Since the beginning of time, it seems, people have used a kiss to relay a message. We are confronted with kissing every day, whether it be the couple in the park, almost any perfume commercial, movies or maybe in your own relationship. However, the meaning of a kiss has not been consistent over time, let alone in different situations.

A kiss is used at wedding ceremonies to enforce the commitment, meaning (hopefully) eternal loving and caring. In movies, especially romantic movies, the kiss between both lead players is usually seen as the climax of the movie, the moment we've all been waiting for etc. etc.

However, the value of a kiss in real life seems to be becoming less and less. In my social environment, kissing is seen as a casual thing. You see someone you are attracted to, dance around a few minutes, maybe buy him/her a drink and then kiss. It usually does not even have to amount to anything like a long-standing relationship. Some people even make it some sort of sport, kissing as many others in one night as they possibly can. There's no romance involved, no love, no commitment.

 

Now I'm not disapproving or approving this or whichever. What I was wondering is, is this the same for any/your culture? And more importantly, where are we headed?

You could say the same sort of thing for sex too.

 

It all depends on the context. Yes sometimes a kiss can be for no reason and mean nothing, but with the right person in the right situation, it can mean everything.

You could say the same sort of thing for sex too.

 

It all depends on the context. Yes sometimes a kiss can be for no reason and mean nothing, but with the right person in the right situation, it can mean everything.

Yup.

 

Yet in the past, some cultures kissed all time time - even now, members of some cultures kiss everyone and everything.

Yup a kiss is a very subjective thing.

 

The way you kiss a friend or relative in greeting or as a good bye is totally different to the way you kiss a partner.

Equally the way you kiss a partner in public opposed to getting busy is worlds apart.

And the way you kiss someone you pull clubbing is again different.

Well, Sy, I am referring to kissing on the lips, which I don't attempt with friend and/or relatives. Is that a difference between oyr cultures?

 

And Y, in that context, would you say kissing actually means more now than it did then?

Aside from relatives, I've only been kissed once, and it was a looong time ago and for reasons I can't really guess. I've never payed much attention to it, I suppose, though it is an interesting subject. Especially considering I intend for the possibility of having a girlfriend to come along by Spring. I'm kinda lost on this topic. :D

I don't think kissing means any less now than it used to.

 

Yes making out type kissing can mean little, but making out type kissing is a fairly new convention.

 

The old school convention of romantic kissing still means a heck of a lot. Its why it is used as a powerful image or non-image in film and why you'll find yourself drawn to look if you see a couple in a romantic smooch.

You could say the same sort of thing for sex too.

 

It all depends on the context. Yes sometimes a kiss can be for no reason and mean nothing, but with the right person in the right situation, it can mean everything.

Exactly. Could have not been said better. I've never kissed anyone I was not in a relationship with. This also includes sex as well. I'm not saying kissing while not in a relationship is a bad thing, I would just rather like to know that the kiss might mean something more then "Let's have a good time."

Supposedly there's a biological effect too in terms of boosting immunity through germ transmission; http://youarenotsosmart.com/2009/11/05/kissing/

In my school it seemed like most of the kids were desensitized to kissing. Just turn a corner and you would see a few make out sessions. I would say it's still a symbol of compassion, but I also got the impression that a lot of people used it as a symbol of ownership to show off what they got. You know, high school hierarchy.

In my school it seemed like most of the kids were desensitized to kissing. Just turn a corner and you would see a few make out sessions. I would say it's still a symbol of compassion, but I also got the impression that a lot of people used it as a symbol of ownership to show off what they got. You know, high school hierarchy.

Yeah, I was part of those make out sessions back in the day... :mellow:

What I was wondering is, is this the same for any/your culture? And more importantly, where are we headed?

 

yup. i've made out with a random just because it was just in the moment while we were dancing. then there's those moments like a week ago when i hugged someone i actually like that gave me more of a rush.

 

it's fun to not care sometimes, and i think that makes affection with someone you do have feelings for even more special

Kissing and phyiscal touch between cultures is pretty interesting. Southern European cultures, such as Italian, Spanish, are more open to physical touching than Northern ones, like English.

 

Moving on, in Argentina you usually kiss on the cheek when you greet someone (unless if its a really formal event, like a business-related), male or female.

