# What do you consider to be an acceptable level of physical contact between straight men? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 3, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-to-be-an-acceptable-level-of-physical-contact-between-straight-men/595062 "2011-09-03T15:37:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-to-be-an-acceptable-level-of-physical-contact-between-straight-men/595062/81 "2013-05-02T00:48:56Z")
Hugs are fine. A good portion of my guy friends are huggers. Also, it’s not quite usual around my American friends, but occasionally from more European friends (depending on where they’re from) a kiss on the cheek may occasionally happen, but that’s usually more from within family than friends. What is this “brief hug when in despair” stuff? That’s utterly bizarre to me. Despair warrants a prolonged, protracted hug. The “hi, whassup?” hug is a brief, one second kind of thing. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-to-be-an-acceptable-level-of-physical-contact-between-straight-men/595062/82 "2013-05-02T03:11:53Z")
This thread is genuinely puzzling to me.\* I’m not interested in touching your dick or ass and I’m not putting my mouth on anything; I’m assuming you feel the same way\*. Then we’re good Bro! Is that so complicated? ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-to-be-an-acceptable-level-of-physical-contact-between-straight-men/595062/83 "2013-05-02T03:35:00Z")
Here’s my data point for you. I’m 41-year-old kinda metro guy with lots of gay friends, and I hang out with a New Agey crowd in Indianapolis. Everyone, gay or straight, hugs everyone without fear. Even when I was younger, I would hug my gay friends and even kiss them on the cheek. Honey badger don’t give a shit. Of course, if I am not friends with someone, a handshake will often be the limit. But I will often hug someone I have just met at the end of the night, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-to-be-an-acceptable-level-of-physical-contact-between-straight-men/595062/84 "2013-05-02T03:43:27Z")
Hand shake or a slap on the back for most people. Hugs for close friends or family members. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-to-be-an-acceptable-level-of-physical-contact-between-straight-men/595062/85 "2013-05-02T04:19:16Z")
This thread is over a year an half old. Now a days for me a handshake is pushing it and I’m gay. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-to-be-an-acceptable-level-of-physical-contact-between-straight-men/595062/86 "2013-05-02T05:13:30Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UJ9Ggs3Dkk) ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-to-be-an-acceptable-level-of-physical-contact-between-straight-men/595062/87 "2013-05-02T06:01:03Z")
Handshake or one armed hug with our without an air kiss on the cheek is ample for a friend, whether male or female. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-to-be-an-acceptable-level-of-physical-contact-between-straight-men/595062/88 "2013-05-02T06:33:40Z")
My impression is that straight man’s unwillingness to hug man is more an American thing than European. True? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-to-be-an-acceptable-level-of-physical-contact-between-straight-men/595062/89 "2013-05-02T09:08:51Z")
Straight guys are so funny. And sad. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-to-be-an-acceptable-level-of-physical-contact-between-straight-men/595062.md?page=4)