To think it's about time MNetters gave up the pretence

[BlueyDragon]

...that we don't do hugs. Plenty are given, just described as un-MNetty. Why? We have the , we have the . Why not the [hug]?

Hey I bet they're giving each other really hunny hugs on the xmas night out tonight!

I don't do unmumsnetty hugs, I just do ((HUGS)) where and when genuinely needed - not 'OMG u broke ur nail hun - hugzzz' kind of way....

It's my forum and I'll hug if I want to. So there.

How kind of you to tolerate me DEM.

[passive aggressive]

I prefer squish to hug personally

Or splat.

If we are going to have "hugs" can we have an "up yours" as well?.

kind i'm not kind.

I one of the vipers.

mind you tongue words.

I had no idea hugs were unacceptable in this site. Oooops! I don't hand them out insincerely though - only when I would have in real life!

Would someone please tell me what the pombear is all about, and what it means?

Big hug to whomever reponds (responds by explaining rather than responding by flinging a pile of on me, I mean!)! Mwah.

Relates to a thread when someone had a dinner party with some eccentric guests. I'm sure someone could provide you with a link - try searching for 'Pombear anyone?'.

When I was a newbie I called someone (edam, I think) 'love'. The shame; she was not pleased.

Starting from the presumption that we don't do hugs is the best way. Of course we can always do them in emergencies. However, there should definitely not be a hug emoticon. As long as everyone has to type it out in full they will be less tempted to spray the things around indiscriminately.

I did call somebody "honey" once, but I don't make a habit of it.

Re the , it's allowed because despite appearances it's not a cute comforting teddy bear. It's an ironic statement of, er, of, like, something ironic and statement-y.

There were bear shaped potato snacks at the meet.

They were whole bears though, not just heads. Is that right?

If we all start hugging we will have to LOL as well and I will have to vomit. I get my hugs from the bears [Tiki]

No, absolutely no LOLs, that's what is for innit?

What do you mean, no "innit"s either?

I used to belong to a forum where whenever a particular poster asked for advice they would then reply to every single person who had helped individually (it had a threaded layout) with "Thanks!! (((hugs)))" and it just seemed... fake? Annoying? I just had a mental image of someone having a conversation and every 30 seconds getting up and hugging everyone in the room in turn.

So if I read the above correctly, it is not at all un-MNetty to hug, we're just a little more discriminating about it than certain other forums that shall not be named. And I shall have to be careful about offering hugs to those armed with ancient gardening implements or with personal space issues. Despite the fact that they are almost certainly quite some physical distance away.

This MN life vs RL thing is VERY complicated.

innit.

Look it's just a small step - one letter to be precise - between hug and hun. We don't want to go there now do we?

you're all cunts

yeah yeah wotevver.