Rodney

Ehhh. The two basic laws of mankind are:

1) Don't bother other people.

2) If you're the other people, don't be too quick to feel bothered.

I'd say the above attitudes toward goooshy are a clear violation of Article 2.

Besides, some of the attitudes attributed to "happy couples" in the article are more those of "insensitive and supercilious couples."

Holding hands and kissing in public (and even a little more) is understandable in the first flush of a good relationship; it makes me chuckle, especially with teens. I remember what it felt like. I'm still fairly touchy-feely with my wife in public, though it's limited to hand-holding and arms around the shoulders at the theater or when sitting together on a couch and visiting with people -- and, yeah, an occasional kiss. Although we've run across people who think even that is "get a room" behavior. I think the problem is theirs.

As for loving couples who stay self-absorbed no matter what, I'd say that the issue is that they're self-absorbed people at the heart of it, and would probably be more so than average even if they weren't in love. Real loving, close couples face the outside world -- together, as a team.