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Old 05-10-2004, 07:39 AM   #1 (permalink)
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Free Hugs!

What a great article. I wish I had the guts to do this. I just hate rejection.

This reminds me of the video for "Everyday" by Dave Matthews Band, where the guy just goes around and hugs everyone. I can't watch that video without getting a huge smile on my face.

I give a lot of hugs as it is, but maybe I'll give a few more today...

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Quote:



May 10, 2004
GREENWICH VILLAGE JOURNAL
Inviting the Public's Embrace, One by One
By ANDREA ELLIOTT

Jayson Littman is not especially lonely, or religious, or in need of cash - things that strangers might assume upon meeting him.

He is a financial analyst who happens to think that New Yorkers could use a hug. So it was, a month ago, that Mr. Littman began distributing hugs - free - from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays in Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village.

"At first I thought no one would respond," said Mr. Littman, 26, who lives in Manhattan. But on his first Sunday, standing before a giant hand-lettered sign that reads "Free Hugs," Mr. Littman and a friend embraced 200 people in two and a half hours. "There's a lot of war and blood in the world right now,'' he said, "and this helps to even it out."

On first impression, Mr. Littman seems more salesman than pacifist. Wearing a T-shirt that echoes his sign, arms outstretched, he stands near the dog run and yells to passers-by: "Hey! Need a free hug? It's cheaper than a subway ride. Come on! Everyone needs a hug."

More often than not, people keep walking, or stop and stare, searching for the catch. They look for a hidden donation box, or a stack of religious pamphlets.

"People ask me if I'm wearing deodorant," Mr. Littman said. The answer is yes. Mr. Littman is almost antiseptically clean. He has close-cropped hair and a light scent of cologne, and tucks his shirt neatly into his spotless jeans. His smile is blindingly white.

"Last time I didn't hug him, and I felt so bad I hugged him today," said Nicole Cavender, 23, a dog walker who was accompanied by two French bulldogs. Mr. Littman hugged them, too. (Dogs are a big part of his clientele.)

"First, I was like totally paranoid," said Elizabeth Singer, 48, a psychotherapist who watched Mr. Littman from the distance while her Maltese played in the dog run. "But he seems to be really happy and generous. Of course, being a New Yorker, you wonder what happy and generous really is."

Between hugs, Mr. Littman spelled out his rules: "No dates, no numbers, no money. This is a nonprofit organization."

Mr. Littman's other rule is no discrimination: anyone who wants a hug gets one. He hugs the homeless.

"Need a hug?" he asked a woman smoking a sweet-tipped cigar.

"I don't, but you sure look like you need one," she replied, wrapping her arms around him. "He looked lonely," the woman, Jo Copasso, 43, said later.

On typical Sundays, Mr. Littman is accompanied by his friend Sipai Klein, who also gives out hugs. But because of Mother's Day, Mr. Klein could not be there yesterday. Mr. Littman said he was "not in touch" with his own parents, who live in Brooklyn. The subject causes a brief, sad lull before he charges on.

"How about a free hug?" he hollered at a man, woman and small boy dressed all in black. "How about not?" the boy shot back.

"I'm trying to cut down," said a banker from Kenya.

"Nothing's free," said another man, as he brushed past with his golden retriever.

The rejections seemed to bounce right off Mr. Littman's toothy smile.

"Ahhhhh!" screamed Faith Smith, 15, of Queens, as she sprinted toward Mr. Littman's open arms and delivered an almost crushing embrace.

"Nobody wants to give him a hug,'' she said. "I feel so bad."

Melanie Griot, 27, watched Mr. Littman for 20 minutes before succumbing to his arms. "I had a really bad morning," said Ms. Griot, an aspiring writer who had had a fight with her boyfriend.

Halfway through the afternoon, Mr. Littman's friend Jeffrey Greenberg, a teacher who lives in Toronto, walked up and said hello, then stepped back to watch.

"He told me he started this a few weeks ago, so I had to see this with my own eyes," said Mr. Greenberg, 27, who stood with his arms crossed. "He's a little bit quirky at times, but I never would have expected this."

In less than an hour, an unexpected transformation had occurred in Mr. Greenberg. He, too, was soliciting people for hugs.

"It's contagious," he said.

Soon, an actor, Langdon Bosarge, 35, walked up to the pair.

"Why are you guys doing this?'' Mr. Bosarge asked. "Hugging strangers is, like, weird."

"What's your name?" Mr. Littman asked.

"Langdon."

"My name's Jayson. Now we're not strangers."

They hugged.

"It felt O.K.," Mr. Bosarge said as he walked off. "It was kind of the half-body-contact hug versus the full frontal."

