Watching the keeper caress and hug the last male Northern White Rhino Sudan - and the look of pleasure in the eyes of the elderly mammal - I was struck by how we Brits are so non tactile. I spend much time abroad where hugging and touching are a crucial part of any relationship. Concierges and receptionists at my regular hotels come out from behind the desks to hug and kiss me. I love this. Of course, I suppose these days in civilised UK and USA, it is considered attempted rape.

It's very noticeable..and of course those Continental type chaps are always hugging each other.

The small Russian side of my family are great huggers..not unusual for grown men to kiss and hug young boys. In Britain they would be hunted down by Pedo Hunters.

This was Rolf Harris's downfall..he is very tactile. I've only met him once but he grasped my hand to shake and then held my elbow as (he seemed) to listen intently to my mutterings. His best friends said he was like this with everyone..easy to see his polite and friendly way of meeting could be interpreted as a grope.

And on TV this morning, cuddling a black panther!

hedda wrote:
This was Rolf Harris's downfall..he is very tactile. I've only met him once but he grasped my hand to shake and then held my elbow as (he seemed) to listen intently to my mutterings. His best friends said he was like this with everyone..easy to see his polite and friendly way of meeting could be interpreted as a grope.
I suspect that the accusations against Rolf Harris were less about honestly misconstruing tactile behaviour and more about opportunistically reinterpreting it as inappropriate in the hope of personal gain.

Nicely put Jo.

JK2006 wrote:
Nicely put Jo.

Indeed. You cant honestly misconstrue tactile behaviour at an event that never even happened.