Ruth
SuperDuperMegaBarfly 
God's provisions are strategically placed along the path of your obedience.
Posts: 3,915
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Post by Ruth on Oct 31, 2006 6:08:46 GMT 7
  BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese appear not to have warmed to a "free hugs" campaign aimed at cheering up strangers by hugging them on the street, with some huggers even being hauled away by police for questioning, media said Monday. The campaign hit the streets of Beijing, Changsha and Xian this weekend, with participants opening their arms to embrace passers-by and brandishing cards saying "free hugs," "care from strangers," "refuse to be apathetic," the Beijing News said. In the capital, police moved in and took away four huggers briefly for questioning, baffled by their wacky, Western activities on a busy city-center shopping street. In the ancient capital of Xian, home to the terracotta warriors, no more than 20 people, mostly children, had volunteered for the free hugs in two hours. "Passers-by showed interest and curiosity, stopped and asked, but most of them walked away after hearing the explanation," Xinhua news agency said, quoting a local newspaper. "Embracing is a foreign tradition. Chinese are not accustomed to this," a man named Li, a Xi'an citizen, was quoted as saying. The ancient city of Changsha, capital of Hunan province, fared better, a local affairs Web site reported. "Though some people refused (to be hugged), I hugged 20 people in one minute," one girl was quoted as saying. The Free Hugs campaign started in Australia and gained fame with a music video this year. -------------------- My hubby used to have a shirt that said "Hug Therapist". He bought it at a 'free hug' booth at a state fair many moons ago. Was good for his line of work and he is absolutely without a doubt the world's best hugger. (Raoul is close, though.)
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Post by cheekygal on Oct 31, 2006 7:31:34 GMT 7
Hmmm haven't seen them huggers in Beijing. And hope not to!  I am a very affectionate person but someone running up to me in the street and hugging me would shock me ;D |
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Escaped Lunatic
Barfly
Civet Burger? Sounds tempting. Can I get fries with that?
Posts: 567
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Post by Escaped Lunatic on Oct 31, 2006 7:33:20 GMT 7
Drat! Beaten to the punch on posting weird China news.  I did somewhere once read that the Chinese tend to consider giving someone a big hug in public to be a bit on the rude side. Haven't managed to get confirmation either way on that one. "I think I've discovered the secret of life - you just hang around until you get used to it." - Charles M. Schulz |
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Post by Lotus Eater on Oct 31, 2006 22:44:56 GMT 7
My Chinese friends are now happy to hug me when we meet and part - so it is happening. And of course at train stations people are hugging all the time. In the university garden in the evening it is hard to take a meander without falling into hugging couples!
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Ruth
SuperDuperMegaBarfly
God's provisions are strategically placed along the path of your obedience.
Posts: 3,915
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Post by Ruth on Nov 1, 2006 7:18:33 GMT 7
Lunatic, I find China and the hugging situation to be much more restrained than where I came from. Just isn't done in the circle of people I've become friends with here. Don't know if they consider it rude, though.
Other signs of affection are present: girls holding hands with girls, women walking down the street with arms linked, guys walking with arms drapped over their friend's shoulder. In a way, much more refreshing to witness. Would NEVER be accepted on a high school campus in USAnia - too much stigma attached these days.
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Post by Dajiang on Nov 1, 2006 8:17:18 GMT 7
I dont even hug back at home. let alone when minding my own business on the streets here by some dude.
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Crippler
Barfly
Beware the conspiracy!
Posts: 345
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Post by Crippler on Nov 8, 2006 10:06:59 GMT 7
LAst year I was walking downtown and the largest grade 12 student saw me. He called me and ran over and nearly smothered me with a bear hug. THis was in front of several of his friends and many other folks. People stared but he just laughed at them and said "say hello to my teacher and friend."
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Post by con's fly is open on Nov 19, 2006 19:15:42 GMT 7
I went to see a former coworker and good friend in Beijing once. She met me at my train, and came forward with great enthusiasm; as I hugged her I realized too late that she was aiming for one of those double-hand-hold deals, and tensed up as if I'd grabbed her ass.
I gotten glommed by Europeans enough times to know exactly what was going through her head: "Aw geez, foreigners suck sometimes."
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Non-Dave
Barfly
Try Not! Do - or Do Not... There Is No Try!
Posts: 701
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Post by Non-Dave on Nov 20, 2006 6:01:39 GMT 7
So you'll just stick to the ass-grabbing in future? China is a confusing place...
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Post by Stil on Nov 20, 2006 9:09:05 GMT 7
Scored a free hug in Changsha a couple of weekends ago. There were 4 or 5 university aged kids holding home made signs written in English and Chinese on the walking street. Nobody seemed the slightest bit bothered or suprised. I didn't either. Seemed perfectly normal for China.
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Post by mich on Nov 21, 2006 7:36:09 GMT 7
watch your pockets people....
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Post by con's fly is open on Nov 22, 2006 22:34:51 GMT 7
 Beware the hugpockets! |
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