Another addition to the list of bad habits that I need to break...
Hm. I've always seen this as an area where you're an example of healthy behavior and U.S. society as a whole is rather represssed.
There are ways to be touchy-feely that are bad - but most of them involve someone who's expressed a preference for not being touched. Personal space is something to respect...but the U.S. social default of "keep utterly out of someone's personal space until told otherwise" seems silly (and perhaps unhealthy) to me.
Social defaults are different elsewhere in the world - casual touches on shoulder, arm, back, hand/arm, etc. during conversation are taken as the norm.
And as you've said, you're aware enough to change your behavior in environments where it's probably not appropriate (hugging co-workers) - so I don't see any problems...
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2002-11-07 06:26 am (UTC)Hm. I've always seen this as an area where you're an example of healthy behavior and U.S. society as a whole is rather represssed.
There are ways to be touchy-feely that are bad - but most of them involve someone who's expressed a preference for not being touched. Personal space is something to respect...but the U.S. social default of "keep utterly out of someone's personal space until told otherwise" seems silly (and perhaps unhealthy) to me.
Social defaults are different elsewhere in the world - casual touches on shoulder, arm, back, hand/arm, etc. during conversation are taken as the norm.
And as you've said, you're aware enough to change your behavior in environments where it's probably not appropriate (hugging co-workers) - so I don't see any problems...