Friday, February 14, 2014

Hugs and Snuggles



A recent weird news item reported that an establishment in Madison, Wisconsin dubbed the Snuggle House offered a per pay service of providing someone that you can talk with or cuddle or snuggle with at $60 an hour.  Each encounter there was to involve snuggling only, no sexual moves on the part of either the customer or the snuggle service provider.   However, this unusual enterprise was closed by local authorities lest it be an occasion for prostitution or sexual harassment.

The claim by the management and fans of the Snuggle House is that an hour's snuggling with someone else would release the hormone Oxytocin, the "tend and befriend" hormone.  Here's a description for the establishment itself; you can form your own conclusions about it:


An enterprising reporter of the Badger Herald looked into the house, and gave this description:




Undoubtedly, being close and quiet or having soothing contact with someone else would release this beneficial hormone; but so would other things.  For example, sitting quietly and petting a dog would do so as well.  Or the simple act of hugging someone else, if they are receptive to this going on.  Perhaps it's something we should be a little more permissive and welcoming about as a culture.  We need smiles, pats on the back, kind words, and hugs.  Who knows, some people might experience less loneliness.  Some churches are becoming more encouraging of this type of contact in addition to the ritualized shaking of hands.

Little things do matter; and people feeling a sense of being loved and not alone matters a lot.  We need hugs.  Seriously.

9 comments:

Elvis Wearing a Bra on His Head said...

Kind of like some massage parlors, maybe?

TexWisGirl said...

i read a quote on this snuggle house - something to the effect that no man just wants to cuddle. :)

Mike said...

Luckily I have my own snuggle bunny.

Chuck the Grumpy Cat said...

Is it really on the up and up?

Bilbo said...

Nothing wrong with a good hug. I have a two-for-one special going on if you're ever in DC ... Agnes will hug you, too.

WordsPoeticallyWorth said...

I love hugs, and always hug my friends goodbye!

Thank you. Love love, Andrew. Bye.

The Mistress of the Dark said...

Hugs are good

John A Hill said...

I'm a hugger, but I know that hugging has its limits and isn't always wanted (by the huggee) or appropriate for the setting or relationship.
Even asking if it's okay to hug can make somebody feel awkward. As a general rule, I'm more of a responsive hugger; allowing the other person to initiate the hug.
An arm around the shoulder side hug is a safe alternative with women or girls. As a visiting preacher/performer, it is important to maintain the proper appearance of appropriate physical contact. And probably a good rule for all of us to follow.

eViL pOp TaRt said...

Thanks for your sincere sentiments and metaphorical hugs. I wish I could hug you each. Angel