Keep the PDA Away

I have wanted to write about this for a long time and hesitated forever. But then when I wrote an article about how single-shaming needs to stop, and it was very well-received then I realized that hey what is stopping me from writing this?

One of my biggest pet peeves in the world is PDA which stands for public display of affection. I hate it in all of its forms with an exception of just holding hands or arms linked. The rest, don’t do it where I can see it.

No, I am not jealous about how happily in love you are nor do I currently wish to have the same thing as you; I just strongly believe that there are certain things in a relationship that don’t need to be shown in public, including the Internet.

It started in high school when I saw some couples kissing in the corridors and then whenever I went to Canada’s Wonderland with my friends, it got even worse to where I was just disgusted.

Couples were in line in front of me for whatever ride I was waiting to get on and they had their arms around each other and started kissing (sometimes for more than two minutes if the line wasn’t moving). They will flip me the bird if I happen to mumble “get a room” and I am the one who gets in trouble for it, not them.

I don’t get why amusement parks are like a haven for couples to show off and I’ve desired to ask any of my friends who are dating why this is. Hell, one time on one of my favourite rides, the couple in the car in front of me decided to be a little too showy when the ride was over, he practically lifted her out of the car.

Then when I was heading home from a concert, there was a couple making out on the street right by where my ride was waiting and it made me want to puke. I got in the car so fast that I just wanted to get the hell out of there and cleanse the image from my brain.

What’s funny is that when I was growing up, I never thought of kissing to be gross like most of the kids in my classes before puberty. I saw it all the time in Disney films and other movies when it happened at the right place and time.

But in a moment like that in real life, do you have to do it in a place where everyone can see it? Even if your intentions aren’t to make single people jealous, some of them may still be anyway, or some of us just think you’re annoying, and gross, and should know that there is a time and place for everything. A peck is okay but if it turns into something that lasts longer than ten seconds, take that shit somewhere private.

A kiss is a special intimate moment between the two of you, whether it’s the first time or the fifteenth time. Why not just keep it behind closed doors where it belongs?

Seeing it on the Internet is annoying too. Someone I know from college, whom I will not name, their girlfriend posted a picture of them kissing on Valentine’s Day a few years back.

Yes I know, it was Valentine’s Day but that’s showing a little too much don’t you think? It’s literally Internet PDA and is just as annoying as it is on the sidewalk. I personally believe that if you’re in love you don’t need to overshare it on Valentine’s Day, do it every day with your partner, in private.

This is the only place on the Internet where I can express my feelings for this pet peeve because if I were to do it anywhere else like Facebook, I would probably get bombarded with backlash and unfriending from people accusing me of being jealous while defending their rights to express their love.

I never said to stop expressing your love for your partner, just tone it down in public a little would you? I don’t need to see ten photos of every single second of your guy proposing to you or every kiss you share. Did you know that the best sign of a healthy relationship is if there is no sign of it on social media? Recent studies show that couples that do not post about their moments together are happier because they don’t need all those likes and comments to feel validated.

But back to the portion of PDA outside the Internet, like really? It’s rude and nobody really needs or wants to see that, regardless of how it makes them feel. So if someone tells you two to get a room, instead of raising your middle finger or threatening them, maybe you should, I don’t know, get a fucking room!

Rant over, if this article pissed you off, then I’m doing something right because this is my blog and if I want to get ranty about my pet peeves then I will. If you agree with me then feel free to share your own thoughts with me. Have a nice day.

👽Emily