Are you a hugger?

[ShawnFuzz]

Are you a hugger?

I will hug anybody, but I know that hugs can be very uncomfortable for some people.

Do you enjoy a good hug? Do you hug because you are expected to? Do you avoid hugging at all costs? What other thoughts on hugs do you have?

 

[lasagne_of_death]

I'm honestly grand with hugging whoever, for the most part. I hug a fair amount of my friends plenty in greeting/farewells/comfort/laughing at something. I don't often initiate hugs with people I don't know, but if they ask I won't decline lol, it's not really a particularly huge deal for me

I have no qualms about hugging my family, either in public or at home. I don't see the point in being embarrassed about having a good family relationship just because you're friends are there - if they're judging me for that then they're not great friends lol. The only thing I'm weirded out by would be let's say an uncle or aunt's partner who I have never heard of trying to hug me

Personally I don't see hugging as anything more than the intent behind it; if I'm hugging as a greeting it's just a greeting, if I'm hugging someone to calm or comfort them then it means something

I remember when I was in junior infants (4~ years old) I used to hug the teachers and secretary goodbye at the end of each day lmao, so even from a young age I didn't care

 

[SkyKnight03]

In my family hugging is simply used as a form of greeting or as a form of saying bye. It can also trim down some of the awkwardness of seeing distant family after a long time apart.

 

[Millysaurusrexjr]

I prefer to hug only a select group of people.. My husband, my mom, my dad, my grandma, and one of my brothers. Hugging anyone else feels awkward.. hugging certain other people just feels straight up bad.

But I also love to hug cats and dogs if they let me!

 

[ShawnFuzz]

The reason I thought of this was thinking back to when I had a girlfriend and we went to a convenience store for some late evening snacks. I saw a homeless woman outside and asked if she wanted anything. She asked for a blue Gatorade, so I got it, and then sparked up a conversation with her for a while. We ended up hugging before parting ways, and I learned later that my girlfriend was annoyed the whole time I was talking to this poor woman. And she was grossed out by the hug.

I broke up with her.

I'm not trying to make myself look good here... although I do truly have a soft spot for the poor homeless . I was just trying to prove the point that I will hug anybody!

A real hug can make somebody's day, I think

 

[Tude]

The reason I thought of this was thinking back to when I had a girlfriend and we went to a convenience store for some late evening snacks. I saw a homeless woman outside and asked if she wanted anything. She asked for a blue Gatorade, so I got it, and then sparked up a conversation with her for a while. We ended up hugging before parting ways, and I learned later that my girlfriend was annoyed the whole time I was talking to this poor woman. And she was grossed out by the hug.

I broke up with her.

I'm not trying to make myself look good here... although I do truly have a soft spot for the poor homeless . I was just trying to prove the point that I will hug anybody!

A real hug can make somebody's day, I think

Sounds like you're better off! Good for you for dropping her.

 

[AccfSally]

I accidentally read this thread as "Are you a hunger?" and I don't know why.

I only give hugs to folks within my social circle. The only time when it's for someone else, its when the atmosphere calls for it? (I don't know how to explain it).

 

[Ginny Potter]

I'm a hugger! Like I would give bear hugs to friends ans family

 

[Captain Jigglypuff]

I only hug people I feel comfortable around such as relatives. I don’t really like being touched unexpectedly and I’m also extremely ticklish and will start flailing my arms if someone keeps tickling me and I can’t guarantee that I’m not going to end up hit them hard in the face.

 

[Geoni]

I am okay with a hug from a friend without permission but if you're a stranger or acquaintance you need permission. If you have just pet a white cat/dog and I am wearing black, you are strictly banned from hugs.

 

[Shawna]

It depends. Sometimes, I like a good hug, while there are times I can be territorial about my space.

 

[KittenNoir]

I hug my partner, child, family, friends and my cat.

 

[RoxiePico]

I like hugging my aunt, grandma and a select few relatives, but mostly HATE hugs. Especially when people do that from behind or as a surprise, or when they do so anyways even when I say I don't want to.

 

[Peytonian]

I only hug people that are really close to me.

 

[ShawnFuzz]

I'm tempted to give a hug reaction to everyone in this thread, but I respect boundaries... even digital ones

 

[Ginny Potter]

I'm tempted to give a hug reaction to everyone in this thread, but I respect boundaries... even digital ones

Doesn't bother me

 

[Chris]

Very much a hugger.

I haven't always been so I always ask, "are you a hugger?", if they don't ask first.

I have this one colleague in her 50s who can always seem to sense when I'm having a bad day. She'll walk into my office, look at me, and go "can I give you a hug?" It's great having someone as emotionally supportive as her in the workplace.

 

[Envy]

I'm not one for a lot of physical contact. With very close people I will do it because it is expected, but I don't like it.

 

[SandiMacD]

Yes, I am a hugger. I grew up in the 50's. Our extended family of 100+ aunt's, uncles, cousins, grandparents hugged upon sight. I don't recall much hugging amongst school friends unless close. It was fairly common as a young adult in 70's to hug as greeting, especially as the Love movement took root.
In the military we didn't hug of course, against policy in uniform. Not even with my husband if either of us were in uniform.
Japan was interesting as bowing replaced handshakes and hugging and I grew fond of bowing.
Not hugging was very hard for me as a new great-aunt. My favorite niece raised her children to be very aware of their personal space so when I met them they were 3 &4 and did not permit me to hug them. (My neice gave me hugs though ). Thoughout their child hood they remained shy of touch. I would have loved to wrap them in my arms while reading a book. They are now 22 and 23 and I have never had a hug from either. I do feel sad about that.
COVID changed my hugging behaviors because I had become immunocompromised in 2015. It made feel comfortable telling others no handshakes or hugs. I longer felt I was being weird when I avoided touch. That in turn made me aware how many times I had opened myself up to infection by touching people. Before COVID I needed antibiotics at least 6-8 times a year. But since I stopped hugs and handshakes I have only been sick once since 2020 and that was last year!!
So yes, I am hugger but now just with immediate family who have no symptoms of being sick or being near others who are sick.
I am pretty much homebound now so I don't find myself facing many hugging decisions.

 

[rrenaa]

I don’t mind hugs and will give one if someone wants one. Growing up, hugging is a way we say hello and goodbye so I do it pretty often. I don’t hug strangers though. I need to have spent some time with someone and enjoyed being around them before I’m comfortable giving hugs.