A primary problem I have with any sort of bodily contact: When it is not genuine. (And my intuition is pretty good on this point.) Where this perhaps becomes

A primary problem I have with any sort of bodily contact: When it is not genuine. (And my intuition is pretty good on this point.) Where this perhaps becomes a problem for me is when I correspondingly cannot "fake it", whether that be a "firm, engaging" handshake, or hug (ugh...), or whatever. I welcome a firm handshake at the end of conversation or negotiation with a straight-dealing, engaged counter-party. I despise the glad-handing salesman or the like. And, dude, when you sidle up next to me and drape your arm over my shoulder? GTFO. Hugging someone with whom I don't have some level of intimacy? In significant part an exercise in not pressing the wrong body parts together. Hugging someone who is a real friend? A momentary welcoming of their physical presence and comfort in same. So, to summarize: Welcome contact comes from being respectful and cognizant of our relationship (or lack thereof). P.S. > And, dude, when you sidle up next to me and drape your arm over my shoulder? GTFO. That also goes -- this is from a hetero male perspective -- for the overly touchy female. There are some who use physical contact as a tool for foisting a temporary intimacy onto another party that is used for one degree or another of manipulation. Guys do this, too -- if you read my "dude", above, as being male; although it could be taken in a gender-neutral fashion. The point of my postscript is to clarify that, from my perspective, both genders can do this... "over-touching", although the details may vary from instance to instance. I know it's done in good part because it often works, to greater or lesser degree. But, I for one find it annoying as hell because it is not genuine, and/or it seeks to exercise a degree of control and manipulation I do not welcome.