Public Display of Affection

When she was a growing teenager, I had always told her not to walk holding hands with her special friend.  Special friend was what I wanted to tell myself probably that time because of denial that my 14 year old year old daughter already had a ‘boyfriend’.  With this telling her, the advice was laced with admonition that we live in vicinity of my husband’s relatives.  She will be feasted upon, I told her.  Other than the good intention, it was my fear that was overpowering my sanity.

Public display of affection is alarming to the audience.  We have to admit that we live on a daily basis in a communal world.  The people around are the spectators.  The spectators are diverse and we cannot really control what they have to think or speak about.  Especially when they see minors smooching or petting in public.  If they react to simple holding of hands, what more seeing those daring acts?

My point is it becomes alarming to a certain degree.  When people see adults give each other a peck, it would not matter, because as it is, it is a short, casual kiss. But when couples started to kiss and touch amorously in public, there is an effect to the audience.  What if they are not adults, minors, as I had mentioned?  It would only not be alarming to a certain degree.  People, especially the kindred, would react extraordinarily, and the first to react would be those with born hatred or indifference.  The rest will go with the flow of events, or would give advices objectively.  Nevertheless, they are all borne of a consequence.  To react is normal.  It is how to react that makes a difference.

We can also say that this is a cultural thing.  In other countries, this may not be a big deal.  Countries with ethos of true free thinking will shrug the matter off particularly with adults doing the act.  In a conservative country however this is a thing not to be undermined.  It is a matter not to scoff at.  It is about decorum in public places and around people.  Etiquette and good manners are truly important.  However, there is also a question of who defines what is good in manners and etiquette.

Once, I was madly in love and it numbed my whole person of the existence of other human beings.  I was not a teenager then.  I was not reluctant in saying and showing my love to the other person.  In short, I was showy.  I did public display of attention a lot. That is why I have the propensity to understand lovers.

But the emotion and the feelings between juveniles can sometimes be misleading.  It is what affects me.  When two youngsters are not sure of what they really feel, and for sure they truly are, they should not be engaging themselves yet with public display of attention.  It would still look awkward.