I find it pleasing too, but it's strange nevertheless. That strange feeling goes away when the person that does it is not an emotional stranger anymore - I'm to

I find it pleasing too, but it's strange nevertheless. That strange feeling goes away when the person that does it is not an emotional stranger anymore - I'm touching my partner all the time and she touches me too because we know each other and we know that we like and accept (or even expect) it. My friends get to know me and can safely interact with me in many ways other people can't and with them we can get really touchy (or not, depending on the person). From others, I do expect that "do I have consent" question. It sounded strange for me too in the past, but I've actually been in places where such questions are a social norm and in practice they work really well. I'm a kind of person who always replies "yes" anyway, but thanks to that question the awkwardness somewhat goes away. The only sane alternative to asking that question is not touching at all until becoming emotionally connected.