Display

Bagan masawaing na! This was the comment given by someone who confronted high school lovers who performed PDA (Public Display of Affection) to the dismay of the older generation. Some of the couple’s companions tried to ignore the deed allowing the thing to be some sort of the norm among their group.

First, let’s address the definition: According to Verity Hogan, a PDA, or public display of affection, is the term used to describe any form of physical contact between couples in a public setting. It includes everything from kissing and cuddling to holding hands or exchanging light touches.

Falling in love is wonderful, and when it happens, you may want the world to know. Holding hands and exchanging loving glances will draw a happy sigh from those who witness these sweet signs of affection. However, being too affectionate in public shows a lack of general etiquette skills. When you and your main squeeze make out in front of other people, they are likely to feel extremely uncomfortable.

Mayne (2019), mentions that public displays of affection, also known as PDAs, may elicit a wide range of reactions from people around you. Some of the factors for tolerance include age, social norms, and customs. If you're not sure whether or not an action is okay in any social setting, you should probably hold off until you are in a more private situation. Wouldn't it be nicer to have people rooting for you rather than being embarrassed and running from you?

This phenomenon is already happening in public schools. Aside from the alarming rate of adolescent pregnancy, young lovers are displaying their intimacy as if it is the normal thing to take place in such settings. They sometimes get offended when authorities tell them to behave and will then give retorts as if the universe is aligned to their unacceptable actions.

PDA is often considered a public profession of how two people feel about one another. Schools typically see this type of behavior as a distraction and inappropriate for a school setting. Most schools have policies that forbid this type of issue on campus or at school-related functions. Schools typically have a zero-tolerance stance on PDA because they recognize that even innocent displays of affection can turn into something more.

Being overly affectionate can be offensive to many people, though a couple caught up in the moment may not be aware that their actions are offensive. Because of this, schools must educate their students on the issue. Respect is a critical component of character-education programs in schools everywhere. Students who regularly engage in acts of PDA are disrespecting their peers by subjecting them to witnessing their affection. This should be brought to the attention of the over-affectionate couple who were probably too caught up in the moment to consider others who were around them (Meador, 2019).

University of Kansas researchers asked 349 primarily straight college students, ages 17-35, about their engagement in PDA and the reasons behind it.The number one reason people showed PDA was "to enhance their image or status by proving they were capable of making out with a particular person." Others wanted to broadcast their love to the world, some were doing it for the thrill of breaking a taboo, and a few didn't really care where they were—they just wanted to make out and happened to be out in the open.

Psychologists offer a range of explanations for such reactions. In very simple terms, Dr. Charles T. Hill noted that public displays of affection force people to become an unwilling audience. And that, he said, is discomforting.

Acculturation is also a big factor. Filipinos open its doors to multiple cultures and with the advent of the social media, they are exposed to different presentations of affections through the internet. Some copy what they see.

Still, one thing is certain, we still have our own identity and the moral fiber of our culture put a lot of premium on decency. We expect people to do simple favors, exchange pleasantries, show mercy, express gratitude, and volunteer for tasks because it is just common decency—though not morally obligatory—to do so. But we also criticize those who refuse to “elect” commonly decent “moral gifts.”

Being “different” for the sake of it all is irresponsible. We must still conform to the societal norms since we belong to a society which is strongly anchoring itself to such norms. We could break the rules sometimes but we must adhere to the attainment of the common good.

In the end, it is only the good memories of us that count. The bad ones must be our struggles NOT to commit.