Why do Indians find kissing in public so offensive?

Today while shopping I saw a man attempting to kiss his wife [both Indian] in the store while she struggled away in disgust. Then I recalled Richard Gear's kissing of Shilpa Shetty during a stage program on AIDS causing quite a fuss in India.





Not looking to judge anyone, just seeking insight.








|||I don't know that it's just Indians - -many groups consider public displays of affection somewhat rude.





Of course, it (partly) depends upon the degree to which the "display" goes -- whether it's just a gentle, tender peck on the cheek, forehead or even lips, or whether someone seems to be checking out their partner's tonsils....





In fact, our (western) culture has adopted a "let it all hang out" attitude that became popular in the late 60's and early 70's, --





But it wasn't so long ago that public displays of *any* kind: --


- Talking or laughing loudly in public, or carrying on a private conversation in a public location, loud enough for others to hear;





- carrying on any sort of public demonstration of emotion - anger, affection, etc.;





- let alone practically climbing into a partner's skin --





-- ALL of these would have been considered rude -- rather like "airing" your private "laundry", which was considered distateful and inappropriate.





This might be more understandable when you consider that there is such a thing as privacy, including the right *not* to have to be exposed to your neighbor's personal emotional "stuff'.





There are many people today who (seem to) have completely lost all sense of propriety, of privacy, and such old-fashioned things as dignity, taste, and "class" -- and reserving personal or private things for personal, private space and circumstances is just foriegn to them....





Instead, they act if they have an absolute right to just spew out whatever they feel whenever they want, regardless of the circumstances;





Their attitude is, "if you don't like it, turn away". There is little difference for them, between public and private anymore.





I think a lot of this has to do with a general exhibitionism and narcissism that (often seems to have) taken over our culture --





People seem to have the idea that any publicity is better than no publicity at all.





I think while honesty is certainly a worthwhile value, and while i don't think it's good to be overly reserved or (as we used to say) "uptight" --





There is otoh, a lot to be said for a certain degree of dignity, restraint, good taste, and privacy -- and respect for ourselves, our partners, and those around us who witness our behavior.








~Gaia|||Display of affections in the public were viewed (and still are to certain extent) by most asian countries and not just India as inappropriate and disrespectful to women. Women are not sexual toys, especially where women rolls were not regarded very highly in the society and only call girls would show public affections.|||I am of Western Culture and I find kissing disgusting too. The germs and the close contact to others makes me feel sick. I personally tell all my boyfriends to never kiss me on the mouth, it is far too personal for me. And I am not being nasty, but if a person does not have good oral hygiene, and do not floss it is worse and makes me cringe. |||It depends on the way women and men kiss each other.


If it's a decent kiss, and a short kiss, it's OK, but if it's a long kiss and people suck their lips and other nasty things, it's annoying and rude having to watch them in the street.|||Many Indians find mouth to mouth kissing rather disgusting.The thought of bad breath and saliva probably.And they usually find such display of affection in public embarrassing.Other Indians may stare at them.|||You may have made a snap judgment here. What if they hadn't been Indians? Perhaps she simply doesn't enjoy public demonstrations of affection? It may have nothing to do with culture.|||Indians and Japaneses plus Chinese are not into kissing, like in western culture. It really a custom thing