Sir, – I suspect that the opinion article on hugs and kisses, in which the author expressed approval of having been kissed by her postman and by a local council official, was written to gauge the reaction it would receive (“Hugging is so good for you, so let’s do it properly”, Life & Style, October 16th).
In modern Ireland, any service provider who kisses their customers or clients would face disciplinary proceedings, and in my opinion, correctly so.
A smile and a handshake are the only expressions of warmth that should pass between postmen or council officials and their clients, and usually a smile without any handshake is more than sufficient. – Yours, etc,
PAVEL MARIANSKI,
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Dungarvan,
Co Waterford.
Sir, – The last few years of Covid have taught us that for infection control purposes we should keep hugging and kissing to a minimum. We have also learned that hugging and kissing between people who are not in a close romantic or family relationship can land one in serious trouble. A Spanish football official comes to mind, for example.
Let us all keep our arms and lips to ourselves and be satisfied with an ordinary, old-fashioned handshake when we meet strangers or acquaintances in our everyday lives. – Yours, etc,
FINBAR KEARNS,
Piercestown,
Co Wexford.
Sir, – I couldn’t agree more with Céire Sadlier about the benefit of a really good hug. There are two distinct types of huggers – really good and really bad. Nothing compares to a warm, sincere hug and there is little worse than a limp one.
Either hug properly or don’t hug at all! – Yours, etc,
LAURA O’MARA,
Stillorgan,
Co Dublin.