Joe Biden's Shoulder Squeeze Sparks Debate Over Personal Boundaries
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Vice President Joe Biden has touched off a new controversy.
During the swearing-in ceremony Tuesday for the new defense secretary, Ashton Carter, Biden got up close and, some say, too personal with Carter's wife, Stephanie.
The vice president gripped her shoulders, at one point leaning in to whisper in her ear.
As CBS2's Weijia Jiang reported, the incident has people talking about personal boundaries.
And what about touching someone? Biden's actions prompted the social media tag "#CreepyVeepy."
"If this is somebody who is just a stranger or a mere acquaintance, unless you know that level of comfort on that end and is fine with all that touching, I'd stay away from it," said Thomas Farley, an etiquette expert known as "Mister Manners." "Unless you know their comfort level and is fine, I would stay away from it."
Farley suggests three basic rules for respecting body boundaries:
• Stay 3 feet away from someone
• Certain body parts -- head and shoulders -- are off-limits
• If you tap someone on the arm, don't hold the touch for too long.
Biden isn't the only one who thinks being touchy-feely is natural.
"I think it's just human nature to hug people. I can hug you right now," said Amanda Ma, of the Upper West Side, hugging Jiang. "You're a stranger, but I don't feel anything!"
But Mister Manners said you might make someone else feel awkward.
Manners said you can also practice defensive touching by extending your arm to establish personal space.