I've gotten older though, and even appreciate them when people ask beforehand.

 

[Saylor]

I love hugging. I'm really wary of touching people who don't wanna be touched though so I'm not overly affectionate with anyone besides my girlfriend or friends who I know like to be hugged, but I love when an acquaintance or someone safe who I'm meeting for the first time (like a mutual friend or sibling of someone I'm close to) asks, it makes me feel welcomed

 

[Ravenkitty22]

I like hugging, and it’s one of the only ways I know how to comfort people. It’s also the quickest way for me to greet a super close friend after not seeing them in a while. I know that some people don’t like it though, so I usually ask if they’d like/need a hug before doing it.

 

[lasagne_of_death]

I love hugging! I don't hug many except my family though, I'm too tall to hug my friends without bending my knees down a few inches, so it's kind of awkward for me and the other person I'm not even that tall, I'm around 5'8", my friends are just quite short.

I'll never hug people without asking first though, that's weird. I also don't like when others hug me without asking. I'll never refuse, but it's the principle of the matter

 

[Cirice]

I used to dislike hugs, but now I enjoy them when they're heartfelt and meaningful. I would not greet someone with a hug however.

 

[g u a v a]

i love hugs! but i’m aware for a lot of people it’s not something that they like to do. i grew up hugging people as a standard greeting so it’s always felt most natural to me. i think since the pandemic happened obviously a lot of that went away. i still hug my friends and anyone else who initiates

 

[Aniko]

I let people hug me if they want too, although I always feel super awkward and not comfortable at all.
In my family there is no hug, but my relatives on my father's side do it all the time. On my mom's side there is no display of affection.

 

[Hyoon]

i don't mind when people hug me but i don't often initiate hugs outside of super close friends.

 

[LateGamer]

Big on hugging. Family, friends, coworkers, people I've been chatting with on a night out and probably won't ever see again. It's just a normal part of the culture here as a way to greet/say goodbye to someone.

I always ask before doing so, even if they've previously consented. If they don't want to then no big deal!

So happy to see I am not alone! Although I am not always good about asking. I mean if they are a casual acquaintance I would most likely ask or refrain. Where I struggle are my friends, who like some have stated here, hate being hugged. It is such a natural response from me to hug a friend when we meet up or randomly bump into one another at the store. I get anxiety worrying that I just hugged someone who does not want to be hugged. I know I should remember which of my friends don’t want hugs, as it seems disrespectful not to honor those wishes, but sometimes I just forget and hug!

 

[Muna]

I used to hate hugging, touching, and being too close to other people in general. But few years ago some things happened in my life and I've gotten used to all of it in some way. I'm still not a fan of hugging but sometimes I actually want to do it myself.

 

[Aerith]

I enjoy the concept of hugs, and I will always hug someone who asks or initiates. But I'm a very guarded person, so hugs from anyone aside from a romantic partner tend to feel off, for different reasons. My family doesn't shy away from hugs, but I don't like hugs from them because I don't feel emotionally safe with them. Sometimes I enjoy hugging friends, but other times, even with the same person, I feel awkward in their embrace. IDK, trauma hablahblahblah I guess, but the logic isn't consistent, because I do enjoy hugs from genuinely friendly and kind strangers and acquaintances.