Keresa Arnold, Outlook Youth Writer

"Let's go to the park, I want to kiss you underneath the stars, maybe we'll go too far, we just don't care, we just don't care, we just don't care. You know I love it when you're loving me, sometimes it's better when it's publicly. I'm not ashamed, I don't care who sees us hugging and kissing, a love exhibition..."

('We Just Don't Care)' - John Legend, from the album 'Once Again')

How far is too far when it comes to the issue of Public Displays of Affection or PDA? How much is really too much? Where do we draw the line between PDA and indecent exposure?

PDA can be defined as physically displaying affection for another in plain view of others; for example, in a public place such as a park, movie theatre or a restaurant. PDA in this context refers to actions such as hugging, kissing or holding hands in public. Whether we choose to accept PDA or not depends largely on the culture of our specific societies. In India, for example, it is seen as an unaccept-able act of public nuisance. However, in some places in Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe it is common to see people kissing, 'petting' or hugging in public places.

Some people are annoyed or disgusted by PDA, since they believe that such activities should be reserved for a time when the couple is out of the view of others. However, there are persons who are not concerned with whether or not they are being seen, while others may be embarrassed by the attention.

In Jamaica, PDA is quite common, since couples can be observed hugging, kissing and holding hands in the public domain, with little or no regard for those around. Maybe a few years ago eyebrows would have been raised if a couple was observed kissing on the streets, however, our society has become more tolerant of couples broadcasting their love for each other to the rest of us.

What do teens think about PDA? Here are the views of some teenagers on this issue: