Hugging

[SkyKnight03]

Nothing to do with the hug react.

I had an interesting discussion with a friend about this. I never viewed hugging to be overly intimate. In my family, hugging just usually means 'hello' or 'goodbye'. Or it's just used as a form of greeting, so I tend to not think much of it. Basically, in the instance of seeing family I haven't known in a long time, a hug is used to quickly say 'okay we're on good terms'. Nothing more than that.

What do you think about being hugged?

 

[Snek]

I like hugs. Sometimes I use hugs as greetings, epsecially when I haven't seen the person in a long time. Most of the time they are used for consoling others or for my husband when we feel romantic in public or in private.

 

[QueenCobra]

Hugging is a family thing. Even my cousins hug us at family gatherings. Random people though? No thanks. And I would have to be really close friends for it to feel comforting. (Rather than awkward)

I was friends with a girl in elementary school. She was hard of hearing, and we would walk around holding onto each other’s shoulders. We were in the same resource math, and while that teacher was OK with it, she would tell us that our regular teacher didn’t want us to do that. Looking back, my regular teacher got us in trouble a few times. That was ridiculous. We weren’t hurting each other or doing anything inappropriate. We were FRIENDS for goodness’ sake!

I also see a lot of people who LOOK huggable (usually crushes hehehe) but obviously I don’t act on it….

 

[nightglow]

I don't really like being hugged personally. I'll tolerate it because it is a common practice where I live and people will often make a big deal about it or take offense to me not wanting to participate or for saying I don't like it.
Beyond the fact of hugs being forced on me when I was young and even pressure as an adult, there are people who get weird about it, so I just prefer shoulder blade pats or preferably just cute waving instead of hugs.

 

[Iris_T]

I don't dislike hugs but I'm not a touchy person so I only ever let family and close friends hug me (and not that often haha).
Not sure why I'm like that, I just don't see why I would let a stranger or say an acquaintance from work touch me for no reason??

 

[Croconaw]

I’m not a touchy person unless we are close. On the other hand, I’m very affectionate with my partner. I’m currently single, but I would be affectionate with whoever my partner is at the time.

 

[seliph]

I'm cool with hugging my friends but If I don't know someone and/or we aren't close I don't want them touching me at all let alone hugging me.

 

[Nooblord]

I’m not one to initiate hugs, but I don’t reject them.

I’d rather not be hugged, though…

 

[Seastar]

I kinda hate being hugged. I think I just really don't like physical contact? For some reason it even feels weird with family. On the other hand, I don't have any irl friends to test how I feel this with. Though, I did give virtual hugs to one person because they've been going through an extremely hard time. Maybe if we knew each other irl, I would have given a real hug? I'm not sure.
Edit: I forgot the hug reaction exists. Well, that's different. I meant I actually told someone I wanted to hug them.

 

[Chris]

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!

 

[Beep Boop]

I like hugging, and I don't see it as intimate unless there's an intimate intent behind it. I don't usually initiate them, however. I don't like to make people uncomfortable by making them think they have to.

 

[Snowesque]

Hmmm, I don't mind them, but it's not my go-to. I've given/received very few hugs that aren't limited to my family, and even then we rarely hugged.

 

[Halloqueen]

I'm a hugger and like being hugged too. That said, it's only with family and close friends, people I know well and who are cool with hugs. If someone isn't into hugs, I respect their preferences.

 

[MrBox]

Dislike hugs very much! But that's just due to how I grew up. I don't touch people. My family has never touched people. I found out way later in life that people hug on a primal level for comfort, I found that very interesting! Since I don't look for comfort at all. Maybe it's cause I was never given it physically or emotionally but I don't seek or feel like I need it at all.
To be honest, that's probably why I take it out on my art. Lots of people have told me that my art feels "raw" or "emotional".
Anyways.
I'm proud of my sister for raising her son to enjoy hugs. I feel bad for him when he interacts with her side of the family cause when he was a toddler and hugged someone, their reaction is visual discomfort lol. If he asks to hug anybody on my side, they say no

 

[digimon]

i love getting hugs from family members (my grandparents in particular!) but i don't mind it if a friend gives me a hug. but if it's a hug someone i don't really know, or haven't had the chance to get comfortable with yet, i don't really like that....... i'll hug back if i have to but i always feel really awkward

 

[Pyoopi]

I like hugging but I prefer it in a more romantic sense. Hugging friends and family is fine. I don't really hug friends often. I do greet family members with hugs. Then when it comes to acquaintances or coworkers, I usually do that side hug thing and pat their back like a dog, lol.

 

[rrenaa]

I'm not great at initiating hugs since I can be a bit awkward, but I don’t mind them at all. If someone likes my vibe and feels comfortable enough to give me one, I’m happy to reciprocate.

 

[S.J.]

My family usually hugs to say hello and goodbye, and I'm comfortable with that. Occasionally that extends to friends and work colleagues, and I've been comfortable with that too, so overall I think I'm fine with it! I'm unlikely to initiate the hug with friends/colleagues, though!

 

[Doo]

I’m ok with hugs myself but I’m autistic and not great with social cues etc so I don’t initiate hugs in case it’s not appropriate or something. I don’t hug people because I’m afraid I’ll mess something up lol

 

[Millysaurusrexjr]

There are only two people in this world that I like to hug -- my husband and my mom.

Hugging anyone else just feels weird and awkward to me