Social networks and the international press are talking about the time-limiting sign dedicated to hugs in front of Dunedin Airport, which was installed this October.
Excessive tenderness is not in vain and may even be worthy of reprimand. This is evidenced by the new rule applied by the international airport of the city of Dunedin, located in the south of New Zealand. To facilitate traffic and improve on-site security, the airport authorities saw fit to limit hugs in front of the building. “The maximum duration of a hug is 3 minutes. For a fonder farewell, please use the parking lot,” we can now read on the sign. A rule that is far from unanimous, especially in social networks.
“Inhumane”, “rude”, “tyrannical”
It all started with a viral Facebook post by one Julie Ann. The post, dated October 9, shows a photo of the sign in question and is accompanied by the caption, a laughing crying emoji. In the comments, other Internet users are more or less laughing. Out of 56,000 comments, some users describe this principle as “inhumane”, “crude” or even “tyrannical”. Others decide to have fun with it. “That’s too generous, only ten seconds is enough,” quipped one commenter. Further down, others treat the phenomenon to philosophize. “This makes me think… Who are the people I would like to hug for 3 minutes? They are few. Life is too short,” says one John Anderson.
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The interview was conducted by a local radio station Rnz On Monday, October 21, airport director Daniel de Bono acknowledged that the announcement had “made a big splash” and fueled many conversations at home and abroad. Self-described as a deceptive “wrapper,” he says he chose to play the humor card rather than pressure to send a message of prevention. “Airports are hotbeds of emotion… Our staff have seen some interesting things about this. But our space is limited, and many people spend too much time saying goodbye in this area,” he notes.
One question remains: how did they decide that the hug period is 3 minutes? It all started with research, reports CNN:the results of which show that a 20-second hug causes an increase in oxytocin, the “love hormone”. Based on this principle, New Zealand airport management therefore offers a longer hug between two people or 9 small doses of love for the family.
Daniel de Bono also wants to reassure travelers. “We’re not going to call in the hug police to enforce the rule,” he promises. We’re not here to tell people how long they should hug, but rather to tell them to go ahead and make way for others.”. If the hug is too long, there is no sanction for now, However, staff can politely ask people who are lingering to go to the parking lot, which is available free of charge for 15 minutes.
What about the rules in France? It seems that Nice Airport has been using the “Kiss and Fly” method since 2016, offering vehicles a five-minute free stop to drop off passengers. Kokoriko for this generous gesture.
Source: Le Figaro
