[worik]

In my world people are always hugging me.

It used to annoy me, but I am used to it now, in fact I like it - from people I like. I almost never initiate a hug except to my most intimate family members

I have had the bother of people being predatory sexually and touching me. Really annoying.

I am a straightish man in my fifties. In Aotearoa

[stevekemp]

I'm from the UK and I'm used to hugging friends, male or female, as a greeting when I see them in the pub, and again as a goodbye if they came to my house and left.

I moved to Finland where physical contact is less typical, and less common. But it seems that most of the people I've met seem to enjoy the hugs I take for granted and usually offer.

Some people say "No hugging", or "Ahh yes, you're British we must hug now.." with a bit of a smile. But on the whole I've always been one to touch friends and people I'm close to. I've always regarded physical contact as an extremely important part of communication.

[tacheiordache]

Not sure if I am a little bit on the spectrum but I feel very awkward when I hug someone other than partner/family member. I get very self conscious about whether I do the right move, like where should I put my right hand, how about left hand, where do i look, etc. I hugged a friend/girl and without thinking I touched my chest to hers and was tapping on her back while at the same time realizing it wasn't appropriate and then trying to brush off the awkward feeling. I found myself doing that here and there, especially with someone I am not very familiar with. I feel like others know the social protocol without ever learning it explicitly while I somehow missed to pick it up along the way. I was a shy kid but was perfectly normal in smaller circles of friends or school.

[pengaru]

I suspect you're probably just overthinking it WRT feeling inappropriate about hugging close with a friend. Hugs are relatively harmless, and most people who willingly engage in a hug aren't going to protest when they receive a solid one.

[leetcrew]

not sure how helpful this is, but if you deliberately look for it, you'll find that many people who seem to "know the social protocol" actually do lots of awkward stuff and make faux pas all the time. as long as the person isn't aware that they're being awkward, no one seems to notice.

unfortunately this is sort of a catch-22. if you feel awkward about something, people will probably notice and perceive it that way also. I try to at least pretend that I don't feel awkward in these situations, which kinda works. it's sorta like the phenomenon where nobody questions a person with a hi-vis and a clipboard.