Crazy Kids Today Love Hugging Friends

Zany teens, what will they think of next? The NY Times has a front page article about how today's teens greet each other with hugs. A Montvale NJ high school junior says, "We’re not afraid, we just get in and hug. The guy friends, we don’t care. You just get right in there and jump in," while a San Francisco alternative middle schooler puts it, "We like to get cozy. The high-five is, like, boring.” And if you don't hug? Pffft-a freshman at Laguardia High in Manhattan explains, "If somebody were to not hug someone, to never hug anybody, people might be just a little wary of them and think they are weird or peculiar." Question: Do the goth kids hug? Apparently some sociologists think this is a result of "growing up in an era of organized play dates and close parental supervision," but one warns, "Without question, the boundaries of touch have changed in American culture. We display bodies more readily, there are fewer rules governing body touch and a lot more permissible access to other people’s bodies." Which is why some high schools, like Hillsdale High in NJ, ban hugs. Related: The Today show on the scourge of high school hugging.

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By Jen Chung in News on May 28, 2009 12:11 PM

Comments [rss]

FJF

When this trend 180s, I'll be all set with my patent for the full-body condom.

7train

This is a beautiful, warm and healthy thing. It shows how much more open and less repressed today's generation is compared to the previous ones.

mattyrudes

Hugs not drugs.

dandygeorge

That depends, I may be a complete bore to those whose idea of entertainment is manhandling others all day... As for not interacting with real humans - quite rich coming from someone that seems to post endless comments on Gothamist...

NannyState

Hugz not Thugz

Mattachine

I was hugging people when I was interviewing room mates for my spare room. Now, I see why I get the nice people.

nycviabos

If this how the NYT intends to save print media? "News" about kids hugging?

The UK Telegraph took the lead yesterday on an investigative story about the undisclosed Abu Ghraib photos, which, it turns out, show US soldiers hugging and much more with prisoners at Abu Ghraib, but NYT can only offer up this crap?

Rocknrope

WTF?

NannyState

An oral threesome?

Manitoba

SHAZAM!

hotstepper

zinger!

Rocknrope

I heard there's a lot more oral going on with kids now too, true?

jaycjay

If this report is to be believed:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Parenting/story?id=7693121&page=1

jaycjay

Hey! When did that "related" link get stuck in there?

Rocknrope

I heard there's a lot more oral going on with kids now too, true?

Rocknrope

I heard there's a lot more oral going on with kids now too, true?

dandygeorge

There is indeed too much "touching" going on in society. I, for one, am perfectly content with a hearty handshake and a solid "fist bump" if need be, especially if I was feeling extra ethnic that day. Those advocating more "human contact" are usually parasitic idiots and complete bores. If one wants to be groped throughout the day, they should consider a career in prostitution.

hotstepper

you sound like a complete bore who doesn't interact with real humans very much.

"dandy, you can't touch this!"

dandygeorge

That depends, I may be a complete bore to those whose idea of entertainment is manhandling others all day... As for not interacting with real humans - quite rich coming from someone that seems to post endless comments on Gothamist all day...

hotstepper

"quite rich coming from someone that seems to post endless comments on Gothamist all day"

pot meet kettle, dandyboy. now, come on in for the good stuff!

Guest

Was somebody not hugged enough as a child? It sure sounds like it.

angry_pickle

Or do what billions of other people do and just smile and say a greeting "hi" or "how are you" without the air kisses, hello kisses, handshaking, hugging, groping, ass slapping etc. Not saying these greeting methods are wrong just that for most situations they are unnecessary.

dandygeorge

I dare say I wasn't, otherwise I would be like so many other spineless cretins out there, sharing my feelings, posting on Twitter, and go out wearing trousers held up by elastic.

Radtard

Wow, I think I just injured myself rolling my eyes

Dude69

I am all for banning all huggings and other physical contacts among the kids. Just an excuse for nerds and pervs to cope a feel of the hot girls, as well as leading to more inappropriate behaviors.

Guest

Hugging is not only better than a handshake or kiss, it's also much more sanitary. People against anyone hugging really need to examine their own lives and figure out what exactly went wrong in their childhood that made them into such a crotchety asshole.

Guest

That was meant as a general comment, not a reply to Dude.

Guest

That's one of the dumbest comments I've ever read on here. These kids are hugging their friends, not people they don't know or like.

Rocknrope

Things haven't changed that much in society where hot girls are friends with nerds.

Tower18

This isn't new...my middle school put regulations on hugging and holding hands and crap like that. That was back in the mid-late 90s. Of course, no one observed or enforced it back then. It was one of those things put on the books just so the school could say "no way, we said this wasn't allowed...see right here!" if they ever got sued.