What I usually do in those situations, Steph, is just take a step back while putting on a HUGE smile and say "Great to see you!" or something similarly very enthusiastic.
Simon: I'm trying to put this as delicately as I can... How do I know you won't kill me in my sleep? Mal: You don't know me, son. So let me explain this to you once: If I ever kill you, you'll be awake, you'll be facing me, and you'll be armed.
'Serenity'
Spike's Bitches 44: It's about the rules having changed.
[NAFDA] Spike-centric discussion. Lusty, lewd (only occasionally crude), risqué (and frisqué), bawdy (Oh, lawdy!), flirty ('cuz we're purty), raunchy talk inside. Caveat lector.
Hil R. - Jul 20, 2009 5:59:16 am PDT #17197 of 30000
Sometimes I think I might just move up to Vermont, open a bookstore or a vegan restaurant. Adam Schlesinger, z''l
Tom Scola - Jul 20, 2009 6:00:17 am PDT #17198 of 30000
hwæt
Taser.
Barb - Jul 20, 2009 6:01:08 am PDT #17199 of 30000
“Not dead yet!”
Taser
As usual, Scola is wise.
tommyrot - Jul 20, 2009 6:01:10 am PDT #17200 of 30000
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
Taser.
Ooh. That's better than my idea, which was "cat-urine perfume."
Steph L. - Jul 20, 2009 6:01:20 am PDT #17201 of 30000
this mess was yours / now your mess is mine
What I usually do in those situations, Steph, is just take a step back while putting on a HUGE smile and say "Great to see you!" or something similarly very enthusiastic.
I do that, often trying to be holding something (so that my arms are full and therefore cannot hug), but you'd be surprised at the number of people who lunge toward me with outspread arms despite what I thought was a clear Don't-Hug-Me-Or-I'll-Need-Ativan signal.
Vortex - Jul 20, 2009 6:01:58 am PDT #17202 of 30000
"Cry havoc and let slip the boobs of war!" -- Miracleman
Heh. Tep, I can tell you that as a hugger (who has hugged you without your consent and I still feel bad*), I would really hate to learn that I had inadvertently made someone I care about and like feel badly. So, I say that you should let people know because they don't want to make you uncomfortable and would feel badly if they knew that they did.
Given your dislike of conflict, I would enlist The Boy to let people know. Something along the lines of "you know, Steph really likes you, but FYI, she doesn't like to be hugged unless she initiates it. I'm pretty much the only one who can do it. She feels really bad about it because she likes you, and doesn't want it to be awkward, so I've decided to let people know."
* I know it's okay, but I still don't like that I was that clueless and caused you discomfort.
Steph L. - Jul 20, 2009 6:02:23 am PDT #17203 of 30000
this mess was yours / now your mess is mine
Taser.
Or rig up my clothes with the system Batman uses so that if he's unconscious and someone tries to unmask him, they get a severe shock.
It would be effective, geeky, AND cool.
Vortex - Jul 20, 2009 6:03:40 am PDT #17204 of 30000
"Cry havoc and let slip the boobs of war!" -- Miracleman
It would be effective, geeky, AND cool.
and they would totally love it. Of course, watch out for the TENS people, they might hug you for fun.
Steph L. - Jul 20, 2009 6:05:57 am PDT #17205 of 30000
this mess was yours / now your mess is mine
Heh. Tep, I can tell you that as a hugger (who has hugged you without your consent and I still feel bad)
I need to reiterate that you hugged me right when I was upset about personal bubble issues (largely, a few people who came up from behind me and started petting me/rubbing my shoulders/etc. unannounced -- the from-behind physical gesture is WAY worse than a frontal, anticipated hug).
Plus, I love you guys. I'm good hugging all y'all in greeting and goodbye. But a lot of these meatspace people are people who I'm not effusively fond of; some I hardly know at all; and frankly, some give me the Ick.
I would really hate to learn that I had inadvertently made someone I care about and like feel badly. So, I say that you should let people know because they don't want to make you uncomfortable and would feel badly if they knew that they did.
Yeah, I don't think they *would* feel badly knowing I was uncomfortable. They'd just think I was being a snooty bitch. (Which is, actually, just fine with me.)
Steph L. - Jul 20, 2009 6:07:27 am PDT #17206 of 30000
this mess was yours / now your mess is mine
Of course, watch out for the TENS people, they might hug you for fun.
That is SO mean of you to make me guffaw at my computer, because then I have to explain why drugs for ulcerative colitis are funny!
(Because oh, my god, the TENS people TOTALLY would.) (And I couldn't blame them. Moths to a flame, baby.)