You're saying goodbye to a friend or maybe a date. Someone that you've never hugged because you're just getting to know each other. Well, this time you give them a hug and they just put their arms around you and don't squeeze.
Those 'hugs' are the worst.
Like the dead fish handshake, but the dead fish hug with no shake.
This happened to me recently. Before that, the first time I had ever experienced this to my recollection was this summer on a date. I said, 'Thanks, see ya," and gave him a hug and he just put his arms on my back. I could barely feel them. I immediately thought, "Never see ya," and shuddered at the thought of that one-sided hug.
Don't people know proper hug technique? From a young age I learned how to properly hug, and practiced on my parents and siblings more than daily.
Other than just that horribly awkward lack of squeeze during a hug, something else that needs to be improved by many people is knowing which hug to use.
I found some hugging techniques on some
website. It gives instructions for three different types of hugs. I beg to differ on some of the explanations, so here you go.
1. Slow-dance:
Her arms will go upward to around his neck and his arms will go under hers. He can put his arms around her waist or
higher up her back. The lower his hands go on her back, the more
suggestive the hug is. This can be a very intimate hug—use it wisely.
In my opinion, this is a good hug with men who are not very tall. Or it's good when you come home and give your dad a big bear hug where he lifts you up off the floor. Intimate, shmintimate. Unless you're into that sort of thing.
2. Big bear and little bear:
Her arms will go below his and he will
wrap around her back while her arms wrap around his waist. This is a
friendlier hug and allows her to be pulled close to him and have her
head rest on his chest.
Actually, this is the best hug. It doesn't have to always be 'friendly'. I think it can be the most romantical of all. The best is when you're hugging a skinny, tall man and your arms go all the way around that skinny waist. You can't go wrong with this hug unless... you're hugging a short guy. But every hug is wrong with a short guy. (i.e. a guy that is an inch or less taller than you.)
3. Criss-cross:
One arm goes up and the other goes down to create an
"x" with his arms and hers. This can lead to the perfect "pull back and
kiss" position where both of you still have your arms holding on to
each other with enough room to still kiss.
This hug is the worst hug to use, unless you're hugging your aunt. Another name for this hug is the awkward hug. This hug says, "I'm afraid of the opposite gender."
So, moral of this post is...
Hugs and how to use them.