between people of the opposite sexes in many workplaces these days. Why? For fear of lawsuits.
Inappropriate behaviour it is called.
I got hauled up and given a formal warning for hugging a colleague who'd just lost their mother. I'd known the woman and her family for nearly twenty years but that didn't cut any ice. HR accepted that I was a family friend but... rulez is rulez. Do not touch!
Needless to say I parted company with that company not long afterwards.
Sad really. PC gone bonkers.
Samantha
Young, elementary school
Young, elementary school children have been suspended for hugging. Is the world going crazy? Two 8 or 9 yr olds hugging is NOT sexual.
Karen
Zero Intelligence Policies
One of the problems with political correctness run amuck is the application of "Zero Tolerance" policies. These policies take apply a one size fits all approach to everything from true sexual harassment to hugging.
Since common sense and intelligence no longer are needed, you end up with a lot of these ridiculous situations.
Michelle B
One Size Fits All
The trouble is one size never does fit all.
I'm torn:
I started coaching youth sports in the 1960's and continued for the next over fifty years to share my love of competition and sportsmanship with children, boys and girls. I coached several sports -- and over thirty teams. I had a state champion basketball team (girls) and a high school tennis team that took second in state (boys). During that time I watched things change so that I was fearful to be in a gym with children without another adult in attendance to protect myself against liability suits. Other than having parents constantly question my wisdom and coaching decisions, I never had an incident.
During the same time I suffered the loss of several friends and relatives who committed suicide because of the sexual abuse they'd suffered at the hands of our parish priests.
We embrace the golden rule. If we want others to hug us, we must hug them.
One rule does fit all!
Jill
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
hugging in school
My late wife was a teacher/librarian forced to retire due to MS back in 2001. There were kids K-5th who never had hugs at home. The only hugs they ever received was from the teachers. It broke my wife's heart when she was ordered to stop giving hugs in the late 1990s. Those kids from poor families were quite literally crumbling for lack of caring hugs. There was an isolated alcove in the library where she kept reference books. She used that to surreptitiously give much needed hugs.
Boys will be girls... if they're lucky!
Jennifer Sue
Who is to blame?
Blame it on the Lawyers with nothing better to do, and all those who want to fill there pockets without much effort. That and politicians, and others, who are trying to find a cause to make a mark with!
Hugs
C K
It's not "PC gone bonkers" ...
That statement implies it was sane to begin with. When I was growing up it was called "manners", or "being polite". First time I ever heard the term was a 'wtf?' moment for me, and my opinion of the concept has only slid downhill ever since. Since it started at below-ground-level, organic life cannot exist where it's currently residing, which is where I dearly wish the originators of the concept would colonise ... yesterday.