Public Displays of Affection - Yea or Nay?

[zeroturbulence]

First of all, I wasn't replying to anyone except the person who asked the question about whether we'd feel the same if it was a homosexual couple. Then I got replied to.

Second of all, it was just an analogy. I could have used anything gross as an example.

And third... I treat gays just like everyone else, and I even admire some of them for their artistry, but that doesn't change how I feel about seeing two men kissing each other.

 

[gene77]

Rachel20, you sure spurned this thread into another topic on the whole. I agree with Roamer. I agree with ChandlerFan. I agree with Grace-Like-Rain. And, I also agree with zeroturbulence.

Zeroturbulence, I know what you mean by being grossed out. A lot of my guy friends say that they would love watching a lesbian couple make-out, but they would totally puke on watching a gay couple do the same. I know you wouldn't want to be around when either do it. As for me, I have seen a man kiss a man, as well as seen numerous women kiss each other (stemming from the fact that I was in an all-woman's college, and most girls "experimented" their so-called lebianism within them, as American poetess Adrienne Rich has openly spread around).

It is disturbing in that extent. Initially, when I was first exposed to all of this, I was shocked. Girls/women in my college even started hitting on me when I became President of the college. It was rather uncomfortable. And, then, you actually get to know these people as people, and you don't feel grossed out anymore. On my part, I don't know if I stopped feeling grossed out because I got used to seeing stuff like that, or I stopped feeling grossed out because I knew the people on a personal level, and they were my friends.

That being said, I do feel incredibly uncomfortable when any couple (homosexual or heterosexual) kiss in front of me or start getting all cozy with each other. Because when they do that, they automatically zone everyone else out. And, then, I'm left with "Gen, do I keep looking at them while trying not to make a weird expression? Or do I turn my head away and maybe find a sudden admiration for the sky?"

Yeah.... No. So, PDA for me is something personal for me, and if I happen to do it (I have a feeling it may happen at the airport ), and if I manage to not get nabbed by the "moral" police, then, I will be zoning everyone out like I don't give a care about what everyone else around me thinks or feels. Which maybe, in that spur of the moment, I wouldn't care. I don't know. But, I should keep in mind that if I feel uncomfortable with people kissing in front of me, I bet others would go "eck" watching me do the same.

Holding hands and warm hugs, and kiss-pecks are actually cute. Oh, wait, not the arm-around-the-neck thing that Indians do. Looks SO uncomfortable just watching the girl's head bent over by the pressure of the guy's arm resting on her neck. Anyone else has noticed that?

 

[Oreobarbie]

I only support it if the PDA in question occurs when one or both parties participating in the PDA are legally considered a dwarf or dwarf-like. Shout out to Seoulsearch!!!!

 

[Roh_Chris]

Holding hands and warm hugs, and kiss-pecks are actually cute. Oh, wait, not the arm-around-the-neck thing that Indians do. Looks SO uncomfortable just watching the girl's head bent over by the pressure of the guy's arm resting on her neck. Anyone else has noticed that?

Yeah I have. But it's not just only Indians - I have seen it in other places also. But it's funny to see the girl struggle under the weight of the guy.


My take on the debate of PDAs by homosexual people - I react the way I would if I see a heterosexual couple chewing out their tongues in front of me.

 

[Test_F_i_2_Luv]

I guess I've been bold enough to pat/rub the tush of a gf...on a rare occasion...in public.

It's a short and innocent gesture/PDA, which I'll instead refer to as "flirting".

Muah ha ha ha.

 

[Atwood]

Public Displays of Erotic Behavior; Lust

IMHO:

The Title of the Thread is misleading. Affection is ambiguous (smiling at a baby is showing affection publicly).

I think what you are referring to is moderately or immoderately intimate sexual behavior in public, like smooching or canoodling.

Following is not just my opinion:

Scripture warns us vs youthful lusts (even if done by dirty old men?) and that lusts war vs the soul.
One should not set stumbling blocks before others, as married persons might, by excessively intimate conduct in pubic.

BTW 1 Thes 4 evidently warns vs acquiring a wife via the lust route. One is to acquire one's own vessel [wife] not in the passion of lust -- no shotgun marriages recommended.

Do you recall the old Italian street fruit vendor's sign over his cart?:
"Don't sqeezame un-uhtil Im'a yours.

 

[Tintin]

Wow. That just escalated.

