A different perspective on Joe Biden

[macwriter]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Yonnie3 (a host of the General Discussion forum).

I seldom post, but always read DU and love the passion and interaction here. My mother was born and raised in Wilkes Barre PA and is Irish Catholic. She and Joe are the same age. When I saw the forehead to forehead shots of him as well as the shoulder touching, it hit me. My mom does exactly the same thing -- with friends, relatives, neighbors, my friends -- everybody. She'll reach out and hold your hand if she thinks you need it. She gives unsolicted neck rubs. She's an all-time space invader. So here's my question: would these same women who were uncomfortable and offended by Joe's space invasion feel the same way about my mom, Mary's actions if they were the recipient of her unasked for hug, etc.?
I know it's out there a bit, but I was wondering how much is this a gender as opposed to space invasion issue?

[OhZone]

1. Yes -

I see it as a little sexist. It's sexist against men. I'm a classic feminist and a lesbian, but I try to see both sides.

That being said, some of the touchy feely I've done through my life with other women at work and other places, when I was not OUT, was probably more sexual then they knew. ha

But back on topic, I think Biden is just old school caring and empathetic like your Mom.

[Buckeyeblue]

2. Excellent question

[LongtimeAZDem]

3. Biden is what men were supposed to become in the 60s and 70s; strong but gentle

compassionate, sensitive, and demonstrative with his feelings.

And now his character is being assassinated because he held someone "just a little too long".

[zipplewrath]

4. Actually, yes

In my social group, there is one woman who invades space all the time. Everyone, male and female have commented upon it and yes, some of the women don't like it. I have a lesbian friend that got very huggy and grabby when she drank. Women didn't like it.

[Demit]

5. Who here can answer how these same women would feel?

Aren't you really just asking what people here THINK these same women would feel? You're asking people to speculate. But people can only legitimately tell you how they themselves would respond. Although many likely will tell you how they think other people are supposed to feel.

[MineralMan]

6. Tolerance for physical expressions of whatever are individual.

It's not sex or gender-based. Some folks like to hug and some folks hate being hugged or hugging.

I'm a happy hugger, but I try very hard to get a sense of how someone feels about it before hugging.

What that means is that I almost never hug strangers, but save those hugs for people I'm close to in some way.

I'm not a politician, either. People see politicians as familiar figures, so they often look at them differently than some stranger they just encountered. Public figures have a much harder time with this sort of thing. I had a friend who was a TV news anchor. She said that people always assumed she was their friend, since she was in their home every day on the tube. Fortunately for her, she was a very physically friendly person, because lots of people wanted to hug her when they encountered her.

Rules for public figures are somewhat different than for the average Jane Doe, really.

[Srkdqltr]

7. I think this is a. Let's get Joe .. issue.

If he wasn't hot in the polls this would not be an issue.

[loyalsister]

8. I come from a very touchy feely family

I remember grabbing onto my dad and being tickled when I was a child. My sisters and I were delighted and enjoyed the attention. I have also felt very uncomfortable seeing him trying it with my niece while she squirms and tries to get away.
I never hug or touch her without asking because I remember meeting men who treated women the way my dad treated us during my teen and college yrs.
Times have changed and we know more. It's a good time to listen to alternate perspectives. I see where you're coming from and feel it's essential to not discount other points of view.

[akraven]

9. Ditto, macwriter, only it was my dad from south Philadelphia and the same age as Joe.

He couldn't NOT touch. Didn't matter who - local parish priest, his secretary, me, my brother, our friends....

Much ado about nothing, methinks!!

[Yonnie3]

10. Locking after a review by hosts

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