The Obamas have reingnited the playful flame; they are grown, intelligent persons who seem genuinely in love. Maybe they will inspire a new trend.

Walking hand-in-hand, caressing playfully, stealing kisses, all while in public. Not an occurrence you see often on Jamaican streets. Actually, I can't recall ever seeing it as Jamaica does not have a culture of people who love to dish out heaps of public displays of affection (PDA). PDA usually includes holding hands, hugging, touching and kissing in public places to show affection between a couple.

In India, there is a ban on kissing in public in their penal code. The act is regarded as obscene because of religious and social beliefs.

On the flip side, in Guanajuato, Mexico, the mayor declared the city 'the kissing capital' in an effort to combat claims that they would be banning kissing in public. He unveiled advertisements with a couple kissing on one of the city's streets.

Uncomfortable

We may not be at any point of either extreme in our country, but there are those who feel uncomfortable with being mushy in public.

"I just feel that certain intimate things should be left behind closed doors," said Karen, 30, who is uncomfortable if her significant other wants to hug or kiss in a public place.

"I don't see why we'd be going to the supermarket and you are all up in my face," she said. Other couples can do it if they choose, she said.

"I don't mind if other persons like to do it. It's just not my culture," she added. However, even with them, she thinks there should be a line. Friends who just start kissing and fondling in public make her want to tell them to get a room, she said.

According to Lifestyle Consultant, Dr Heather Little-White, the general discomfort with showing affection publicly stems from how we were socialised about sex and affection in school and at home.

"Because of how we are socialised, sex is not something that is talked about a lot, as a natural and normal function and so if you are in love it's natural to touch and kiss, etc," Little-White said.

According to her, the behaviour is evolving, however, as individuals are exposed to different media, some even say we're becoming too liberal.

Embraces PDA

For Jewel, 29, she embraces PDA. "I'm a lovey-dovey kind of person. I just like personal contact and I like the power of touch," she said. So, while walking the mall, she holds hands with her significant other and is not shy to share a short kiss on the lips and cheek in the supermarket.

"I don't think I do anything that anyone can think is gross," she said, explaining that she prefers a partner who is willing to display affection in this way, as she has been in relationships where she had to be more reserved in public than she would like.

"If we are together, I don't see why you shouldn't want to hold my hands," she said.

Craig, also in his 20s, said he has no problem with PDA, as long as it does not get too intimate, like long kisses and constant fondling.

*names changed

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