A Social Experiment: Free Hug!

[TimeLord]

I like the idea of free hugs for two reasons;
One is I like hugs in general, from friends to married couples to complete strangers, more or less everyone likes a hug.

And two because I'm a friendly person like that who would gladly go out and hug random strangers if I knew I wouldn't get thrown in a police cell for it.....

Which brings me to the main point of this thread.
A social experiment in my home city of Aberdeen in North East Scotland. Going out into the street with a big sign saying "FREE HUGS" and seeing how long it takes before I get arrested people accepting hugs from me.

I've seen this kind of thing happen in America where I can imagine it would be alot more socially acceptable. But I have never heard of anything like it in the UK.

So what do you think? Bad idea? Good idea? Or will I end up with no wallet and 6 hours in a cell by the end of the day?
And also, would you hug a complete stranger holding a sign that said "FREE HUGS"?

 

[meticadpa]

Oh, I'm Scottish too.

I think you'll get a hug from someone sooner or later, but probably not too much.

If you do it, take pics, please.

 

[Serenegoose]

There were tons of people with 'free hugs!' signs at MCM in London. I hugged them A LOT, so that answers the last question. However, even at the expo people seemed quite hesitant to accept the offer of hugs. I ask you - who WOULDN'T want to hug a giant pikachu??!

 

[Dana22]

Only if its a female.

 

[Brightzide]

Ive seen alot of students try the same thing here in Manchester. Usually doesnt seem to go down well. When one tried it on with me, I replied ''get lost ******!'' , even though I really wanted a hug that day...But I was with my friends so peer pressure made me a jerk

 

[Jodah]

As long as you don't try to rape-hug someone you should be fine. Personally I would just walk away (or punch you in the face if you tried to rape-hug me).

 

[AgentDarkmoon]

As someone in America, I would suggest that this won't go over well. At conventions, it happens a lot, and that's because everyone has the same happy-go-lucky mentality. You'll occasionally see it at special events and rallies, for the same reason. But on the average street, you'll have all sorts of people with all different ideas. They might pick your pocket. Someone might label you a pedophile. Some people don't like physical contact with people they like, much less that they don't. Your physical appearance and style of dress will have a large effect on if people hug you, also your gender (as in you could hug a girl and have her boyfriend come over and beat the snot out of you if you're a guy, or if you're a cute girl you might get a lot of 'hugs' from guys that involve groping). And when doing this you're going outside the accepted social norms, and regular people don't usually like that.

It's reasonably dangerous if you're just doing it to do it for no reason, IMHO. Then again, you could get tons of hugs and make new friends etc etc. Just be careful if you do. =)

 

[meticadpa]

Oh yeah, and it's quite cold in Scotland just now. Wrap up.

 

[DazZ.]

I've seen people handing out free hugs, they weren't out with a sign solely hugging people though just whilst they were shopping in town shouting free hugs. Seemed all right from the brief second I saw them, but then my town is full of nutters.

Used to go along the sea front seeing how many high fives we could get from tourists, whoever got the most wins. Usually got up to about 10 by the end of the beach (It's about a 15 minute skate).

You won't get arrested though.

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

Eh, there were loads of people with "Free Hugs" signs at the MCM expo in London, so I accepted quite a few >.>
And also, it seems to happen every so often in Southampton, so free hugs again.
It seems to go down quite well as well.
Have a go at it, although I'm not sure if you're in the best location to do so.
I just go for the free hugs~

 

[DazZ.]

Go for it. Just don't hug any kids. I can see that being seen the wrong way if a grown man with a "Free hugs" sign has his arms around a child...

And that is just silly.
Why kids are seen as sexual objects and the person making contact with them must be doing it for sexual thrills is incredibly stupid.

Some kids would love a hug and find it funny just as the guy with the sign would, but then there are other kids that would call you gay and or stab you.

 

[Celtic_Kerr]

I like the idea of free hugs for two reasons;
One is I like hugs in general, from friends to married couples to complete strangers, more or less everyone likes a hug.

And two because I'm a friendly person like that who would gladly go out and hug random strangers if I knew I wouldn't get thrown in a police cell for it.....

Which brings me to the main point of this thread.
A social experiment in my home city of Aberdeen in North East Scotland. Going out into the street with a big sign saying "FREE HUGS" and seeing how long it takes before I get arrested people accepting hugs from me.

I've seen this kind of thing happen in America where I can imagine it would be alot more socially acceptable. But I have never heard of anything like it in the UK.

So what do you think? Bad idea? Good idea? Or will I end up with no wallet and 6 hours in a cell by the end of the day?
And also, would you hug a complete stranger holding a sign that said "FREE HUGS"?

ON hug a mormon day, we gave our mormon friend a sign saying "It's hug a mormon day! ... I'm a mormon" But people kept asking her what a mormon was instead of hugging her, so we gave her a new sign saying "Free hugs please!" and in 2 hours she got 164 hugs

 

[iThinkCat]

I would hug you and come back for seconds. Go for it! Just be sure to put a disclaimer in fine print at the bottom of the sign saying "not a sexual predator" and "hugs may be returned". Then you'll be good.

Have Fun

 

[meticadpa]

Are you warm and fuzzy?

 

[Hman121]

I like to bust out my Free Hugs sign at conventions only, not in the average street. If you choose to do it, good luck, friend, and throw a scarf on your neck, I bet it will be rather chilly outside.

 

[Estocavio]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgzBrxXwzdI

Also, if i ever did this, my sign would say

"Free Hugs... Huggles!"

 

[Ledan]

I've seen it happen in Sweden and Canada too.
Most people seem to sorta ignore it, but many accept the offer. I think I've noticed that young girls get taken up on the offer more often....

 

[Ham_authority95]

Don't do it around any homeless people...because they'll latch onto you, slip away with your wallet, and leave you smelling terrible.