Too Close For Comfort?

A few months ago, if you had been wandering through Pitt Street Mall on a weekend, you may have seen a group of people standing around dispensing free hugs. For anyone who cared to partake, either a guy or a girl was ready to offer a friendly embrace. They were promoting their services both by displaying sandwich board signs and calling out to passers by but I’d have to say that they were definitely getting more looks than takers. They also seemed to be inspiring such comments as ‘My God! They’re not Christians are they?’ which seemed a rather stupid thing to say I thought.

So anyway, I guess Sydney’s not quite ready for the personal touch just yet. Which pretty much means that we wouldn’t be ready for Cuddle Parties either. I found out about these recently and I must admit, I was intrigued. Basically, a cuddle party seems to be a group of people (who may or may not know each other) getting together in their pajamas to cuddle. It is not however an ‘orgy’, and there is definitely NO sex involved. There are also rules, which have to be followed including the all-important NO DRY HUMPING. It really is just a group of people getting together to cuddle.

As the pace of life seems to get faster and the living of it more impersonal, many people have felt isolated though surrounded by others. For those of us who are constantly busy or stressed, it can seem an uphill battle to relax. When you were five, it seemed so easy. Most likely your mother or father were there to hug away all your hassles but what about twenty or thirty years down the track? If you’re not in an intimate relationship, the chance of getting some good, old-fashioned (non-sexual) human touch is pretty hard. And that’s where the cuddle parties come in.

These gatherings are set up to create an environment where you can touch, communicate and emote on a personal and physical level without worrying that you will be required to respond to a sexual advance. Of course, some people find that when dropping some of their normal barriers, real physical intimacy is the next logical (and desired) step. And you can actually take your embraces a little further with kissing and petting if you wish but you must always ask permission first and you must not threaten the integrity of the room. If you do, the cuddle caddy and the lifeguard will be there to stop you.

These people have the responsibility of ensuring the party runs smoothly. After explaining the rules and running the Welcome Circle, they make sure that all the participants feel comfortable and safe and that any unwanted sexual tension or energy, is dispersed before it causes a problem. They also encourage you to cry, laugh, touch, share and even fall asleep if you are so inclined. All in all they get to be the ‘responsible adults’ in the room. So it sounds alright in theory huh? As in not the dodgy meetings for nymphomaniacs that some make them out to be. I’d have to say I reserve my judgement for the time being though. Maybe I’m just not ready for them either.