Public displays of affection can be fun and exciting, but where should you draw the line?
Almost all of us have indulged in public displays of affection (PDA) at some point in time - from the very young to the very old. It can be a fun and exciting part of any relationship - effectively declaring your feelings for your partner in front of the whole world.
However, to what extent are these little displays of love and affection endearing, and when does it just become way too much information for everyone else? (Hint: the couple in the picture are probably going overboard!)
What is okay
Some examples of public displays of affection are perfectly fine and are actually quite endearing. Most people find it very comforting and touching to see a very elderly couple who still enjoy walking together, hand in hand.
Conversely, most people don’t mind seeing a young couple greet with a hug and a quick peck. (Aren’t they cute?)
What is NOT okay
However, when those quick pecks become long, passionate bouts of swapping saliva, most of the people around you start to get uncomfortable and irritated - you might not notice them because you’re a bit busy, but they’re there.
It's all about context
One of the primary issues to bear in mind is where you are at the time and who’s around you. Extreme public displays of affection are much more acceptable with a group of people the same age and mindset as you (often at high school/college parties where everyone else is engaging in similar behaviour).
This is absolutely not acceptable when there are children or much older people around - like at the mall or walking down the main shopping street in town.
Another key point is how does it really look … soft kisses generally just come across as sweet and don’t bother most people. Lightly lingering hands and gentle touches show that you’re being romantic and are in love.
Groping your girlfriend’s breast or massaging your boyfriend’s rear end like you’re kneading dough is just distasteful to everyone around you.
Keep it covered up
Also, the public doesn’t really want to see flashes of your skin. In the movies it always looks really sexy when the man’s six-pack stomach is exposed or when the cleavage becomes more readily available, but that’s in the movies. In real life, people haven’t been airbrushed into looking like models and those flashes of skin more often look a bit tacky. Save those indulgences for private occasions.
Hands should definitely not disappear into each other’s private bits when in any kind of public environment. It may be hard to remember this in the heat of the moment (so just take that heat home or to a very private, secluded area).
You’re not really turning anyone else on when you do this in public (it’s another one of those situations that looks a lot better in the movies than it does in reality).
Be sensitive to the people around you
You should also be wary of being too affectionate with your partner when around friends. Constantly caressing one another and gazing into each other’s eyes can make you seem completely focused on your significant other, to the exclusion of the people around you. Not only is this insensitive, it’s just rude.
Be especially mindful when around people or friends who are going through a tough time - if your pal has just been dumped, being constantly reminded of your fantastic relationship could be very painful for them. Remember, there’s a time and a place for everything.
The bottom line is take half a second’s thought about where you are and who’s around you before you go sucking face with the current object of your affection.
Do you really want to scare those little kids for the rest of their lives with images they wouldn’t be allowed to watch on TV?
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