"Hollywood Kissing"

22POSTS

14 years ago

Can someone explain to me the greeting between men where they put cheeks together and make pretend kissing sounds three times?聽 I call it Hollywood kissing because it sounds like kissing but is all fakey and Hollywoody.

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RedGoblin ViP

1229POSTS

14 years ago

Its an arba custom to greet their fellows as such. it is not limited to Saudis, but the entire middle east rather.

Dr.Ayk Contributor

100POSTS

14 years ago

Men kissing as a greeting is a middle east custom, but in Saudi ( and other GCC countries)it has special way as Rbogie described.

borntobemild Serial expat

461POSTS

14 years ago

you gotta be careful, ive even seen dudes walking while holding hands out here! lol

1 member reacted to this post

winteryrose1984 Active member

33POSTS

14 years ago

looool yeah it's very confusing at times! Even with women it's like I don't know when they want to stop. Sometimes its 2 kisses then sometimes its 5 and sometimes it feels like a million! (never-minding the awkwardness when one person still wanted one more kiss and the other pulls away...EEEK)

I guess it's an arab culture thing, I'd rather shake hands and move on. I'm kind of dreading going back to work (in a school) on the first day since I'm sure everyone will be doing that kissing thing.

rbogie Member

22POSTS

14 years ago

But what bugs me is th fake kissing part. In Italy and in Russia men kiss on both cheeks. I mean lips to cheek.
Not kissing in th air like fake Hollywood kisses. If you re gonna kiss then kiss on th cheek on th forehead or on th eyelids whatever.

wdoooo Member

2POSTS

14 years ago

i usually stand still through the whole process and let the other guy choose which cheek 2 kiss first

Tmaesalle Active member

31POSTS

14 years ago

however it is...it's still two guys kissing and HHWW (holding hands while walking).. need I say more?

rbogie Member

22POSTS

14 years ago

You've obviously never been to San Francisco or NYC. Be glad if all u see is holding hands. In those cities u have to get used to male tongue swallowing nd not look like ur disgusted.

Tmaesalle Active member

31POSTS

14 years ago

#10

Well San Francisco and NYC aren't really reputed to be conservative so they get passes.. lol

borntobemild Serial expat

461POSTS

14 years ago

#11

well SanFran is the Rainbow capitol of the world! im no homophobe but seriously gay ppl shouldnt be allowed to practice PDA even if it is a cultural thing!!! if you wanna make out with another dude, do it in the privacy of your gay home (pun-intended)!!

UniversalStop Member

15POSTS

14 years ago

#12

If you're gonna ban PDA, let's ban it for everyone.聽

I'm an equal opportunity denier.

rbogie Member

22POSTS

14 years ago

#13

Speaking of gay I meant to mention something about your Avatar. I think if anyone saw th two Harold nd Kummar movies they'd laugh at th concept of Neil Patrick Harris being th womanizer that his character is reputed to be. Talk about 180 degrees from their screen character!

Maya Maya Serial expat

820POSTS

14 years ago

#14

rbogie wrote:
But what bugs me is th fake kissing part. In Italy and in Russia men kiss on both cheeks. I mean lips to cheek.
Not kissing in th air like fake Hollywood kisses. If you re gonna kiss then kiss on th cheek on th forehead or on th eyelids whatever.

it's annoying as it is i hope it will never get real!!

rbogie Member

22POSTS

14 years ago

#15

Once on each cheek. I can accept that. Sort of a French Foreign Legion gettig a medal thing. I just think the kissing the air looks like something from "Legally Blond".

PrisonBreak Active member

26POSTS

14 years ago

#16

Greeting with kisses happens only on special occasions or when you meet someone that you haven't seen in a long time. Besides it's only between close friends or relatives.
It's not really kissing ! I mean I don't put my lips on my friend's cheeks, just cheek on the cheek and pretend it. if the man is too old I would kiss him on his head; now this shows more respect to old men.聽

It's not exclusive on the middle east but the entire arab world, Even in Algerian and Morocco.
[Moderated: off-topic]

Ryan-1979 Member

3POSTS

14 years ago

#17

It's just an old culture of Arab men for greeting men,it means respect & regards but it doesn聮t refer to an " orientation " at all, also it's not used by all Arab men.