 

 

 

In America, the kiss wants to be seen as a unique, romantic gesture...

 

...but it really isn't much anymore. It's whatever really, I don't care, but I just find the confusion of which kiss is the right kiss funny. Sort of like the original post IF he took a side.

I'm definitely not someone who will just kiss anybody (kissing as a "sport," to use your words). I guess I used to be that person, but not anymore. Kisses are special :^_^:

One time I had a dream me and some girl I know were sitting on some huge ass rock (lol) and I kissed her. This came as a huge surprise to me as I woke up. I never knew how sensitive I was!

It depends on the people partaking in it. Similar to sex, if both parties kiss often and with whoever then yea, there won't be a huge amount of meaning that goes along with it. Personally, it depends on the person I'm with as to how much meaning there is with sex or kissing. Obviously it's enjoyable regardless of the person, but when you're finally with that one person who you've been wanting for so long it's entirely different.

 

You don't kiss people who aren't your family or your spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend. That's just weird. (And just my opinion.)

 

Friendly hugs? Sure. Things involving the face, though...That's a pretty intimate place to touch. It's offlimits in my mind. Or as my 9th grade self would've liked to say, "VIOLATING MY PERSONAL BUBBLE." Think of how often you touch someone's face, after all. Not very often.

Yeah, I agree with Danqaz in that it all lies in the context. A good kiss with a partner means a lot more than getting off with randoms in a club or whatever.

Yeah, I agree with Danqaz in that it all lies in the context. A good kiss with a partner means a lot more than getting off with randoms in a club or whatever.

Yeah, and there's more difference again between a good kiss with a partner, and a good kiss with a partner.

As already mentioned, depending on the culture, a kiss can be a big deal, or just an everyday thing.

 

Personally, I think that the whole romantic kissing idea stems from media exposure; this guy likes this girl and they kiss at the end of a movie / TV series, etc.

 

Kissing generally is of higher interest the younger you are, and would depreciate as you got older. Interestingly enough (or perhaps more obviously enough), the peak of this interest is during puberty. If someone was kissing someone else in elementary school, most of the time it is due to curiosity, which again stems from media exposure of the whole idea of kissing. But most of the time kissing at such a young age is uncommon; 'cooties' helps keep the gender barrier consistent.

 

During puberty, people tend to be more sexually curious. A kiss would therefore be the lowest kind of physical contact with a partner (aside from touching, holding hands, etc).

 

After the age range of puberty, the whole kissing thing becomes a novelty. If you have ever kissed before, and I assume many of you have, then you would probably realize that it isn't that big of a deal.

 

But for those that haven't (and for the record I'm 18 and haven't), it remains an enigma.

 

The first kiss is usually the important one; it's the experience of trying something new and that is what constitutes the whole mentality of why anyone cares if you've ever kissed or not.

I hate that kissing has lost its romantic value. I think its a testament to how jaded society is today.

 

I, too have unfortunately conformed to this habit of caring very little who I kiss.

 

For shame.

I hate that kissing has lost its romantic value. I think its a testament to how jaded society is today.

That's what I was thinking as well, this has to reflect on society somehow. Are we less caring, is this one of the major signs that showing affection is just becoming 'another thing' we do daily like eating and breathing?

I think a proper kiss always indicates some kind of sexual attraction. Which can be in the context of a relationship or just a one-night pull. I guess maybe the kiss has become slightly devalued, but pulling someone is never really worthless and is something people will still talk (usually gossip) about afterwards even if it was just in a club, which I think shows that it still has a special status. I don't really think it's a problem that it's done a lot outside of a relationship now. Like sex, it's fun, so why not? It doesn't make it any less special when it's done in a relationship.

but pulling someone is never really worthless and is something people will still talk (usually gossip) about afterwards even if it was just in a club, which I think shows that it still has a special status.

More contradictions, more hypocrisy. How can anybody keep up with this society? :roll:

but pulling someone is never really worthless and is something people will still talk (usually gossip) about afterwards even if it was just in a club, which I think shows that it still has a special status.

More contradictions, more hypocrisy. How can anybody keep up with this society? :roll:

 

^ I try not to. It is all what people make of it though.