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.
comments
Leave a Reply


nope. I’m comfortable with the hug.
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.
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.
But would you hold your breath?
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.
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.
I’m also in favor of hugging. And breathing.
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.
do the ‘terrible huggers’ (Aaron, Daryl) like to be hugged?
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?
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.
If I hug you, I will be almost certain to kiss your cheek or your neck. I’m just warning y’all.
I am taking you for a breather then, Sheila.