It's not so much that PDA irritates me or disgusts me, it's that Germans seem to take it just a little farther than Americans do. They really are a more liberal country.
For example, the other day, Amanda and I were sitting outside on a bench by the lake, just surfing the Internet and enjoying the day. A couple were also out enjoying the day... in fact, it is my belief that they enjoyed it quite heartily. They were lying on the ground together in the sun, in the middle of a green space next to a walkway, happily making out and fondling... for about 3.5 hours. They were still there when I finally left.
Another example: many German couples (granted, I see mainly university-age couples), instead of just giving each other a peck or holding hands will happily and completely obliviously grab, fondle, and make out with each other in very public places, such as directly in front of me in a café on the Uni which also currently contains 18 other people.
Do not like. Do not understand.
Is it just the hidden-until-now conservative American side of me? Am I wrong to be a little uncomfortable or offended by this? Is it only because I grew up in small-town Minnesota?
For those of you who are thinking, wow, this girl just has way too much time on her hands to be blogging about this... yes, you are right. Currently taking book recommendations for a massive Amazon order. Have recently been very into memoirs and autobiographies... anything that'll make me think.
Please respond.
4 comments:
Maybe your conservative roots are coming out...maybe not. I don't know if it has anything to do with you being from a small town or not, either. I think it probably is a little cultural though, oh well. ;)
For me, I have gone through many phases of comfort with PDA's. Also, my reaction seems situation and mood specific. Here is what I observed of my reaction a couple of weeks ago. I went to see the Frida Kahlo exhibit on my own at the SF Museum of Modern Art. (The exhibit was amazing, btw!)
Anyway, I decided to go into the cafe to order a little snack there. While I was there, I noticed a couple exchange a little french kiss. Nothing terribly intense but also not just a peck. My reaction was to feel a burst of love in my heart. I was happy for them. It looked like a sweet kiss. I missed "guess who" in that moment as well. ;)
This same exchange in another location and at another time/mood would have had me feeling a little disgusted, maybe jealous and a little voyueristic...not a feeling I like to have when I haven't authorized it. And that loops back into feeling disgusted. (For example, I authorize that feeling when I watch a romantic movie.)
What do you think?
In any case, you neither have to accept nor reject the PDAs. Maybe you feel like it shouldn't bother you to see these couples cavorting everywhere, but it does. So, that could be making it even harder...your judgment of yourself as conservative or whichever judgment you apply to yourself. If I know you, I know you don't want to be conservative...so this is causing what we call a little cognitive dissonance which can be uncomfortable. (Or maybe I'm totally off...which does happen! ;))
Those are my thoughts on the matter at this time. Sorry it is such a long reply! But I hope it helps sort it out a little for you.
By the way, 3.5 hours of making out in public with fondling? UGH! Maybe with all those PDAs, if nothing else, you'll learn how to block it out or position yourself in such a way as to not allow it to intrude on your concentration. Cheers to an improvement in the PDA situation any way you shake it!
*Hugs*
Jen
This is solved easily. Simply keep a spray bottle of water handy and use it on 'em when in your vicinity. If you cant reach 'em with the water, then they're out of your vicinity. ;]
I am just glad you two were sitting on a bench and not your laptop.
Yeah, I tried to take your advice to heart, Scott. I'm working on it.
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