Nolan's recently played a Barry White album as background music. This led to some significant sexual agitation throughout the room, as evidenced by the uncomfortable laughter, awkward conversation about the music itself and, in some cases, physical displays of affection.
This brings up the issue of PDA - public displays of affection.
In high school and middle school, there were rules, mandates, prowling teachers, hall monitors and suspicious classmates.
The college atmosphere is much more free; we're allowed to kiss goodbye as explicitly as we please before heading to lab.
However, social obligation mandates a certain degree of decency. What that standard entails depends on whom you ask.
Some people feel that caressing all over in public is okay as long as both parties are fully clothed. Others feel that anything past a peck on the lips is vulgar.
This means that a quick kiss during dinner is universally alright, whereas blow jobs in movie theaters cross the line.
Personally, I think it depends on context. Do frat party basements count as 'public'? If so, I would allow anything short of penetration (by any item or appendage) as acceptable forms of PDA in that arena. You can put your hands up your girlfriend's shirt, but I'd rather you didn't do it at the bus stop.
A couch at a dark apartment party - fine. However, Barnes and Noble is also public, and even in the back corners of the bookshelves I'd rather you didn't get past first base.
As far as Nolan's goes, I feel that public places where other people are trying to eat warrant a code that says you can kiss your boyfriend when he refills your drink without your asking him, but just because it's a couch doesn't mean you can have a grope-fest.
One area of contingency is parks (or the beach). There are many people who believe kissing and even "heavy petting" is acceptable since it's a public and semi-romantic locale, possibly with secluded benches or tables.
There are some who would rather the outdoors be kid- and lost-Frisbee-safe and would prefer not to have hands involved at all.
Does American society have a specific set of rules about PDA? Generally no, it's a personal issue.
There are certain things that are covered by public indecency, lewdness and misconduct laws, but those things are not typically an issue in places like Remsen or MSE.
Actually, a little indecent exposure might really spice up reading period, now that I think about it.
It's worth pointing out that handholding is completely acceptable in nearly every case, save possibly rectal exams and firing ranges.
However, up-the-skirt-sex is pushing it in just about every case. Sex in public may be exciting to think about, but if you get caught it could be serious trouble.
PDA is not necessarily an indication of exhibitionist tendencies. That is, if your boyfriend kisses you constantly in public it could mean three things: He could be showing the world that you're his, proving to an ex that "he's the man" or he may really like exhibitionism.
Only the second should be viewed negatively, though if you're a shy and private person I suppose the third would also pose an issue for you as well. Generally, however, exhibitionism is much more intense than regular PDA.
An issue often not breached is the scandal of Facebook PDA. Does "*kiss*" count? Do those elaborate enhanced-poke applications count? Do excessively mushy or dirty wall posts count?
And how about those pictures of people kissing? When is it too much - when tongue is visible? When there's clearly other business occurring below the crop line? Where does it end?
Basically, PDA can easily be gross, and uncalled for. It can easily make your peers disgusted and aggravated.
However, it must be acknowledged that certain forms of PDA are actually cute.
