Who's the weirdo here? Him or me?

[HelpfulHermione]

I greet my family, friends and acquaintances with varying degrees of hugs and kisses. Real kisses and big squeezes for family and BFFs; genuine hugs and air kisses for other friends, hand on shoulder and air cheek kiss for acquaintances.

I say this is NORMAL

Friend says it's WEIRD and is because I'm posh (I'm not) or because I live in an inbred sort of county (I do, but I'm not!).

Friend doesn't kiss or hug anyone ever for any type of greeting. Which I think is really really odd.

Can MN please settle this?

I hug and kiss my kids, kiss for DP, hug for best friend.

I have autism (technically suspected as I’m waiting on it being confirmed) and freak out if people I don’t know touch me or go near my face so I’d not be happy about a hand on my shoulder or an imaginary kiss on the cheek (and the idea of that one baffles me, as does a “hand on the shoulder”. . Just why?

I hate this so much that when I see distant relatives who are like you, I actually dread the awkwardness of greeting/leaving and try to decide whether to go along with it to my discomfort or look like the rude standoffish family member of the family by just waving or nodding.

Erm, ignore all the 'family's 😂

I come from a normal family. My husband’s family are not normal; they are huggers. The first time I met his parents, his father lunged at me, arms outstretched. I was so surprised I took a step backwards and fell onto the sofa; not quite the impression I was going for.

MN isn't going to settle this for you OP, everyone is different (in the U.K. anyway)
I hug and cheek kiss my close friends and family FWIW. Only one side though, unless they are from a double kiss country. That's a whole other can of worms.

Ooo kay.... maybe I should have added light hearted to the title

If that was about my objection to Norfolk folk being called inbred I still wouldn’t find it funny if it was lighthearted.

I don't think you're weird but I don't like doing it. I will hug certain friends goodbye but it's only ones I've known 10+ years. I just don't feel comfortable doing it and feel a bit silly kissing into the air/cheeks.

To now call it lighthearted is a cheap get out when calling entire counties 'inbred'.

I admit I have no actual data to support my claim. I apologise profusely.

Like you say, think Duchess of Cambridge!

Personally I hate being hugged or kissed by friends, it's very akward to stop them though once they come towards you for a hug. And the air kisses, why on earth do people do it?! Much prefer just a normal 'hello how're you? 😂

Me and my family are huggers and kissers. I hug and kiss best friends. It's always genuine affection so I don't like the kind of 'fake' affection you might get with school mum level acquaintances. I don't like air kisses at all. If I'm not going to kiss properly on the cheek I just hug and I don't hug if I don't like really like them!

It is probably a class thing. Where I live now I have posh neighbours and everyone kisses if we met at a party, they hug if they have known you for long enough.

In my previous neighbourhood (the opposite of posh) we just raised our eyebrows while saying hi and looked a bit suspicious if someone tried to get any closer.

Do Good idea. That is my new protocol

NotSure Yes!!! That’s exactly it!

I kiss my husband. I hug and kiss my son and my dogs. That's it.

I will hug or have a cheek kiss from my mum on important occasions like weddings/before I had surgery this week etc lol. But that's it.

I'm from the north. Don't touch me. It's weird.

It's very normal here, but I hate it.

No one enters my personal space without prior clearance. I will just step back. I do not like hugs and kisses from friends or relatives. Exceptions are OH and DS.

Anyone else and I'm backing away quickly as I can't stand it. Happy to shake hands though!

"I’m going to have to review my behaviour. "

Sounds like it!

I don't think that I'd want a "big squeeze" from anyone!

I love Germany-hands are shaken a lot!

As a child having to go round the room of relatives wanting to hug and kiss me goodbye was sheer torture!

I hate hugging except for my partner and very closest friends. If people try to hug me I put my hand out to stop them. I think you should always ask first

I would love for someone to hug me

Hugging yes, kissing no.

And never forcing children to do either.