Are people really that tactile with opposite sex siblings?

[Coffeetree]

Just that really. There was a recent thread where a woman was creeped out by her bf's sister rubbing his arm and touching his leg while they were spending time together.

Very few responders seemed to agree that it was creepy.

Is it really normal in the UK for that much touching to happen with opposite-sex siblings? I hug my brothers hello and good-bye but that's it.

Certainly not for me or anyone I know, I'd find that creepy.

but 'young people' seem a lot more tactile, so maybe amongst teens it's seen as ok, I don't know.

my siblings would think I'd lost all my marbles if I started stroking them!!

I think it depends on the circumstances, I'd definitely stroke or put my hand on my brother's arm if he was stressed or upset say. Pretty sure I've patted him on the leg too in a kind of "right! let's get on with the day" way.

basically a similar level of physicality as I'd be comfortable with between me and a good (probably female) friend

Bit different from pervily stroking his leg, to my mind!

I don’t find it creepy, I’d think it’s nice to have a close bond. My brother and I kiss/hug on greeting and probably touch each other’s arm when chatting and he messes up my hair to be annoying.

Yes a hand on the arm at a funeral is one thing. Just randomly and repeatedly touching an arm during a normal visit though? I've never seen that.

Why would it be creepy unless invest was occuring? They're siblings Fgs.

Incest not invest

I don't touch my big bro apart from a hello/goodbye peck and cuddle! But we are not a tactile family at all!

I commented on that thread - I'd say it varies. There's a huge spectrum of physical touching, basically the right level is whatever both parties are happy with.

I would personally find that type of touching unusual between siblings (although it all depends on if the wording op used is accurate - rubbing someone's arm for a second e.g. for comfort if they are distressed is very different to stroking it gently, repeatedly, while just sitting next to each other while watching tv for example).

But I would also find family members (e.g. parents kissing children) kissing on the lips very unusual in my experience but there have been several threads saying that is completely normal.

I think there's a small subsection of people who touch for emphasis, I've never been one of them but having worked v long hours with someone who does that for a while, I did find it was catching. Now I do try to watch myself as at work or with family I'll sometimes find I touch them on the shoulder or arm if I'm saying something like "don't worry about the interview!" or "thank god that's over" or even "have a lovely holiday". As long as it's a quick gentle pat/tap I don't think it's a problem (unless it's someone who I know is anti-touching of any kind) and I guess I do the same with close family - but with added hugs!

I have two different female friends in their 50s who regularly holiday with their brothers - they're quite happy to share a twin room (or a double bed if it's only for a night), are very close, quite tactile, incredibly good friends, and it's perfectly healthy and not at all pervy or weird. I'm quite jealous as I would be loathe to share a detached mansion with my own brother for more than an hour

I can’t remember the last time I even gave my brother a hug don’t t think I’ve ever arm patted and leg touched him, it would feel weird and be weird.

That's so British 😆

Acceptable touching of siblings = a hand on the arm at a funeral.

This is me and DBro too! Even now we are just either side of 50. We grew up in a very physically affectionate family, so have always been comfortable and relaxed together, happy to have physical contact with each other. There is nothing at all weird about it!

I basically never touch my brother. Not even a hug hello or goodbye. Maybe at a wedding or funeral, but probably not. We aren't a touchy feely family though, I don't really hug my parents either. But we are very close and see each other a lot.