[Baeocystin]

I've lived all over the place, and spent my childhood in SE Asia. While aspects of the respective cultures are more reserved about PDAs than the US, hugs were commonplace between friends and family of all ages, not just kids or spouses, pretty much everywhere. Some people don't like it, and that's fine and should be respected. But as far as I experienced, both personally and by observation, the majority do.

[cainxinth]

This goes beyond human culture. Virtually all primates hug. Humans are primates. Heck, I think most mammals are into cuddling.