My friends at Dentyne asked got at me last week and asked me how I felt about public displays of affection (PDA). Remember when PDA meant a Palm Pilot or Sony Clié – Whoa! that’s old school! Anyway the acronym “PDA” is now back to its rightful representation for making out in public and since Dentyne is a brand interested in fresh breath, an essential when kissing in public or private, they wanted to know how I felt about it.

I hate PDA

This is pretty much what I see every time and it makes me hurl

Unfortunately if you read my last post about Valentine’s Day Blues you may think I’m a grumpy old curmudgeon… and you’d probably be right. I joke (maybe). In all seriousness I guess I have a bit of a pet peeve with PDA simply because I tend to notice those that do it always seem to love doing it in the most densely populated areas. I also don’t understand why those who make out in public places tend to kiss like they are in an adult film most of the time. You’ve seen them while waiting for the subway, in the middle of Times Square or just about any place where they are bound to be seen by hundreds of people. I get that the couple may be intensely in love or lust but it’s not like they will have any place to get to second base (unless they are part of the bathroom stall crowd) as things get more heated.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m all for the loving peck or kiss here and there as a show of affection when the moment is right but when Romeo has his hand down Juliet’s pants I start to get all Tybalt on those fools. Yeah it makes me feel like a chaperon at the chastity ball but if you look at the picture to the right you will probably want to get the jaws of life to separate those two – and then bleach your eyeballs.

Ok, so clearly getting freaky in public doesn’t turn me on but I still know some couples who are very much in love and while they do kiss in public they know to keep it PG. One such couple are my good friends Erin Bury and Kevin Oulds. These two are pretty much the Barbie and Ken of the social media scene and they’ve got this public love thing down to a science. Dentyne wanted me to ask them a few questions after their Canada AM appearance but I pretty much knew their stance on the issue: they do it and no one bugs them about it, me included. So I came up with some questions that I thought would be fun anyway. Here’s what Erin had to say:

Nus: Where do you think are the most inappropriate places for PDA?

Erin Bury: Anywhere where there might be children around. While I hate seeing a couple making out on the dance floor at a bar, at least everyone there is 19+. If you’re at the mall, on the subway, or on the street and you grab a quick peck, I think that’s totally fine. But if you’re full-on making out and there are children around that’s just wrong

Nus: I once saw a couple I knew standing in opposite bus stops, talking on the phone to each other after just parting ways. Do you think that’s silly or sweet?

EB: I think that’s sweet, but mostly because I am addicted to my phone. I think Kev and I talk about 7 times per day on the phone because every time I’m walking somewhere or I have a break I call him to say hi.

Great Kissing DebateNus: What’s considered PDA and what’s considered public indecency?

EB: The appearance of the tongue is where it crosses the line for me. Also if there’s any sort of nudity involved you should probably rethink your actions.

Nus: If you and your significant other were making out in public and a passing stranger with really fresh breath spontaneously kissed you both on the cheeks would you feel like you’ve shared the love or would you be freaked out?

EB: Freaked out. Definitely freaked out – fresh breath or not :)

Nus: Have you ever done the “Spider-Man” kiss? (i.e. the movie: where Spiderman is hanging upside down on a web and kiss Mary-Jane)

EB: I can’t say we have, and I can’t say I’d even know how to make that happen logistically! But I just saw a countdown of the most romantic movie kisses & that scene was #2 – so apparently they know what they’re doing.

Dentyne would like to know what you think of PDA in the “Great Kissing Debate” so comment at me here and weigh in on it. You can also head on over to the Dentyne Facebook page and join the contest!