People’s opinions on PDA differ from person to person. Some people deem it inappropriate, while others believe there’s nothing wrong with a little show of affection in front of others. The author ofthis storyfound himself in a little conundrum while on vacation with his wife.
The authorwent on to r/AITAHto get more impressions on who was right, and the opinion was divided.
The author u/AnnoyedPricklyPrick was kind enough to answer some questions forBored Panda. He told us more about why he decided to seek the Internet’s opinion and what his general opinion on public displays of affection is. Read our interview with him below!
Seeing people being affectionate with each other can make those around feel uncomfortable
Image credits:micens / Envato (not the actual photo)
This man asked the Internet whether he and his wife were rightfully called out for getting a little touchy during vacation
Image credits:crystalsing / Envato (not the actual photo)
The OP later edited his post to add a sweet message to his wife
Image credits:AnnoyedPricklyPrick
He also answered some questions from the commenters
The OP wanted to get an unbiased opinion from people who don’t personally know him
Bored Panda reached out to the author of this story, u/AnnoyedPricklyPrick, and he agreed to tell us more about it. The OP tells us he was looking for neutral opinions on the incident since the people who know him and his wife wouldn’t be as objective.
The OP tells us that hisfamily membersdidn’t think he and his wife were being inappropriate. However, he also says that they’ve seen them behave this way for many years, so they might be more used to it. The family took more issue with how the OP handled the children’s behavior.
“My siblings and mother all know that I don’t like kids and that I can be quite irritable and snippy with people, so they assumed that I was overly snappish and that the kids probably weren’t actually out of line. An annoying inference, but I suppose I understand why they made it,” the Redditor admits.
However, u/AnnoyedPricklyPrick feels likeother Redditorsweren’t as neutral as he expected. “There seemed to be a lot of people making up details to suit themselves anyway,” the OP added. “And that applies to people with all sorts of thoughts on whether I was the [jerk] or not.”
The OP doesn’t see anything wrong with public displays of affection
Image credits:Katie Salerno / Pexels (not the actual photo)
We also asked the OP what he thinks the line is between appropriate and inappropriate when it comes to being affectionate in public. “Personally, I think as long as sexual stimulation isn’t happening, public displays of affection are perfectly fine and should be normal,” the Redditor tells us.
“I think, generally, way too many people associate touching with sex when really it’s only an indication ofcomfort and affection. I suppose that’s not unexpected from me.”
“That said, I can see now how someone might have been worried that my wife and I were being sexual with each other, even though we weren’t.” The Redditor also reiterates that the joke his wife made wasn’t even remotely sexual. “[It] was about the class she taught the previous semester. It wasn’t anything inappropriate,” u/AnnoyedPricklyPrick says.
Whether PDA is appropriate or not depends on various factors
Image credits:Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels (not the actual photo)
First, of course, is simple personal preference. Some people like it, some don’t, simple as that. However, those preferences depend on various factors, such as upbringing, culture, and social context.
A clinical psychologist who specializes in relationships, Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD, tellsVeryWell Mindthat those who have affectionate parents might be more comfortable with showing affection publicly to their partner.
Some people also think there’s a time and place for PDA. It’s okay to kiss in a bar, for example, but a workplace might be a big no-no. It may also depend on cultural values: some cultures encourage affectionate behaviors. Others, which are more conservative, prohibit any show of affection in public spaces.
Beingwell’s life coach, Grace McMahon, toldInStylethat engaging in PDAs is exciting for some. “A PDA can actually make our hearts race and our bodies feel hotter, creating an enjoyable rush of excitement.
“In fact, just the simplest touch, like holding hands (which can lower cortisol levels), can see us get physically addicted to mild levels of PDA; they get the oxytocin flowing, which helps us feel more secure in our relationships, so it’s not all bad… even if it is soppy.”
People had mixed opinions. Some believed that the OP was not the jerk
Others thought everyone here was acting like jerks
And others expressed how they thought the OP and his wife acted inappropriately
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