September 3, 2008


Dear Clusterflock

When you hug people do you purposefully hold your breath so you don’t smell them?

It doesn’t count if you are interested in them. We are talking about generic, nonsexual hugs here. You can see the data in graph form here.

posted by Andrew Simone in dear clusterflock, sociology 

comments

13 Responses to “Dear Clusterflock”

  1. Deron Bauman on September 3rd, 2008 at 9:32 am

    nope. I’m comfortable with the hug.

  2. Andrew Simone on September 3rd, 2008 at 9:39 am

    I actually do hold my breath but it is somewhere in between purposeful and habit. I am, however, comfortable with the hug and wouldn’t hold my breath longer than would be comfortable.

  3. Daryl Scroggins on September 3rd, 2008 at 9:45 am

    Oh. I hadn’t thought of that–but now I will, damnit. I guess I’m not big on hugs anyway; my version, now that I think of it, is more like a one-arm body check–a kind of “watch out, you’re about to step in front of a car.” I was never good at the kiss-kiss to both cheeks thing, either; I have done it wrong at times and ended up hitting the lips, and then I hounded myself mentally for weeks for being such a dumbass.

  4. Andrew Simone on September 3rd, 2008 at 9:46 am

    But would you hold your breath?

  5. Tracy on September 3rd, 2008 at 9:51 am

    I guess I tend to fart when I hug people and just assume that they’re doing the same so, Yes. I hold my breath.

  6. Jordan on September 3rd, 2008 at 10:04 am

    I don’t hold my breath, at least not consciously, unless I’m expecting a unpleasant scent (say, if they’ve been smoking). I am a hugger.

  7. Cooper Renner on September 3rd, 2008 at 10:16 am

    I’m also in favor of hugging. And breathing.

  8. Aaron Winslow on September 3rd, 2008 at 10:39 am

    I’m a terrible hugger. I hold my breath and bend at the waist, offering only the arms and shoulders.

    Relatedly, my wrist pops when I shake hands. People don’t like that.

  9. Deron Bauman on September 3rd, 2008 at 11:11 am

    do the ‘terrible huggers’ (Aaron, Daryl) like to be hugged?

  10. Daryl Scroggins on September 3rd, 2008 at 11:15 am

    I don’t hold my breath–but I did when I was a child. It was mostly old people hugging me, and as I recall odors were much more acute for me then. I had a great aunt who smelled like a morgue, and I always imagined that the smell was coming directly from the tumescent goiter she smothered me with. Now do you wonder why I’m not big on hugging?

  11. Aaron Winslow on September 3rd, 2008 at 11:57 am

    There are very few people with whom I am already acquainted and from whom I am delighted to receive a hug. There is also, of course, the person who is somehow just able to pull it off. Same with the touch on the shoulder or arm during conversation.

    I love the gesture, but not the contact. When I was a baby, my mom considered that I might be autistic. Now she considers that I might be a dickhead.

  12. Sheila Ryan on September 3rd, 2008 at 12:01 pm

    If I hug you, I will be almost certain to kiss your cheek or your neck. I’m just warning y’all.

  13. Andrew Simone on September 3rd, 2008 at 12:05 pm

    I am taking you for a breather then, Sheila.

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