Physical contact with strangers

Contributor: x203 x203
If I don't know someone, then they better not be all up on me. Aside from that, I'm fine, even with acquaintances.
03/05/2012
Contributor: underHim underHim
It depends on the situations mostly, my sons surgeons, I barely know, but I would hug them in a heartbeat, but anyone else, not so much.
03/05/2012
Contributor: fredacarl fredacarl
Quote:
Originally posted by Rin (aka Nire)
Aside from handshakes, I hate it when people I don't know very well touch me or even stand too close. It's uncomfortable and crosses a line for me, and you can generally tell how friendly I feel around you by how much contact I'm willing ... more
prefer not to be touched
03/05/2012
Contributor: Trepier Trepier
I'm a pretty private person so I have a problem with people I don't know or have some kind of association touching me. It is different if it is friends, family, or someone who is trying to teach me something. Those are the only times I am really fine with it just happening without some kind of warning first.
03/27/2012
Contributor: Beck Beck
I hate being touched aside from family. I don't want to shake hands let alone hug or something.
03/27/2012
Contributor: misskat misskat
I'm a hugger. I'm from the South and overall, we are a friendly, touching bunch. It doesn't bother me at all when people I barely know hug me.
03/27/2012
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
It doesn't bother me most of the time to be touched.

One of my children hates being touched (unless she initiates it) but she has Asperger's Syndrome, and it goes with the territory. I still never know when to touch her, she sometimes freaks out if I pat her head, but she wants to come up to me and put her head on my shoulder. Usually, I sit there like I'm trying not to spook a baby deer or something. She was a really cuddly baby, so things obviously changed. But, I have to respect her need to not be touched a whole lot.

My mother doesn't get it and tries to make her hug. "Oh, don't you love gramma? I LOVE hugs." Then she attacks! Doesn't she understand that is isn't personal? My kid just doesn't like being touched unless she initiates it. I wish other people would deal with it better. Sometimes she will hug the other little girls in her class (that's the way they greet each other, and I can see my daughter like, bracing for the hugs when she sees them) but I would hope other adults would understand her need to have some physical distance.
03/27/2012
Contributor: MissCandyland MissCandyland
I don't like to be touched. A pat on the back is fine but I prefer no handshaking or hugging.
03/27/2012
Contributor: Jaimes Jaimes
I adore being cuddled with and touched by my husband. We spend a great deal of time holding hands or just making physical contact. I am okay being touched or grappled with in martial arts, but it isn't relaxed until I am comfortable with the person. With some people, it's an instant trust that they are taking care of me, and other people I just try not to practice with. The nice part about the arts I study is that they are attractive to very peaceful, zen, and confident people.

If I don't know you, I'm all about a good handshake. I live in the south, so hugs are part of the territory, and I'm working on making my distaste for stranger-hugs less obvious. I've now relaxed on hugging my friends in greeting or parting. The older the person, or the closer I am to them, the more genuine the hug, and sometimes it includes a mutual kiss on the cheek.
03/27/2012
Contributor: hjtee hjtee
I have a lot of tattoos, and as a result, a lot of people will grab me just to get a look. It drives me nuts, unless I extend my body for you to touch, keep your grabby paws to yourself!
03/27/2012
Contributor: romstomp romstomp
My brother has a mental Handicap so I have been in situations where getting hugged by strangers is commonplace. I was feeling awkward at first, but I got used to it quick, just nothing but love in that atmosphere.
03/27/2012
Contributor: ECU Pirate ECU Pirate
a bit weird. some of my girlfriends family is too touchy and that bothers me more than strangers. lol
03/27/2012
Contributor: Nora Nora
If we're talking stranger in line at the grocery store...no way, do NOT touch me! But, someone I have just met, some touching is okay, it just depends on the situation.
03/27/2012
Contributor: Tangles Tangles
I depends. I can make friends pretty quick, but other than with women my age, I'm not too big on physical contact.
03/27/2012
Contributor: Deeder Deeder
The absolute worst is having customers at my work reach across to touch my prego-belly. I mean, SERIOUSLY?! There's been a few times when I had to try to talk myself out of full on decking a few old ladies just because they wanted to see if they could "feel the baby". The one comfort is knowing that if I ever snap one day I can just blame it on my crazy hormones.
03/31/2012
Contributor: Clubbinseals Clubbinseals
prefer not to be touch... except if im clubbin!
04/01/2012
Contributor: Undead Undead
Quote:
Originally posted by Rin (aka Nire)
Aside from handshakes, I hate it when people I don't know very well touch me or even stand too close. It's uncomfortable and crosses a line for me, and you can generally tell how friendly I feel around you by how much contact I'm willing ... more
I don't do it but I'm not going to rip someone's head off if they do...unless they get weird
04/01/2012
Contributor: pootpootpoot pootpootpoot
It wasn't too bad for me until after I had been in an unhealthy relationship. Before, I had been hug-crazy! Hugs for all my friends, for my family, everybody. Now I'm somewhat more reserved, but luckily I'm back to where I can hug my family and friends with no issues.

Some of my male friends, even those who knew about my rough experience, kept trying to hug me even when I told them I wasn't comfortable with it. I ended up caving, but that ended when they started to give me reeeeally long hugs, like, 2 minutes long. It seriously creeped me out, and would have even without my touch-issues. At that point, I refused to hug anyone if I didn't want to, and anyone who pushed it instantly found himself with one less friend than he used to have
04/01/2012
Contributor: MistressDandelion MistressDandelion
I hate people touching me, and even have difficulties with handshakes. I feel so aggressed and raped. Bitch don't touch me, did I say you could touch me?
04/01/2012
Contributor: Graniteal Graniteal
I cannot stand it. I like my space. I'll let it slide if I it was an accident or something though.
04/01/2012
Contributor: Incendiaire Incendiaire
It seems like over the past decade everyone has suddenly decided to go all European, and start kissing on the cheek when they meet each other, and I find it a little annoying. I only like to touch people I'm acquainted with.
04/01/2012
Contributor: Nissa Nissa Nissa Nissa
Quote:
Originally posted by Rin (aka Nire)
Aside from handshakes, I hate it when people I don't know very well touch me or even stand too close. It's uncomfortable and crosses a line for me, and you can generally tell how friendly I feel around you by how much contact I'm willing ... more
Funny cause I had someone in my class recently grab my shoulders lol
04/01/2012
Contributor: Paco Paco
Quote:
Originally posted by Rin (aka Nire)
Aside from handshakes, I hate it when people I don't know very well touch me or even stand too close. It's uncomfortable and crosses a line for me, and you can generally tell how friendly I feel around you by how much contact I'm willing ... more
Hugs from anyone don't bother me, but I rarely get hugged even by friends. I don't know why, but i'm honestly lucky if I get hugged once a month.
04/01/2012