Couples holding hands is really cheesy beyond the teenage years

[HamptonLucy]

I've been watching several episodes of Escape to the Country (please don't judge me too harshly). Almost all the couples clutch each others hands on the sofa and cling on to one another for dear life when they're trundling around the countryside with lovely Alistair, Nicki Chapman or Jules.

Do you think it's a bit cheesy? The Obamas, the Macrons, Harry & Meghan, the Clooneys - all serial offenders.

I love holding my dp's hand and he loves it too. I also love kissing him anytime I feel like it, if that happens to be on the street I do, not full on snogging mind. I touch him all the time, I love him.

You are being unreasonable to pass judgement on how others enjoy physical affection. I would like to be with a man who wants to hold my hand in public. I have my DD now but I used to enjoy holding hands with my partner when we were younger and in love.

@oyoyoy - you seem to be a very angry person.

yabu for watching escape to the county

I couldn't bear a world where my DH didn't want to hold my hand. I feel very sorry for you OP.

I love holding my DP’s hand, I don’t do it wandering round Tesco or if we’re putting t’bins out, but we do it instinctively most of the time.

YABU, it's nice to hold hands sometimes with your partner

We always hold hands. It’s pretty much instinctive, not a conscious thing. Mid-40s, together 10 years. We rarely sit on the same sofa though!

OP I don’t know why I’m sharing this

One of the happiest memories of my parents, when dad was still alive, we’d been to the theatre in soho. I jumped on the bus home and after I’d gone upstairs, I saw them, waiting for a cab, holding hands. Ignoring all the drunks and general detritus of soho....just by the road together, holding hands. They were mid 70s.

It still makes me smile. It was cute. I’m single and very unsentimental about love but even I thought that was cute.

Meh, we're on our 40s, been together for 19 years and often hold hands.

It might well be cheesy, but then I dont care.

DH and I have been together 43 years and still hold hands.
I feel sorry for you.

Have you always been a cold fish Op? Were your parents cold fish too. You'll trip over that stiff upper lip one day and could save yourself from a nasty tumble by erm holding hands.

"Walking in companiable silence" was one option - along with chatting.

I love seeing old people hold hands. I think they're the ones winning at life, who chose their partner, had the lustful bit but then the enduring loving bit too. I caught a candid photo of a friend's parents at her wedding holding hands. By far the best picture of the day, pure love and happiness shining through.

No, my late parents were warm and loving with each other and their DC. But they didn't hold hands.

YABVU you dont know what people are going through. Perhaps they've just received bad news, or good news, or been apart for a few weeks, or just gotten together, perhaps it's their anniversary... you dont know why they are holding hands, you dont know what it means to them, and so I think it's wrong to judge it all as some kind of cheesy performance.

Other - some would say better ways - of showing affection.

Who made you the judge of the ways to show affection?

YABVVVVVU. It's fine if you don't like to do it. Let other people be.

Walking in companiable silence" was one option - along with chatting

Sounds extremely dull. I like to hold DH's balls when we're out. Now that really is cheesy

@HamptonLucy I get you! I am not a natural hand holder and do find the the way some couples seem constantly 'conjoined'a bit odd. I know what you mean about those tv programmes too.

We rarely sit on the same sofa though!

Same! We're currently sat quite happily on separate sofas watching Netflix. Whilst random strangers feel so sorry for me and call me a twat.

Who made you the judge of the ways to show affection?

The AIBU topic.

Oh ok Op, you were raised in a family that viewed hand holding as childish and not something grown ups did, so think it's odd to see grown ups doing it.

Lots of people dont see it as childish and for children /teens, so dont have the same "childish relationship status" view of it.

Still, this isnt as bad as a mum from school who viewed snogging as just for teens - even in their own home. That just felt sad.

To show affection to my other half I nod austerely in his direction once a fortnight.

Both my parents and grandparents (married over 40 and over 60 years, respectively) still hold hands in public. As do we.

I'm with you OP. They hold hands on the sofa and walking down the drive. They stand there holding hands while talking to Jules or whoever , and when looking round the house they can't even let go of hands to negotiate doorways etc. FFS you're on TV ! is it really necessary?