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I don't like it either, but I would rather do the fake air kiss on the cheek thing that actually hug someone. That way only our cheeks are touching briefly - if at all - rather than our entire torso and arms.
I wish people would just stop touching people so much.
I absolutely hate the kiss on the cheek thing. I am in a group of about 20 where a couple of people insist on doing this. From the looks on others faces it is not that popular.
Years ago my sister's MIL did this and I would just stick out my hand to shake when she started moving towards me. I think my BIL told her to cut it out. My family never did this.
How do you feel about this?
In Brazil it is considered rude not to kiss women on the cheek when you greet them whether they are family members, friends, or strangers.
I've been raised with 2 kisses, one on each cheek and never thought anything of it since it was custom.
After moving to the States I had a problem with hugging since I experienced that as far more intimate. I'm over that now too.
Really don't make a big deal out if it, it takes what...2 seconds? The more you get annoyed by it the worse it gets, just let it go.
You have to be careful these days. Some women will think you're trying to rape them if you attempt to give them a hug or god forbid "a kiss on the cheek". Others might try and fight you.
My father-in-law pecked me directly on the mouth when he met me and then burst out laughing and said "I'll bet you didn't expect that, did you sugar?" He and my husband thought it was funny - I did not!
I wonder how much of this is regional. In all my years in D.C., that never happened to me. Burbs of New York, it's like people can't wait to put their saliva on your face. I HATE IT.
LOL. I grew up in NJ and it's common . . . but with family or close friends not with people you just met. It's definitely not new or phony. I've been around long enough to see 4 generations of my family doing it and we're hardly unique.
I absolutely hate the kiss on the cheek thing. I am in a group of about 20 where a couple of people insist on doing this. From the looks on others faces it is not that popular.
Years ago my sister's MIL did this and I would just stick out my hand to shake when she started moving towards me. I think my BIL told her to cut it out. My family never did this.
How do you feel about this?
It's very common in Latin American countries and it's becoming common here in Dallas. I need my space so I feel a bit awkward (I rather shake hands) but oh well... LOL
Indiscriminate touching, hugging people you hardly know - and some you don't wanna know - is extremely irritating and impolite, not to mention unsanitary.
I just raise my hand, shake my head once, and, if pursued, say 'I'm on Cipro.'
That does it... but why must I?
In Spain, you go for the "dos besitos" (two little kisses) action, but you don't actually kiss the cheek. You just purse your lips and make the kiss sound instead of the actual kiss. You do still touch the other person's cheek with your own. Two men who are strangers don't do this at all...they just shake hands. As a woman, I got it from everyone.
In other countries, you do actually get kissed. I don't care that much either way. I am not so stoic/uncomfortable that I can't adapt to reasonable cultural expectations.
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