TheLegendLeads ViP

5763POSTS

14 years ago

#18

You need to know about it well if you are willing to do it. It's usually:

1- Once a touch of your right cheek on his; tilting your head a little left.
2. Then tilt your head right and touch the left cheek 3 or 4 times.
3. Every touch accompanied with a kiss sound.
4. The right hands must be kept shaken.

Things may get REALLY wrong if you don't know well

Once I was part of a group who went to see a big-shot Saudi just to convey our sad feelings for her mother's demise. Like everyone was doing, I also TRIED it (for the first time ever)

Confused, I tilted my head at an unexpected moment and my lips touched his..........Ooops!

One of my friends along later commented making a hell lot of fun of me. "You must have realized the sensitivity of the occasion, why the hell did you need to start french kissing?".... LOLZ

Ok, I am going

again....

but...........LOLZ

Maya Maya Serial expat

820POSTS

14 years ago

#19

ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

fayad2011 Member

11POSTS

14 years ago

#20

its culture of people in middle e

imraan007 Serial expat

428POSTS

14 years ago

#21

come on guys, its a saudi custom. holding hands not considered weird here. the people here love their customs and I respect that. I can choose to do it or not. Just leave them alone as they also may not understand some foreign customs. let us be tolerant as long as we do not harm each other by our action and words. more understanding of each other can promote peace. criticizing a culture may not be looked upon as a friendly gesture.

theyazzola Member

14POSTS

14 years ago

#22

this thread made my day lol hollywood kissing hahahaa聽 i never thought about it seemed聽 fake kissing up to the moment you brought it up well since im a native saudi聽 who experienced both west and east聽 lived a great聽 part of my life in canada聽聽i would totally feel your聽 point of confusion here聽 how could a man kiss another on cheeks and still considered normal well it actually defers聽 depending on which part of arabia you relate to for instance in UAE mostly and some聽 parts of KSA聽 greetings take place by kissing noses聽 others by slapping your own chest聽 hard聽 similar to the bowing in the japanese heritage聽聽..聽 the other thing聽 for me is im used to the fake kissing thing as u named it and i dont even feel awkward afterwards but the holding hands is an issue聽 for me i hate i dont feel comfortable with it

gashead Serial expat

336POSTS

14 years ago

#23

In the UAE (like eskimos) men touch noses rather than kiss.

Alliecat ViP

8790POSTS

14 years ago

#24

gashead wrote:
In the UAE (like eskimos) men touch noses rather than kiss.

ewww.. I think that's worse than the fake kiss since you can't fake a noserub!

skyline_1979 Member

1POSTS

14 years ago

#25

It is all about culture.....some may see it strange(or has some sexual meanings), and others may see it in different angle. At the end, it is all about "Respect" and higher level of warm greeting.聽

Personally as an "Arab Man", I am one of the persons who does not like kissing (both men and women) at the time of greeting....it can be a gentle hug only if i wanna make it "warmer"

slyshooter Serial expat

863POSTS

14 years ago

#26

TheLegendLeads wrote:
You need to know about it well if you are willing to do it. It's usually:

1- Once a touch of your right cheek on his; tilting your head a little left.
2. Then tilt your head right and touch the left cheek 3 or 4 times.
3. Every touch accompanied with a kiss sound.
4. The right hands must be kept shaken.

Things may get REALLY wrong if you don't know well

Once I was part of a group who went to see a big-shot Saudi just to convey our sad feelings for her mother's demise. Like everyone was doing, I also TRIED it (for the first time ever)
Confused, I tilted my head at an unexpected moment and my lips touched his..........Ooops!