It was what Mr. Littman has termed the "duck hug," when a person ducks in and out. There is also the "three-tap hug" - a cautious, back-patting type. No matter what comes at him, Mr. Littman always seems to respond with the same calm, noninvasive embrace.

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.

"It makes a lot of people think about themselves, about why they're afraid of getting a hug," Ms. Howe said.

Mr. Littman hopes to start a national hugging movement. For the time being, he is trying to recruit "cameo huggers" to help fortify his presence in the park.

"The elderly are the hardest grab," he said. Every Sunday, an 87-year-old woman hobbles past him about five times during the course of the afternoon, each time dismissing him with the flick of a hand.

Sure enough, yesterday was no exception. "She's my toughest one," he said before bellowing, "Every Sunday you turn me down!"

The woman, Lynn Logan, sat on a shaded bench, nearby, wearing an Ebenezer Scrooge scowl beneath her red-wool hat.

"He oughta get a job. He has nothing better to do," said Ms. Logan, a retired telephone operator. "I can't be bothered with this nonsense.''

But asked why she would not relent, she paused and said, "He's not my type."
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Old 05-10-2004, 07:44 AM   #2 (permalink)
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I love stories like this
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Old 05-10-2004, 07:44 AM   #3 (permalink)
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That's wonderful... I love seeing things like this... people doing simple things and getting maximum impact.

of course if this was 13 years ago, people would have thought that man to be on drugs, mentally unstable, and of course going to Washington Square Park? You'd think he was offering you a dime bag.
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Old 05-10-2004, 07:48 AM   #4 (permalink)
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How nice. I want you to go to that park and get two hugs- one for me, too!
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Old 05-10-2004, 08:12 AM   #5 (permalink)
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If some people here in the Milwaukee metro promise to come give me hugs, I'll go downtown by the Midwest Express Center and give out some hugs this Sunday!
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Old 05-10-2004, 08:15 AM   #6 (permalink)
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Hrm... I should start doing this at the University of Maryland.
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Old 05-10-2004, 08:34 AM   #7 (permalink)
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That's kinda funny. I think if I were there I'd want to do something like that, too.
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Old 05-10-2004, 09:15 AM   #8 (permalink)
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That sounds cool.
I know so many people in town it's not unusual to give a quick hug or seeing people give the "half body" hug in public places. It's almost like a harty handshake. I love small towns for this one reason. Glad someone is trying to warm up the city.
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Old 05-10-2004, 09:18 AM   #9 (permalink)
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That's so great. I admit, though, I would probably be one of those skeptical people, looking for pamphlets or handouts.
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Old 05-10-2004, 10:56 AM   #10 (permalink)
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People don't touch much in our society. I think it's great what this guy is doing, people need hugs.
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Old 05-10-2004, 11:07 AM   #11 (permalink)
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Dammit..I need a hug right now..
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Old 05-10-2004, 11:09 AM   #12 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally posted by KellyC
Dammit..I need a hug right now..
***hugz***
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Old 05-10-2004, 11:11 AM   #13 (permalink)
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I'm such a cynic... I'd have to walk around this guy rather than being in his path. I'd make the assumption that he was on drugs, looking for a handout, or otherwise unwell. Basically, not my problem for that moment, though I'd give him the apple that's in my bag. But a hug? Nope -- too creepy.
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Old 05-10-2004, 12:48 PM   #14 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally posted by Cynthetiq
***hugz***
awww..now I feel all warm inside..Thank You sir
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Old 05-10-2004, 01:07 PM   #15 (permalink)
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I'm a bit of a cynic too, unfortunately. I'd be checking to make sure my wallet is still there afterwards.
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Old 05-10-2004, 01:12 PM   #16 (permalink)
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/me hugs his crotch
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Old 05-10-2004, 01:30 PM   #17 (permalink)
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I wanna free hug!!!!!!!!!!!! I need one today gerrrr bad day .
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Old 05-10-2004, 01:33 PM   #18 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally posted by qtpye4u84
I wanna free hug!!!!!!!!!!!! I need one today gerrrr bad day .
***hugz***
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Old 05-10-2004, 01:37 PM   #19 (permalink)
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thank you!!!!!!! LOL
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Old 05-10-2004, 02:44 PM   #20 (permalink)
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He's ruining my hug for hire business. How is a fella supposed to compete when some guy is giving it away for free? For shame...
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Old 05-10-2004, 04:53 PM   #21 (permalink)
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Think it's too much to ask for a hug with a happy ending??
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Old 05-10-2004, 06:27 PM   #22 (permalink)
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I think I would be freaked out... it is in NYC, but ya never know. I might just hug the man.
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Old 05-10-2004, 07:44 PM   #23 (permalink)
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Here's a link to the video for "Everyday" by Dave Matthews Band, which features full-frontal hugging. I love this video. It's a large RM download (23 MB):

