PSA on PDA

I’ve done PSAs for men and women but now I’m doing one for couples. Boy Toy and I spent some time with my friend Lizzie and her boyfriend Fitz over the weekend. Lizzie and Fitz are very much in like and enjoy showing it off.

Boy Toy and I can be cute but we aren’t super affectionate. I’ve always found those couples annoying and I try to avoid being someone I wouldn’t want to hang around. There’s a line between “They’re so cute. I’m glad they found each other” and “Dear God, get a room.”

I understand that different couples are comfortable with different levels of PDA. There’s nothing wrong with that. The problem is when you’re making the people around you uncomfortable.

We were in a restaurant when Fitz pushed Lizzie against the wall and started kissing her. Boy Toy and I are standing a few feet away in a crowded restaurant waiting area. We were really uncomfortable and went to wait outside. I get you like your girlfriend but a family is eating dinner right over there. They didn’t pay for a show.

While they were being adorable later and made a point of saying how they were censoring themselves. I made a comment that our presence hadn’t seemed to stop them before so why start now? They took that as a cue to get cuter. I set myself up for that one by attempting any sort of subtlety.

I’m very happy Lizzie is in a good relationship. I love her to death and only wish her happiness. It’s great that her relationship is still in the new and saccharine phase. But spending most of Labor Day weekend around that sort of syrupy lovefest got a little grating. If other couples can’t handle your level of Katy Perry video sweetness, imagine what your single friends feel like.

Most people hate having these conversations with any part of the couple because they’re usually some combination of dismissive, defensive, or disinterested. If you’re friend is saying something, you are that bad, it doesn’t have to be a reflection on their relationship status, and you should consider how they feel.

I’m not the only one thinking this. I found an article about how too much PDA isn’t always a good sign. It explains very well how excessive PDA is alienating for everyone around you but I’m fairly certain Lizzie is safe from the negative stuff the article mentions.

I also found a few others at AskMen, TheEveryGirl, TwoOfUs, Wedding Wire, and MillionaireMatchmaker Patti Stanger. All of them say the same thing: there is such a thing as too much. Where the line falls varies but not by a lot.

Two statements that kept coming up were how the couples look like they have something to prove or don’t care about those around them. I can’t imagine anyone wanting people to think that about them or their significant other.

Couples of the world, do your friends a favor, and find out what they really think of your PDA. You may be surprised.

Music: Movie Villain Medley by Jon Cozart