Kisses & Greetings

[Salu]

There was a phone in on our local radio show today debating how we in the UK greet one another. The presenter had recently returned from France where she had observed a much more tactile syle of greeting. Men & women would regularly kiss and hug each other. Whereas I can recall women doing this here I can't remember seeing many men doing this. (lets not turn this into a gay debate thread btw).

She commented on how a hand shake may be too formal and asked people to phone in saying how they welcomed their accquaintences. So I thought I would ask you lot.

I don't ever kiss (on one or both cheeks) another bloke but will often hug them briefly, if I know them well enough. Or sometimes I will hold their elbow briefly, pat them on the back sort of thing.

Women I would kiss (peck on the cheek), hug or put my arm around depending on the person.

Rarely would I shake anyone's hand though. I reserve that for formal meetings or patients etc.

What do you do and do you feel that what you do is what you want to do or do you feel peer pressured to confirm to society's standards. Do you feel that we should lighten up a bit and loose some of the British upper lip?

Thoughts?

[Rob]

If it's a bloke a simple "hello" suffices. Ladies expect the peck on the cheek in social circles, otherwise again, "hello" is enough.

Only on the more formal business occasion does the handshake come out for either sexes.

[punky]

I only hug my male friends, although I do kiss my dad, but not my brother.

No, I don't know why either, just force of habit.

[marky]

if a guy tried hugging me he would get a glasgow kiss

[Stuart]

Depends..

With ladies, I often do hug and kiss them.. Although one in particular tends to throw herself at me!

With men, depends on the man. Some I do hug. Some I don't

In both cases, I am more likely to hug those I know well.

[punky]

With women, I do hug them, but depends on how close the friend. Sometimes I peck them on the cheek, but depends on the friend.

[Salu]

Why do men feel uncomfortable to hug/kiss other men epecially in this day-and-age of sexual freedom? If it's acceptable to be gay and acceptable for them to embrace etc why hasn't it become more accepted that its' "OK" to kiss your mate as a heterosexual?

[marky]

in all honesty i hug one brother punch the other, kiss my kids, grunt at my wife and as for my freinds that male bonding thing the back breaking slap on the back or punch in the tum hormones i suppose

[MadGamer]

I know that when i havent (along with my family) Seen friends for a long time i will often shake the fathers hand and such.

[ikthius]

very close female friends get a long hug, sometimes a kiss
very close male friends get a hug, but that depends on the mate.
close female friends get a hug, mainly
close male friends get a hiya
female aquantences get a hello
as do the male ones.

thats about it

but it all depends on the person you are greeting!!!!!
I have difernet ways to greet different people, regardless of how close I am to them

ik

[greencreeper]

I must admit, gay men do seem to be more tactile. That said, I can't bide being hugged in public - terribly embarrassing. I've not that great at physical contact at all, to be honest. Just not comfortable with it. A friend's girlfriend met me for a drink and gave me a hug, which in itself would be shame enough, but she was in a thigh-high Japanese style dress, fishnets, knee length boots, big fluffy coat, her usual neon pink hair and bright red lippy. Oh the embarrassment It's nice to be hugged but I'm just me

[Jules]

Right so if i meet up with Salu I can hug him but if I meet Green I can't lol

[Escapee]

I'm not a touchy feely type, It's very rare I would kiss a woman on the cheek in the pub even if I had previously had close relations with her. (Tact and diplomacy in my post)

I was in the pub a few weeks ago and two women who I dont know that well both came over and kissed me on the cheek, it wasn't intended to make me embarassed but I went a lovely shade of red.

I remember my previous girlfriend coming to pick me up after a night out with work collegues, I got in the car and she said "In future at least have the decency to wipe the lipstick off both sides of your face before I pick you up"

It's rare for me to get women kiss me though, they usually just invite me home.......lol

[Bex]

i would honestly say it depends how well i know someone...... my close friends i give a hug and kiss on the cheek when i see them, male or female.... but others i will just say hello and that's it.

i can be quite shy around new people so anyone new and i generally dont get huggy with them

[Maggy J]

Depends who it is and what they expect.

After all if they do this then they get what they deserve.