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In reply to the discussion: Good God almighty, where are we headed? (Rant) [View all]bhikkhu
(10,715 posts)The whole thing just makes me sad. Just the other day I was thinking of how I'd gotten into the habit over the last 15 years or so of no physical contact. When I was younger there was all kinds of horseplay with friends. When I was 20-something there was all kind of non-sexual contact among my friends; hugs, rough-housing, a touch of the arm or holding hands just because, it was just normal physical stuff. When my kids were little we'd play together, comfort each other, snuggle, etc, there was no awkwardness or worry about it.
I'm not sure when things changed, at least for me...being older and male I guess made it a point to be politely absent or distant when my daughters had friends over, once they were teenagers. And then drifted away from some other friends after a more or less amicable divorce. But...I can say that I've had physical contact with exactly two people in the past 8 months. My neighbor at thanksgiving, who we do a big dinner with every year and I cook the turkey. She gave me a brief hug when I came in the door and sat the turkey down. And then my daughter, who I hugged when she moved away for college. That's pretty much it, and pretty much the norm. It's kind of a cold world. I believe the women who complained about Biden, but that doesn't mean I think the world wouldn't be a healthier place with a whole lot more men like Biden.