# Is a kiss at work unacceptable? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 11, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-kiss-at-work-unacceptable/571054 "2011-02-11T19:21:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-kiss-at-work-unacceptable/571054/1 "2011-02-11T19:21:25Z")
The hypothetical: Your SO has to stop by your work to drop off some important paper work. While there you two chat it up for a couple of minutes, then, upon leaving, he/she gives you a peck on the lips. Cool? Not Cool? (poll to follow.) My feeling: Please tell me this world has gotten so over the top PC that this is a big deal. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-kiss-at-work-unacceptable/571054/2 "2011-02-11T19:23:25Z")
šŸ˜• The littlest deal in the world. Who could possibly care? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-kiss-at-work-unacceptable/571054/3 "2011-02-11T19:24:26Z")
Is this based upon a real incident? Either way, itā€™s cool, itā€™s just a kiss. Full-on making out is obnoxious, but then it is in public places anyway, not just work. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-kiss-at-work-unacceptable/571054/4 "2011-02-11T19:25:00Z")
What the hell does this have to do with PC? ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-kiss-at-work-unacceptable/571054/5 "2011-02-11T19:25:43Z")
I ask because Iā€™ve had two LTGFs that would both look at me as if I were crazy for trying to do this. Iā€™m confussed too. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-kiss-at-work-unacceptable/571054/6 "2011-02-11T19:27:38Z")
Iā€™ve kissed my wife good-bye after having lunch together, and she dropped me off at work. To the best of my remembrance, nobody gave much of a damn. Maybe if there were tongueā€¦ Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-kiss-at-work-unacceptable/571054/7 "2011-02-11T19:29:08Z")
No big deal compared to all the ass kissing many jobs require. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-kiss-at-work-unacceptable/571054/8 "2011-02-11T19:29:42Z")
I think that must have been their specific office environments. Some places you just donā€™t do it, and maybe you were with two people who worked in places like that. I think most places itā€™s OK. When in Rome. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-kiss-at-work-unacceptable/571054/9 "2011-02-11T19:36:46Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > I think that must have been their specific office environments. Some places you just donā€™t do it, and maybe you were with two people who worked in places like that. I think most places itā€™s OK. When in Rome. Ha! You nailed it. Both times it was an office environment. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-kiss-at-work-unacceptable/571054/10 "2011-02-11T19:38:16Z")
Of course not. I have to tell this one story, though. These two people came in here once, a couple. They came in to sell us something, and my boss knew they were coming, but they were a little early, so I had them wait while she finished up something else. So 5 or so minutes go by, and they are talking, and then they turn to each other and smooch. Bwuh? Itā€™s not like one of them was leaving or anything. They just randomly decided to stop everything and go KISS! And then a few minutes later, did it again. I thought _that_ was a little inappropriate. They were five feet from my desk, and it was just weird. I have no problem with ā€œgoodbyeā€ kisses but generally I prefer that if you are over the age of twenty you refrain from kisses every five minutes. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-kiss-at-work-unacceptable/571054/11 "2011-02-11T19:38:37Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > I ask because Iā€™ve had two LTGFs that would both look at me as if I were crazy for trying to do this. Iā€™m confussed too. Lesbian Transgendered? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-kiss-at-work-unacceptable/571054/12 "2011-02-11T19:46:06Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > Lesbian Transgendered? i think ā€œlong-term girlfriendsā€ ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-kiss-at-work-unacceptable/571054/13 "2011-02-11T19:46:59Z")
A quick peck is fine, sucking face is not. No tongues. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-kiss-at-work-unacceptable/571054/14 "2011-02-11T20:00:53Z")
Quick peck on the lips for your SO: no one cares. Long, open-mouthed sucking face with your administrative assistant: HR issue. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-kiss-at-work-unacceptable/571054/15 "2011-02-11T20:55:26Z")
Please, hon. Not in front of the inmates. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-kiss-at-work-unacceptable/571054/16 "2011-02-11T20:59:03Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > The hypothetical: Your SO has to stop by your work to drop off some important paper work. While there you two chat it up for a couple of minutes, then, upon leaving, he/she gives you a peck on the lips. > > Cool? Not Cool? (poll to follow.) > > My feeling: Please tell me this world has gotten so over the top PC that this is a big deal. Cool. Of course, I say that as a man who has worked with his wife for 15 years. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-kiss-at-work-unacceptable/571054/17 "2011-02-11T21:12:03Z")
My husband and I work in the same office area. At work, we barely acknowledge each otherā€™s existence. I think it just makes us easier to work with if we keep our home life strictly at home. There is no kissing! ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-kiss-at-work-unacceptable/571054/18 "2011-02-11T21:36:56Z")
I voted ā€œIt depends,ā€ for one reason only: If this becomes an issue at any office, Iā€™m CONVINCED there has to be more to this story. A short smooch from a visiting spouse at the office is absolutely no big deal. Iā€™ve done it myself many times. So, if somebody complained, there are (as I see it) only two possibilities: 1. The complainer is a fruitcake, and this will all blow over in no time. 2. This was MORE than a quick kiss, and SOMETHING distasteful did happen that weā€™re not being told about. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-kiss-at-work-unacceptable/571054/19 "2011-02-11T23:02:14Z")
In an _extremely_ conservative work environment, I suppose it might be seen as an issue. Otherwise, I wouldnā€™t have an issue with it (and I work at an ad agency, which is about as far away from a ā€œconservative work environmentā€ as you can get, among ā€œoffice jobsā€). ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-kiss-at-work-unacceptable/571054/20 "2011-02-11T23:14:09Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > I think that must have been their specific office environments. Some places you just donā€™t do it, and maybe you were with two people who worked in places like that. I think most places itā€™s OK. When in Rome. > [@Shakes](#): > > Ha! You nailed it. Both times it was an office environment. No, **Shakes** , you missed her point. She said ā€œ\*\*their specific \*\*office environments.ā€ You said ā€œ\*\*an \*\*office environment.ā€ Their objection wasnā€™t from the fact that they were in an office. It was the culture of their individual office that was the issue. See the difference? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-kiss-at-work-unacceptable/571054.md?page=2)