Lucy Flores with Bernie Sanders' hand on her shoulder

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72. it has to do with consent, and it's not a hard concept.

in my workplace, the only physical contact i ever have with anyone is a handshake, and i wouldn't ever dream of grabbing someone's hand for that. i extend my hand out for a shake, if they grasp it, fine. if they offer a fist for a pound, i pound it, fine. if they say "sorry, i'm a germophobe" or something like that, i pull my hand back and nod at them.

not difficult at all.

some people like shoulder rubs in the workplace. i neither give nor receive that sort of thing in the workplace, but consent there is simple as well. you just ask for a shoulder rub, or you offer one. there's no touching until consent has been given. simple.


but a photo of a co-worker receiving a backrub sheds zero light on whether or not someone else touched that person inappropriately.

just because someone is ok with certain forms of social touching *to which they have given consent* doesn't mean they're ok with other forms of social touching, or the same forms from different people, or when they haven't given consent.

it's dangerous and hurtful to even suggest it, that's why i object so much to the o.p.