A cartoon like this, that embraces the freely-given love of children and the child in all of us, makes me (a male) want to cry from emotion. I love it. And I miss the freely-offered and freely-accepted hugs of my childhood and young-adulthood.
That said, as a male, I recognize that times have changed. Now-a-days, if a woman wishes to offer a hug she is free to do so. But something has been lost. If I, a male, offer a hug to a female, I am presumed to be a creep and a lech. To snap a snarled “NO!” and look ready to strike out is both rude and unkind, and it is inappropriate for the usual intent of the offer.
We, as a society, need to bring things back to center. A woman should feel both empowered and safe to offer a hug to either gender. She also should feel free to politely say “No, thank you anyway,” to one that is offered, and be both heard and acknowledged, and her wishes respected. That same courtesy should be, of course, expected for a man. We can be civil, folks.
jagedlo about 4 years ago
I’m surprised that the snowman didn’t melt from the warmness of that hug!
1953Baby about 4 years ago
Hugs given freely and warmly without requirement of payback are wonderful!
ScratchyPDX about 4 years ago
Was that a death embrace? She gave him a hug that warmed his heart…and then he melted. :)
Tentoes about 4 years ago
If my heart had cockles, they would indeed be warmed!
bakana about 4 years ago
Practice Random & Senseless Acts of Chocolate.
SrTechWriter about 4 years ago
A cartoon like this, that embraces the freely-given love of children and the child in all of us, makes me (a male) want to cry from emotion. I love it. And I miss the freely-offered and freely-accepted hugs of my childhood and young-adulthood.
That said, as a male, I recognize that times have changed. Now-a-days, if a woman wishes to offer a hug she is free to do so. But something has been lost. If I, a male, offer a hug to a female, I am presumed to be a creep and a lech. To snap a snarled “NO!” and look ready to strike out is both rude and unkind, and it is inappropriate for the usual intent of the offer.
We, as a society, need to bring things back to center. A woman should feel both empowered and safe to offer a hug to either gender. She also should feel free to politely say “No, thank you anyway,” to one that is offered, and be both heard and acknowledged, and her wishes respected. That same courtesy should be, of course, expected for a man. We can be civil, folks.