Public Announcement

[tigertoy]

With DucKon just around the corner, I figure it might not hurt for me to say this to the world -- it just might bring a little more happiness to some people (one of whom is me).

I'm a very shy person, and I am very bad at noticing and understanding non-verbal cues.  I have a short list of people I know it's OK to touch, and outside of that, I'm really unlikely to risk it without specifically being told it's OK.  So if you'd like a hug or a backrub, please say so.

Comments

[poltr1]

I often wish fandom would adopt the same convention used at Mensa Regional Gatherings: a colored sticker denoting one's hug preferences. Red means "no hugs", yellow means "ask first", green means "hug".

[phillip2637.livejournal.com]

FilKONtario has been doing that for the past two (?) years (in connection with a "hugging contest") and it seems to improve comfort levels.

[kestrels-nest.livejournal.com]

Phil, thank you for saying this. I won't say I'm shy (I am, but no one would believe it), but I am quite concerned about imposing. So unless I know you well, I probably won't ask/ offer hugs, and certainly won't ask for a backrub; I'll wait for it to be offered and go quietly away if it is not. The converse, of course, is that if I do ask, anyone is free to tell me "no" or "don't feel like it" or "bad timing" or whatever.

[tigertoy.livejournal.com]

I could hardly ever imagine actually asking someone if they wanted a backrub. That's why I wanted to throw it out into the ether that I'd almost always be happy to oblige if someone would ask me.

[janeg.livejournal.com]

I hope I am on that short list! See you at Duckon. Is your Mom coming too?

[tigertoy.livejournal.com]

You're on the "hug" list. If you want to be on the "backrub" list you need to say so.

I'm fairly certain my mom is coming.

[barbarakitten-t.livejournal.com]

i am so looking forward to duckcon and your hugs and backrubs are one reason. I will see you there unless I decide to hide in a closet the entire time.

HUG!!!!!!!

[danebassett.livejournal.com]

You can feel free to hug me anytime you ever see me.....but then again you probably already knew that.