AIBU?
AIBU to think I can touch my DP?
TinyDancingGirl · 08/04/2013 21:15
DP and I have been together for 4 years. We like to be touching, even sitting side by side eating, I'll put a foot next to his under the table and we always hold hands.
Some of our friends say things like, 'you're going to run away you can stop holding hands now.' or 'Awwww isn't that sweet?' in a way that says they really don't think so. Are we the only ones who do this?
AIBU? What is appropriate affectionate behaviour between a couple in public?
RatPants · 08/04/2013 21:22
We are very very touchy feely in private but not so much in public. We have separated friends, single friends, friends who have been together years and years and years and do the separate bedroom thing. Canoodling doesn't really seem appropriate in our friendship group, kind of like it'd be rubbing people's faces in our happiness. If we're out alone we indulge a little bit though. 
Maggie111 · 08/04/2013 21:27
I am touchy feely in public sometimes. Normally, if I am with family I don't mind us sitting next to each other arms around each other. I do try and be less cuddly in front of friends though.
If we're on our own I cuddle as much as I like. But not public snogging/canoodling though!
EverybodysSootyEyed · 08/04/2013 21:47
my bil/sil are like this
it feels quite excluding iyswim - like everyone else in the room is a side thought
their need to always be touching means other people (including the kids!) have to move over or sit on the floor etc etc
one meal they alternated courses sitting on each others laps - DH made a quip about our dining chairs being made for one and thy were most offended!
Don't know if you're as bad as them but it isn't very easy to have a group conversation when 2 people are staring at each other/snogging etc!!
AgentZigzag · 08/04/2013 21:50
There's a difference between being affectionate sitting with an arm draped over your DPs shoulder or holding hands, and a couple mauling each other.
That can make the other people there a bit uncomfortable when they're doing stuff that's normally done in private.
AgentZigzag · 08/04/2013 21:56
It does look like it rusty, but if people are saying stuff, then how far over the border has the OP strayed into making people feel uncomfortable?
Nobody would comment on putting their feet on each other (how would they know if it's under the table?) or holding hands, because it's not anything out of the ordinary.
Mumsyblouse · 08/04/2013 21:58
It depends on the situation, if you are holding hands in the street and you bump into your friend, fair enough, but if you are sitting in the pub and have deliberately gone out with friends, or are at a social gathering, I think it's quite rude to hold hands and constantly stay in physical contact, as well as difficult for the other people to respond to, because you are not prepared to strike out as individuals. I am extremely tactile with my DH at home and out for dinner by ourselves, but I tone it down a lot around friends, and if with a single friend, would never start holding hands/gazing/playing footsie, of course it makes them feel uncomfortable.
As for the sitting on laps during dinner, I have a friend who used to do this, how on earth can you have a conversation with a person sitting on another's lap. Incredibly insecure to have to literally sit on top of your partner when in a social situation.
BertieBotts · 08/04/2013 22:06
I think it sounds sweet :)
Better than a couple I met once who would, literally, start full on snogging and groping each other whenever someone didn't talk to one of them for longer than about 30 seconds. It was really bizarre. 
Apparently they were quite well known for being late for everything (because they were held up having sex 
) or just disappearing not-so-discreetly to have sex at random times.
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