Posts tagged: social situations
The Arm-Grabber: When Touch Is Used to Make a Point
The person who grabs your arm or wrist mid-conversation for emphasis. A specific form of unwanted contact that often happens too fast to address in the moment.
The Friend Who Is More Physical Than You Are
When one person in a long friendship is naturally tactile and the other isn't, the conversation either happens at some point or it gets managed around indefinitely.
"I'm Just a Hugger" Is Not the End of the Conversation
The self-identification as a physically warm person functions as a social pass in a lot of contexts. Here's why it isn't one, and what it would actually look like to be a hugger who reads the room.
When the Person Genuinely Has No Idea They're Doing It
Genuinely oblivious is a real category. What it looks like, how to tell it from deliberate disregard, and why the approach to the conversation is different.
The Generational Gap: Why Different Rules Seem to Apply
Older relatives and colleagues operate from assumptions about touch that were socialized differently. Understanding why doesn't make the contact okay, but it does affect what you can expect from a conversation.
The Greeting Kiss: How to Opt Out Without Reading as Hostile
Cheek kisses function as a default greeting in certain social circles. What to do when that default doesn't work for you.
What Non-Verbal Signals About Personal Space Actually Look Like
The step back. The tension across the shoulders. The face that has gone still. What these signals communicate and how to tell who isn't seeing them from who is choosing not to.
What Happens After You Say Something About Personal Space
The talk is over. Now what? The realistic outcomes after telling someone their touch isn't welcome — the good ones, the awkward ones, and how to read which one you're in.
When Another Child Won't Stop, and Their Parent Isn't Helping
Your child has said stop. The other child hasn't stopped. The other parent is right there, doing nothing. How to step in without making the whole thing a scene.