Everyday
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Old 05-11-2004, 02:43 AM   #24 (permalink)
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Bah, you get what you pay for... "Free" Hugs -I charge 2.95 for my hugs and they're better.
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Old 05-11-2004, 05:28 AM   #25 (permalink)
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Get a hot chic to offer free hugs and the line would be a mile long.
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Old 05-11-2004, 05:41 AM   #26 (permalink)
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Sad, but true, I'd avoid him too. This world can be such a scary place; yet we are all so touch deprived.
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Old 05-11-2004, 08:36 AM   #27 (permalink)
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I'd be interested in watching the hugged..there are so many types of hugs. Here are ones I've experienced:


The I Hate You Hug- the typical sideways one arm hug that allows easy escape and little body contact. Sometimes contains a quick squeeze for slightly more intimacy.

The Donation Hug- where they lean in but don't hug back, effectively "donating" their body to the hugger.

The Real Hug- you squeeze with both arms firmly and attempt to encompass the person. (my favorite)

The Man Hug-begins with a handshake and a shoulder-block like movement while still shaking hands. A variant is as before but with a quick pat on the back as well.

Hug From Behind- I like giving these not receiving them.
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Old 05-11-2004, 09:01 AM   #28 (permalink)
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Is the hug where you both lean toward each other and touch shoulders and hands to the back the Donation hug?
I have female friends that use that hug. Mainly so their chests don't touch whoever they are hugging. It's a crappy substitue for a real hug. I want full on chest to chest hugging, damn it.
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Old 05-11-2004, 09:45 AM   #29 (permalink)
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hmmm... i wonder... if i did this... i wonder if i could hug a lot of hot girls... ... ... maybe its not as good if ive got alterior motives like that...
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Old 05-11-2004, 09:52 AM   #30 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally posted by Holo

Hug From Behind- I like giving these not receiving them.
like this one...

Texas is the "friendship" state.
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Old 05-11-2004, 10:35 AM   #31 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally posted by Holo


The Real Hug- you squeeze with both arms firmly and attempt to encompass the person. (my favorite)

The Man Hug-begins with a handshake and a shoulder-block like movement while still shaking hands. A variant is as before but with a quick pat on the back as well.
Here is a virtual Real Hug to all you female type TFP'ers and a firm handshake to you guys.
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Old 05-11-2004, 10:36 AM   #32 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally posted by Giant Hamburger
like this one...

Texas is the "friendship" state.
looks more like the "hind lick" maneuver.
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Old 05-11-2004, 10:38 AM   #33 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally posted by Holo
The Donation Hug- where they lean in but don't hug back, effectively "donating" their body to the hugger.
Whenever anyone tries to hug me, my body basically goes limp and I never return the hug. I never knew what to call that, but now I know! Thank you for enlightening me.
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Old 05-11-2004, 10:46 AM   #34 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally posted by User Name
Whenever anyone tries to hug me, my body basically goes limp and I never return the hug. I never knew what to call that, but now I know! Thank you for enlightening me.
I always thought of that like the limp fish hug like the limp fish handshake.
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Old 05-11-2004, 01:28 PM   #35 (permalink)
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Nice Story, I also don't think there are enough hugs in the world, I hug everyone and anyone me
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Old 01-21-2005, 06:19 AM   #36 (permalink)
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Resurrecting this thead because today, January 21, is National Hugging Day...

http:\\www.nationalhuggingday.com

Don't forget to hug your friends today...
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Old 01-21-2005, 06:27 AM   #37 (permalink)
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I'll run right in and hug all of the guys at work. This is Boulder, we've had our annual diversity pitch.
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Old 01-21-2005, 06:29 AM   #38 (permalink)
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I hug my friends and family all the time.

But I could do with one myself now and again, without having to initiate it myself.


Mr Mephisto
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Old 01-21-2005, 06:52 AM   #39 (permalink)
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Good story. Good timing. I had lunch with both my sisters yesterday. One likes hugs like me, the other does the stand-offish, one-arm, trust issue thing. Not just to me, to everyone. It sure makes me believe we had different experiences growing up. I'll have to send this story to them & see if it won't help spark a family discussion.
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Old 01-21-2005, 07:52 AM   #40 (permalink)
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I love hugs and I'm a good hugger. I'd absolutely hug this guy. I would still check to make sure I had all my belongings afterward. But as a woman, I don't think there's any way I would stand on the street offering free hugs. Sounds like a good way to get felt up by creepy people. Interesting how this experiment makes us think about our assumptions, prejudices and fears.
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