Hugs And Kisses On Greeting

[RATTER15]

I've never been a lover of all this hugs and kisses on greeting people, I was not brought up to greet this way and I'm not sure that its the British way. I don't have a problem with it, I would rather just greet with a hand shake. What are your views?

[Sqad]

Big Jenny.....never mind soon the UK will have showers and baths available.....would that make it easier?

[RATTER15]

Sorry guys, I didn't select best answer deliberately! Unfortunately I can't undo it, just change it.

[andy-hughes]

Big Jenny - " ... but they still have to sign off with "Love you" every time. It's ridiculous and makes me reach for the sick bucket."

My youngest daughter always finishes her phone conversations with any of her family with 'Love you ...' even if she speaks to them several times a day, as she does with me.

Her reason? No-one ever tells you if this could be the last chance to tell that person you love them, so why not take it? If it isn't the last time, then they know you love them, and if it is the last time, you had your chance to say it one last time.

I can go with that.

[RATTER15]

I really don't need anybody to tell me they love every five minutes or at the end of every telephone conversation. As for greeting people by touching, that is why I shake their hand. I see that as being perfectly adequate and acceptable.

[andy-hughes]

I tend to go with what ever appears comfortable.

I work in the music business, where a handshake is always offered and given to anyone you meet.

I go to Montreal Jazz Festival every year, where a kiss on both cheeks is the norm, it's French society.

Otherwise, I just use my initiative, and go with what feels ok.

[Big Jenny]

Ha, ha Squad. Let's hope people use 'em when they're introduced to this backward little country!!

Sorry, andy, I still think it's cringe-worthy. My daughter-in-law does it, and my flesh crawls when I overhear her signing off to her mum or sister. They must speak every half-hour during the day - it's just not necessary. If they don't know she loves them by now, then they're not very bright.

[tonyav]

Wot, no nurses ^^^^

[tonyav]

For sqad.

[B00]

Family and kids aside I always hug my best friend when we're saying goodbye.

Oh and I hug EVERYONE was trollied.

[Sqad]

Yes, I agree with Big Jenny.......i think that in the majority of cases, repeatedly saying "I love you" ...is just a habit.

I never say it to Mrs sqad and she doesn't say it to me and on reflection, i cannot think of anybody I have said it to...( well, not quite true, in my younger days, i might have used it for, shall we say, opportunistic reasons ;-)

[rsvp]

Since when have the words 'I love you' ever got you free tickets to a revival meeting sqad?

[Sqad]

rsvp ^^^^ LOL

[NellieMay]

Agree with Big Jenny, even if it strays off subject! I will hug and kiss close friends and family on meeting or saying goodbye. That comes naturally. Nobody else though.

[ummmm]

Ratter...I haven't read all the replies.

I'm not really a huggy person but when my aunt died in a motorbike accident my family all became huggy kissy. It's always the last goodbye....just in case.

[andy-hughes]

Big Jenny - "Sorry, andy, I still think it's cringe-worthy. My daughter-in-law does it, and my flesh crawls when I overhear her signing off to her mum or sister. They must speak every half-hour during the day - it's just not necessary. If they don't know she loves them by now, then they're not very bright."

No need to apologise, our view is different, but not right or wrong.

As for me, I know my wife, children and grandchildren love me very much, and I them, but I can never have enough of hearing it, or saying it.

[Cloverjo]

I find it awkward to hug and kiss people. One cheek or two?
There is a couple I see once or twice a year that I don't know all that well, but they hug and kiss people on greeting. When I first met them it was two cheeks, but I only went for one so there was a awkward clash. Then they changed to just one kiss while I was expecting two, so I was left hovering. The whole palaver is excruciatingly embarrassing.

[dave50]

You see a lot of teenage girls do it when they greet or say goodbye to their friends. I'm sure they didnt do it when I was growing up in the seventies.

[NellieMay]

'Love you', tagged on to the end of text messages, phone calls and every time you say goodbye just mean nothing in my opinion. It is a habit. I would rather have a genuine I love you every so often than a love you every ten minutes. It as bad as 'have a nice Day' in shops and restaurants when you pay and leave. They don't care whether you have a nice day or not.

[andy-hughes]

dave50 "You see a lot of teenage girls do it when they greet or say goodbye to their friends. I'm sure they didnt do it when I was growing up in the seventies."

That's certainly true - young people of both genders are more physically affectionate with friends than the previous generations - I think that's great - anything that breaks down barriers gets my vote.

[naomi24]

It seems to have become the 'thing to do', and therefore it doesn't always represent genuine affection. I hug and kiss my family, and my close friends get a milder version, but I don't want to be hugged and kissed by people I've just been introduced to and don't know from 'Adam'. Nevertheless, unless I am able to escape somehow, I often find myself the unwilling victim of grasping arms and puckered lips.