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Original poster

Do you think hugging/cheek kissing on meeting will become a thing of the past?

91 replies

Kizty · 25/07/2021 18:02

I have met with two lots of people recently who I haven’t seen for a while. Pre Covid the done thing would have been an (awkward) hug/cheek kiss on meeting. I am awful at these and actively dread in advance as I feel really awkward and normally end up going for the wrong cheek etc. And it was a relief to be honest to just say hi and have a catch up and skip the hug. Although I appreciate some miss the hugs and I don’t think hugs with very close family will dissppear ever- I would always want to hug my mum. But with aquaintances, I wonder if it may? (Hoping!)

OP posts:
Original poster
Kizty · 26/07/2021 20:13

I would be interested to know too. It’s only my surmise that their is a cultural difference. I remember watching big brother with friends as early 20s and we were thinking what’s with all the kissing constantly, we don’t do that with each other here. I think it is more of an English thing. Or maybe more popular in Edinburgh, but less so in northern Scotland. I remember going to lots of English weddings and finding all the kissing completely o.t.t . There was kissing at the Scottish weddings too, but not so much I think.

OP posts:
Bigtoejoe · 26/07/2021 20:14

Nah, not an Edinburgh thing I don't think - I'm from near there.

Original poster
Kizty · 26/07/2021 20:18

I think it has come over from continental Europe so perhaps the spreading up the uk hasn’t reached Scotland quite so much yet. We are known for being a bit ‘dour’ which doesn’t quite fit with all the elaborate cheek kissing !

OP posts:
Scarby9 · 26/07/2021 20:19

I am going to move to the right hand on heart greeting.
On balance, I think I prefer it to the Prayong hands bow, but I'm happy to return that if someonr greets me that way.
No more hand shakes, and hugs and kisses reserved for very close friends and relations.

Scarby9 · 26/07/2021 20:20

Prayong = praying

2catsandhappy · 26/07/2021 22:05

Wasn't it in WW1 that hugging and kissing stopped because of 'Spanish Flu' or something like that?

NiceGerbil · 26/07/2021 23:05

I'm nearly 50 from London.

It was not a thing that I noticed on the 80s.

I would say yes it came from the continent but thinking also...

Like remember ab fab they did OTT air kisses and saffy would roll her eyes.

Maybe it was seen as something rich or posh people did? And came from there?

Thinking about it in the 70s going abroad for hols was v aspirational. Then through the 80s we got the tans, Duran on yachts, club Tropicana etc. Going to the med was a BIG THING and went from a thing meaning you had money to a massive general thing as it got more affordable.

I bet there was kissing beautiful men and women hello by a sparkling sea in the sun! Probs TV various slebs models etc greeting in Cannes with a kiss etc.

Soooooo

I reckon it came from there with my 3 min amateur analysis Grin

I'd say it hit my friendship groups maybe mid 90s and God I've always hated it!

Give me a big grin or a hug any old time Smile

Clandestinekitten · 26/07/2021 23:30

I bloody hope so. Don’t mind with family and a very few friends. But friends of friends and work colleagues - just awkward and false. I hate the new fist or elbow bumping with a passion too. It’s not natural and always is done with a little awkward chortle and dance about are we doing one or not, feels like it’s done jokingly so what’s the point….just smile, nod, wave.

StillMedusa · 26/07/2021 23:38

Another adding to the 'I hope not' crowd.
I HATE it. I don't want to be hugged or kissed by friends let alone work mates. I am anti-tactile (amazed I have a dh and kids tbh!) I hug my family when needed and that is it.

A little bow and 'Namaste' seems so much more civilised!!!

ChristmasShearwater · 27/07/2021 05:46

It’s the trying to guess - hug/ hand shake/ single kiss/ double kiss that I find so excruciating

My buttocks are clenching just thinking about it.

IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves · 27/07/2021 05:47

I sincerely hope so! Something good has to come from this bloody virus.

BlijEi · 27/07/2021 06:16

I feel it will 100% come back . But I'm planning on going with "since covid I don't hug/kiss/shake hands" etc. I'm hoping at least that people will see it as a valid excuse and not look at me like I've grown an extra head anymore. For a few years after corona at least... After that it's back to making myself scream inside so others feel comfortable with their pointless routines. Isn't society just grand?

Bluesheep8 · 27/07/2021 06:54

Nope. People that like doing will do it still.

I am a natural hugger. But I restrict myself to hugging only very close family now, and those hugs are very brief/careful.

lannistunut · 27/07/2021 07:00

@NigellaSeed

Yes. Does anyone have any good non offensive "comebacks" to politely decline a kiss?
I just say 'I don't do kissing/hugging' - I don't need to be not rude as it is them being rude first. Would not say this in France obvs, but if in the UK - stop grabbing people without consent, you boundary-disrespecting weirdos.

A handshake is required at times.

MinnieMountain · 27/07/2021 07:01

I hope so.

I don’t mind the kissing with DH’s relatives who moved to Spain, and the Spanish DH of one of them. Kissing for British people seems odd and forced to me.

I like hugging close friends though.

omgthepain · 27/07/2021 07:02

I've always bloody hated it so I have the perfect excuse to not be doing it now!

Duetorain · 27/07/2021 07:19

I certainly hope that there is more direct consent. As others have said though I am a single adult and live mostly away from family so it is important to have at least some people willing to touch me.

LemonRoses · 27/07/2021 07:53

No they at all. We’ve started doing it again with friends. Why wouldn’t you?

LemonRoses · 27/07/2021 07:54

No, not at all. That should say.

Turquoisesol · 27/07/2021 11:27

Some people aren’t so keen on close contact unless from close family. But it is socially unacceptable to say so ! It’s a predicament for many people on this thread .

user1497207191 · 27/07/2021 11:33

God, I hope so. Plus hand shaking too. I've always hated all this artificial, unnecessary "touchy" stuff when meeting strangers. It's just another thing to increase anxiety/social awkwardness etc.

user1497207191 · 27/07/2021 11:34

@lannistunut A handshake is required at times.

No it's not. There's no occasion when it's "required" at all.

stickygotstuck · 27/07/2021 11:39

Trouble with the "I don't do kissing or hugging" approach is that there are many countries where this is extremely rude. A bit like refusing to shake hands before a meeting in non-pandemic times.

Such countries are not kissing or hugging at the moment, but pretty sure they are itching to get back to normal.

Human contact is good for humans. They let you know the other person has no hostile intentions in a way gestures/words can't.

And I say this as someone who seriously dislikes physical contact in most circumstances. Enven from friends/family!

Canigooutyet · 27/07/2021 11:47

You really need to work on a fuck off look. I hate getting hugged by random people, I send out a fuck off glare and they stop coming towards me. Had the oddball who still tries to come towards me and I step back and dodge. One was very persistent because everyone enjoys it, told them well I'm not everyone.
The cheek kiss I got in trouble as a child as I used to back away and I was being impolite.

YouMadeABear · 27/07/2021 11:52

I hope so. I've used the past year to drill into my friends how much I'm enjoying the physical distance. I've always hated hugging and kissing people other than DC or DH. So now it'll be "ooh not for me". Also a Scot in England.