 

[JesusLives]

PDA is o.k. unless you feel the need to tell them.....Get a room...then not so much........

 

[maxwel]

Shouldn't make a difference whether it was PDA between a heterosexual or gay couple. Standards (whatever yours are) should apply the same. Why would PDA done between a man or a man, or a woman and a woman, make us any less comfortable than if the same was done between a man and a woman?

Also no meaning disrespect, but let's stop using the 'Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve' line. Tacky and counterproductive

If you see two men kissing, and it DOES NOT make you uncomfortable,
then you have become far too desensitized to what God calls an "abomination".

I believe in being kind and loving toward homsexuals, and giving them the gospel in a loving way.

Being loving toward them DOES NOT equate to be alright with what they do.

When you can look at what God calls an "abomination", and feel alright about it...
you need to reexamine yourself.

Anytime blatant, excessive, overt sins stops making us uncomfortable, any of us,
we need to reexamine ourselves.
We have become to desensitized to it.

Homosexuality isn't cute, or funny, or okay.
It's an abomination.
It's against God, and it's against nature, and it SHOULD disturb us.
However, they are still no better or worse than any other fallen human...
and we should witness to them with love and gentleness.

Being disturbed by someone's sin, and how you witness to them,
are TWO SEPARATE ISSUES.

We don't pretend the sin isn't there.
We don't pretend everything is fine when it's not.
WE WITNESS TO THEM WITH GREAT LOVE AND KINDNESS
BECAUSE THEIR SIN IS SERIOUS, AND HARMFUL, AND SEPARATES THEM FROM GOD.

It is the very gravity of their sin that motivates us to action,
so we move toward them in love with the message of Christ.

 

[Charcoal]

Personally my test is substitute "drunkenness" for whatever the sin is... be it homosexual acts, larceny, arson, pearls with plaid... OK, you get the picture... and then my reaction should be the same. I choose "Drunkenness" as my substitute because I have a certain amount of pity for the drunk, but no tolerance for it, do not accept any excuse for it, etc.
In my Wednesday night Bible study there is a man whom has confided in me that he struggles with same sex attraction. He is not engaging in homosexual acts. I look at this like I would look at the alcoholic who hasn't had a drink in years. I support him in his choice to follow a Christian path, I encourage good choices. I love him like a brother. He is actually very dear to me. I am proud of him for the fight he chooses to fight.
Our Christianity is not defined by what tempts us, but rather by what we do about temptation and what we do if we succumb to it.

 

[Tintin]

Personally my test is substitute "drunkenness" for whatever the sin is... be it homosexual acts, larceny, arson, pearls with plaid... OK, you get the picture... and then my reaction should be the same. I choose "Drunkenness" as my substitute because I have a certain amount of pity for the drunk, but no tolerance for it, do not accept any excuse for it, etc.
In my Wednesday night Bible study there is a man whom has confided in me that he struggles with same sex attraction. He is not engaging in homosexual acts. I look at this like I would look at the alcoholic who hasn't had a drink in years. I support him in his choice to follow a Christian path, I encourage good choices. I love him like a brother. He is actually very dear to me. I am proud of him for the fight he chooses to fight.
Our Christianity is not defined by what tempts us, but rather by what we do about temptation and what we do if we succumb to it.

Pearls with plaid? I'm not familiar with that one. Otherwise, I totally agree with you, brother.

 

[Roh_Chris]

Personally my test is substitute "drunkenness" for whatever the sin is... be it homosexual acts, larceny, arson, pearls with plaid... OK, you get the picture... and then my reaction should be the same. I choose "Drunkenness" as my substitute because I have a certain amount of pity for the drunk, but no tolerance for it, do not accept any excuse for it, etc.
In my Wednesday night Bible study there is a man whom has confided in me that he struggles with same sex attraction. He is not engaging in homosexual acts. I look at this like I would look at the alcoholic who hasn't had a drink in years. I support him in his choice to follow a Christian path, I encourage good choices. I love him like a brother. He is actually very dear to me. I am proud of him for the fight he chooses to fight.
Our Christianity is not defined by what tempts us, but rather by what we do about temptation and what we do if we succumb to it.

Well said, Sir!

 

[ArtsieSteph]

Holding hands or a peck on the cheek is one thing, but making out or playing grabby hands is just awkward for everyone else.

 

[blue_ladybug]

nay nay nay.. touchy-feely PDA's are just embarassing and awkward for anyone unfortunate enough to witness them..lol..