I seem to be one of the few guys who actually like the idea of free hugs here. Though I'll admit, fhqwhgads has a point. I'd probably check my wallet right afterward... other than that, nothing but happiness from me.

Hugs are always good, especially the really squeezy kind. If I was in NY I'd get my free hug for sure!!

Friends don't shake hands, friends gotta HUG!!!

i salute that man, from the bottom of my heart. i'll admit it, i'm a man that loves hugs. If I got a hug each day i would be happy for the rest of my life.
in fact I will change my signature to give free hugz.

We need a hug emoticon. i think hugs are the most underrated of all the physical expressions.

*hugz to all tfp'ers*

A little love goes a long way...
Way to go.

Holy crap...glad someone bumped this. What a wonderful story. Sounds like a guy I would really like to meet.

What a great story!!!
I think more people should do that!!!!

It would be almost as sad as a puppy spontaneously exploding if that man got mugged.

oh my god! i want one! cute story:<p>
my girlfriend, whom i've known for 16 years, moved in down the street when i was four and she brought me to her uncle's birthday party. the whole family attended. her uncle damon (who still teases me about it to this day) put out his hand (to shake mine) and said: "hello little girl? what's your name?" and i responded by putting my hands on my hips, and with a stern expression: "i <i>don't</i> give handshakes, i give hugs."<p>
dad taught me that one.

I would salute him, and bow courteously to him. Hug?... I'd do it if I wasn't sober.

Pa. Woman Charged in Hugging Muggings

WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. (AP) -- A woman was charged with stealing money and other items in recent weeks by walking up to six elderly victims, giving them a big hug - and then stealing their wallets or other loose items in the process.

Mary Ann Johnson pretended to know the victims who are too polite to refuse her hugs, police said.

It wasn't immediately clear Tuesday if Johnson has an attorney.

Violet Lawton, 79, said Johnson approached her at a supermarket March 15 talked about seeing her at church.

"I knew I didn't know her, but I didn't want to be rude so I didn't say anything," Lawton said. A short time later, Lawton found her wallet missing from her purse.

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Talk about giving hugging a bad name... :D

Every now and again, through the slime and muck that fills the news, the shootings, the wars, the political machinations and celebrity bullshit, something like this shines through and makes me smile, I wish they had included some contact information for Jayson so I could say thanks for putting a little of my faith in humanity back.

And the story is getting a bit old, anybody know if he's actually still at it? And if he's been successful in his attempt to recruit more "cameo huggers"?

WOW . . .
 

The human spirit is indeed lovely, sometimes, people just need to see a little hope.

That's something i would do . . . hmmmmmmmmm

who wants to join me one sunday to give free hugs?

(((((( HUG )))))))))

:)

Sweetpea

'Among those surveying Mr. Littman yesterday was Carolyn Howe, 54, a professor of sociology at College of the Holy Cross, in Worcester, Mass., who happened to be walking through the park.'

Thats only 20 minutes away from me! Sweet deal! It's always cool to see local stuff in 'not local' news.

Cool, if it's only 20 minutes you should go check on Sunday and see if Jayson's still giving out hugs and give out a few of your own!