To think it is perfectly acceptable to offer...

[HedleyLamarr]

...virtual hugs on Mumsnet, and that it is not 'unMumsnetty', but is in fact in the nature of us all to reach out to comfort a person when he or she is down.

I have wondered several times what "unMumsnetty" hugs are - what's it all about?

And no, IMHO, YANBU!

Zombie thinks Hedley must be a very brave man to start this thread.

They only do that kind of stuff on netmums. If you do it here everyone thinks you're sillyj and going soft in the head

I think hugs and x's are completely fine if they are appropriate.

Appropriate = when something awful has happened, or the OP has PND or a cheating husband... NOT appropriate when the Hun has broken a nail.

Cooo Hedders you do impress me. And you're right of course. Nothing wrong with a bit of MN hugging or lurve, when appropriate.

I hug and kiss and lurve, I do not care if it is unMumsnetty, it is very Strattersy.

I've always felt so much better with people throwing punctuation atme

I don't care what anyone says there are times in life when only a hug will do!

((((HUGS TO ALL))))

Well troisgarcons and hiddenhome it looks like I am right (at the moment). 5 votes to 2.

Don't worry about me Zombie, I survived a terrific and thrilling bunfight on here the last time I started a thread in AIBU! :o

Thank you Stratters, I'm genuinely touched. Metaphorically, not physically.

ChippingIn, that's what I mean. Where appropriate.

Yomping glad you agree.

So come on fellow MNers, drop the 'unMumsnetty' when proffering a hug! You know it makes sense!

The whole "unMumsnetty hugs" thing has always been bollocks, though, hasn't it? By qualifying the hug it doesn't make it less of a hug.

And this has never been a site where comfort and support isn't offered, so I've never got what the whole "unMumsnetty" thing has been trying to prove, other than "Mumsnet: we're hard as nails". Again, bollocks.

Now 7-2. :o

Dammit Hassled 8-2. Damn you, slow typing fingers!

I have never offered an "unmumsnetty hug". I just give them freely.

More ((((HUGS))))

I love hugs.

Sometimes on here if I am chatting to someone having a sad/bad day, I think, if we were talking face to face I would hug you now, so why not ?

I frequently feel like hugging Stratters, but that's because if I have come on here on a sad/bad day, she has cheered me up no end, and made me smile.

It's due to the fact that we're a bunch of cunts.

'mumsNetty'? Wasn't 'Netty' one of Les Dawson's creations; one of those who'd had it 'all taken away'?

Any plans to reveal your terrifically thrilling buns in the near future, Hedley mah man?

Wasn't that Cissie? Or Ada?

Down there

OP i completely agree.
It's the humane thing to do .
And I hate feeling unsure about doing it for fear of being ridiculed .

Disagree, Maryz.

Hugs always have meaning. Always.

I am just a 'huggy' person.

I expect if we met, you'd flinch.

Yes, what Maryz said.

I only offer hugs to cop a sneaky feel.

The rarity of hugs on here means that when they happen they're actually worth something.