One of my friends along later commented making a hell lot of fun of me. "You must have realized the sensitivity of the occasion, why the hell did you need to start french kissing?".... LOLZ

Ok, I am going again....

but...........LOLZ

HAHAHAHA!!! now this is funny

Maya Maya Serial expat

820POSTS

14 years ago

#27

Alliecat wrote:
gashead wrote:
In the UAE (like eskimos) men touch noses rather than kiss.

ewww.. I think that's worse than the fake kiss since you can't fake a noserub!

I totally agree

desertlifestyle Serial expat

267POSTS

14 years ago

#28

OMG ,, all OF U SO CALLED EDUCATED PPL HOW U CAN do a joke with one of the oure and real culture of world ,,, either is culture of u me and any nation we have to respect for all , im not an arab but its most wonderfell culture od arab land where by symbolic kisses they r showing and expressing their brotherhood and equality in the nation ,,,, and touching nose is showing the realtion and level of equalty as well.

Alliecat ViP

8790POSTS

14 years ago

#29

desertlifestyle wrote:
touching nose is showing the realtion and level of equalty as well.

Your reasoning is distorted.聽 Equality means EQUAL.聽 If you are equal, there aren't levels because .. you're equal. Comprende?

agent47 Contributor

141POSTS

14 years ago

#30

Alliecat wrote:
desertlifestyle wrote:
touching nose is showing the realtion and level of equalty as well.

Your reasoning is distorted.聽 Equality means EQUAL.聽 If you are equal, there aren't levels because .. you're equal. Comprende?

haha Alliecat when you said Comprende? I looked at your Avatar. And I can tell the expression on the cats face is the same as when you said ..Comprende?

Alliecat ViP

8790POSTS

14 years ago

#31

agent47 wrote:
haha Alliecat when you said Comprende? I looked at your Avatar. And I can tell the expression on the cats face is the same as when you said ..Comprende?

LOL聽 very astute of you--you're RIGHT!

agent47 Contributor

141POSTS

14 years ago

#32

I suggest putting the "Comprende?...." tag next to the kitty Avatar.

Alliecat ViP

8790POSTS

14 years ago

#33

agent47 wrote:
I suggest putting the "Comprende?...." tag next to the kitty Avatar.

Actually, we can't. It's not English

OH!Canada New member

6POSTS

13 years ago

#34

LOL!! @ "Hollywood Kissing"

mukh Active member

35POSTS

13 years ago

#35

borntobemild wrote:
you gotta be careful, ive even seen dudes walking while holding hands out here! lol

lool its all ok here there is nothing wrong in that here

fahad-1980 Active member

53POSTS

13 years ago

#36

me tow:P

fahad-1980 Active member

53POSTS

13 years ago

#37

fahad-1980 Active member

53POSTS

13 years ago

#38

it,s free kissing
how want
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Freshlikesushi ViP

1455POSTS

13 years ago

#39

borntobemild wrote:
well SanFran is the Rainbow capitol of the world! im no homophobe but seriously gay ppl shouldnt be allowed to practice PDA even if it is a cultural thing!!! if you wanna make out with another dude, do it in the privacy of your gay home (pun-intended)!!

and im sure they think the same of hetero kissing

you area a sad person

Alliecat ViP

8790POSTS

13 years ago

#40

Freshlikesushi wrote:
borntobemild wrote:
well SanFran is the Rainbow capitol of the world! im no homophobe but seriously gay ppl shouldnt be allowed to practice PDA even if it is a cultural thing!!! if you wanna make out with another dude, do it in the privacy of your gay home (pun-intended)!!

and im sure they think the same of hetero kissing

you area a sad person

Inappropriate behavior is inappropriate behavior, regardless of hetero or homo.聽

Story:聽 I'm in Rome, on the metro, it's extremely crowded and I'm standing about three inches away from a young guy and girl who begin some heavy making out.聽 JEEZEEEEEEEEEEEE!聽

I noticed that the moment they have some time to kill, Italians don't get on their mobile phones (like the rest of the world lol).聽 No, they begin kissing! (Happened in line to buy tickets at the Duomo in Florence, too LOL).