And hugging?


A belated welcome to DU.

is an "invasion of personal space".

I think this is rapidly getting out of hand... I don't know what happened to common sense, but there WILL be times when someone may need to touch you (e.g.to get by in a crowd or when they are blocked from an urgent response for example). There are instances when someone might want to greet you or comfort you or celebrate with you through a hug or similar nonsexual contact, which of course you can and should have every right to refuse.

I don't want to live in the sterile world some here seem to be advocating. Where men (beyond Mike Pence) refuse to meet professionally with women alone or share a meal or even shake their hands.

I appreciate demonstrative people who show how much they care through touch. Are there limits? Of course, but Gawd, can we please stop swinging for the EXTREMES?

The demand that people who have been hurt or pressured into physical contact they didn't want should not be able to criticize or reject someone if their intentions weren't to create the discomfort is indicative of how little they respect and value the humanity of some people.

I had this conversation with someone who enjoys using the n-word. Their intent was affection and fun. The interaction was one white guy calling another white guy a n---- It's a tradition that started when a black man directed it towards them and they now see it as an affectionate tribute to him.

NO. Someone's innocent intent never takes priority over the person most subject to being hurt by offensive language nor over the person who experiences uncomfortable physical advances on their body.

Somehow when people want to be treated with more respect than has been the norm in the past, there is a tendency for those who have been on the wrong side have to their feelings hurt and center the dialogue back on themselves and their fragile feelings about insulting or offending someone.

When someone is defensive, the impression they give is that they would not do anything different even when they have been told they caused pain or discomfort.

and touches in professional or no relationships.

Other than shaking hands, I never had any "touches" from my bosses, for example. Othere than my family and friends, I can't recall getting touches from most people I encounter in the course of a day.