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7 times it's ok to touch a stranger in Ireland

Put your hands on, put your hands on…

5/365 - Reach Out {Explored} susivinh susivinh

TODAY, THIS CHART of where people are comfortable being touched by strangers (according to research) is doing the rounds:

happy pnas.org pnas.org

It reveals things like:

  • Men are more at ease with a female stranger touching any part of their body, including genitals, than a relative
  • Women allow themselves to be touched on a larger bodily area than males
  • British people are less at ease with being touched by a stranger than other nationalities in the study

Ireland wasn’t included in the research by scientists at Oxford and Aalto Universities, but we’ve got a bit of exceptionally scientific research on when touching is allowed:

1. On the back….

… if you’re next at the self-service checkout or the ATM and you’re away with the fairies.

In this case a swift poke a nod saves you any further embarrassment, tuts and general bad feeling.

Queue at ATM infomatique infomatique

2. On the arm…

…. if you’ve just given an old woman a hand with something – directions maybe, or getting something down off a high shelf – and she wants to thank you with a firm grip to the forearm and a “good lad/girl yourself”.

arm concrete_jungler101 concrete_jungler101

3. On the head…

… if Ireland have just scored in any kind of qualifier. Then a robust head ruffle of the person nearest you if borderline required.

REAL LIFE anime hair ▓▒░ TORLEY ░▒▓ ▓▒░ TORLEY ░▒▓

4. On the foot…

… if a salesperson in Clarks lets you use the magic shoe measurer and therefore relive your childhood.

Min gets her feet measured jaygooby jaygooby

5. On the shoulder…

… if you’re at a wedding, it’s 2am, and the DJ has threatened the last song.

richandhan-wedding-web-IMGP2257 TheHuxCapacitor TheHuxCapacitor

By law, you all have to huddlein a drunken circle around the bride and groom, shoulder to shoulder with strangers, taking a real and credible risk of bodily harm as Livin’ On a Prayer reaches its crescendo.

6. On the face…

… if someone gave you a voucher for your birthday and you’re going to endure this facial if it kills you.

Facial. Spyderella Spyderella

7. Pretty much anywhere on your body…

… when you win your Dáil seat.

26/2/2011. General Elections Campaigns Results Leon Farrell / RollingNews.ie Leon Farrell / RollingNews.ie / RollingNews.ie

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