Public Displays of Affection

[orangeban]

I really don't have a problem with them. As long as it doesn't descend to them having sex in the street, I think it's personally fine (as long as they don't break exposure laws and whatnot).
And in regards to the OP's friend, if I were holding someones hand in public and they asked me to stop I would go tell them to take the stick out their arse and jam it through their throat. Seriously, what kind of person goes, "Grr, two people enjoying each others company in a way that is firstly none of my business and secondly not affecting me at all. Fuck those guys."

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

Hand holding is okay, but anything beyond that bothers me, because it shows that they think they are superior for being in a relationship and not single, and everyone else is an insignificant worm.

Or maybe they're just happy to be together and don't feel like holding it in because it might upset some sensitive solo people?

I hug and kiss my girlfriend in public all the time, and it's NOT because I think we're superior because we're dating. We do it because we love each other and we both happen to be there at that time together. It's not like we're making a spectacle of ourselves, so I don't think it's a problem.

Sorry if that bothers you, man. *shrug*

 

[Nouw]

As long as it doesn't break any laws or social customs of that place, it's fine. i.e. Not making anyone uncomfortable.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

So, how does The Escapist feel about public displays of affection? Should a couple's intimacy be hidden in public and does that extend to hand-holding? Are you entitled to ask/tell a couple to stop showing their affection in public simply because it bothers you?

Personally, I kind of like PDAs. ^^ It's fun to make people stare.

My spouse, however, less so.

Then again, looking at those two bitching on facebook from your example, OP, I'm realizing that my spouse is actually way more into PDA than those two. Yikes!

 

[EightGaugeHippo]

Hugs.
Cuddling.
Hand holding
peck
or kiss.

These are usually acceptable..
Anything more is just like...

Please, stop, I'm getting it on me!
*wipes "it" off*

 

[lacktheknack]

Hand holding: D'awwwwww!

Arm around shoulder: How cute!

Hugs: Hah! Lovebirds!

Making out: GET A ROOM.

Everything between hugging and making out is variable based on circumstance.

 

[Grabbin Keelz]

I once saw a lesbian couple make out. Made my night.

On another occasion I saw a gay couple holding hands. It was surprising since I had never seen that before, but not shocking.

 

[orangeban]

Anyways, the objection to holding hands is complete nonsense, what, is she that bitter because she's forever alone or something? The only thing I can think of of that sort is when the guy or the girl has their hand in the other one's back pocket. Point, laugh at how shallow even by my standards they are, move on.

They're shallow for expressing affection to each other? Sorry, not totally understanding here.

 

[EeveeElectro]

Sucking face is fucking disgusting and those people should be pushed in traffic. I don't care about cuddling, holding hands or a little kiss but making out in front of people just takes the piss. Fair enough if you don't see each other often but i know a few people who live together and can't seem to let go of one another e_e

 

[Richardplex]

I mean, I hug my parents and my siblings, too. I am definitely not thinking, "HA HA, THAT DUDE LOOKS LIKE HE'S AN ORPHAN. WATCH ME HUG MOMMY, ORPHANBOY."

Wait, am I the only one who persuades my family to go to orphanages just to do that? Oh. Now I feel like kind of a dick... I guess it's probably a bad move when I start going 'Mummy, can we get that one, please? Actually, no, he smells funny. How about this one?', too. Honestly, you people and your morals take all the fun out of orphan-baiting.

OT: Anything beyond a quick kiss seems a bit much, I guess. Hand-holding, hugging, basically anything short of full on making-out. It's too private an act to do in public, and comes across as either showing off or exhibitionist-y. (Although it'd be probably be pretty romantic if done in a street-lit road with a light snowfall...)
Those are the rules I play by, anyway. Besides, I'm terrible at expressing any form of emotional sentiment verbally. Hand-holding's all I've got to show affection with.

Basically what this guy said. Bar the last sentence.

 

[MasterOfWorlds]

Thankfully, my gf and I are in agreement on this. We don't mind the occasional quick kiss, handholding, and hugs as long as they're tasteful and not in front of people we know would be offended by seeing it.

Anything beyond that in public just seems...well...tasteless.

That is not to say that you can't be having a hardcore makeout session somewhere you thought was private and then were stumbled upon. This can happen to anyone. XD

 

[crop52]

I enjoy seeing PDA's. I'm a huge hopeless romantic, so it fills my heart with joy when I see two people in love. Even full blown making out is cool with me. Hands touching/groping bodies is probably where I draw the line though. It wouldn't make me angry though, just seeing it in public would be a little awkward.

 

[AnkaraTheFallen]

Doesn't bother me, I've kept the real me hidden for a long time, so I often kiss my GF in public. And we always walk holding hands.
I'm firmly of the belief that if you don't like it, you can look away.

I always find it funny that many guys I know say they don't like seeing couples kissing in public, but they are content to stare at me and my GF kissing. XD

 

[Nimcha]

I enjoy seeing PDA's. I'm a huge hopeless romantic, so it fills my heart with joy when I see two people in love. Even full blown making out is cool with me. Hands touching/groping bodies is probably where I draw the line though. It wouldn't make me angry though, just seeing it in public would be a little awkward.

Same here!

I'm not a romantic though, but I really don't see why people have any problem with it.

 

[Thundero13]

I think pda's are great and everyone should do them ^~^
Seriously though, since I only ever hear about people breaking up & marriages failing, it'd be really nice to see more couples being adorable :3

 

[DoctorFrankenStein]

I feel like everyone who answers this thread should have to state whether or not they're virgins.

That being said: I'm not a huge fan of face-sucking, slobbery, exhibitionist PDA amongst couples of any age or sex. But those of you who are all, "I DUN LIEK IT CUZ RELASHUNSHIPS R SHOWOFFS" -- dude. Come on. Very few people are pecking each other on the cheek to rub their happiness in your face.

I like to hold hands with my boyfriend. Not all the time, but sometimes. And sometimes I like to kiss him on the cheek or touch the back of his head or give him a handie or whatever. It has nothing to do with showing off. It's more "I feel strongly affectionate right now and I want to express that." Witnesses tend not to be a factor.

I mean, I hug my parents and my siblings, too. I am definitely not thinking, "HA HA, THAT DUDE LOOKS LIKE HE'S AN ORPHAN. WATCH ME HUG MOMMY, ORPHANBOY."

Kissing -- sweetly, chastely -- feels nice. Some of y'all could probably do it more if you weren't "barging through the middle of you Richard Ashcroft style." Uncool.

Not a virgin here, not by a mile. I lost that back in '96'.
But I love PDAs. It gives me some hope that there are still some positive emotions in the human race and not just hatred, greed and jealousy.
I especially like it when bi-racial or GLBT couples kiss. The only thing more fun is seeing the horrified reaction of some repressed, intolerant creep getting offended by it.
And anyone who barges between me and Spirit will get instantly clothes-lined and become more closely acquainted with the floor. >:]

 

[Mordekaien]

If I have to step over copulating pairs..... that's too much I think