Michael Tomasky: Senator Al Frankens Resignation Is Deeply Unfair

[Ghost Owl]

67. What do I make of that statement?

That some people are huggers, and some aren't. That some people kiss friends and acquaintances hello, and others don't. That some people are physically friendly in a non-sexual way, and others aren't. And that can put people in uncomfortable situations. Like a culture clash.

But it isn't sexual assault, sexual harassment, or sexual misconduct.

Franken is admitting to being a 'hugger', not grabbing ass or trying to force a kiss because it's his right as an entertainer. He's admitting to maybe making people who aren't huggers uncomfortable with his hugs and tactile nature. That's showing self-awareness and empathy, not guilt.

There are groups in America that hug and kiss everybody, there are groups that severely restrict the physical contact between non-relations. There are people who are tactile, and people who hate casual physical contact. Eventually these people are going to come to loggerheads.

The rules of social conduct aren't universal. Take for example, "politeness". What one culture considers polite, another does not. Americans have this habit of 'polite smiling' (especially for retail/food service workers, who are supposed to have a default smile on) that can weird out cultures where this isn't a thing, where smiling for no discernible reason can be read as rude or mocking or creepy(this is true in many Scandinavian countries, some other European countries). And sometimes when Americans go to their countries, they can come away with the impression that the people are rude and dower, because nobody is smiling.