Last Wednesday (I'm so behind the curve on this one), the Times ran this totally unnecessary trend piece about teenagers hugging so regularly that it merits remark and the incredibly dubious identification as a trend. Though I can't bring myself to read it (and am still half-convinced this was some deeply meta joke about the dubiousness of many trend pieces published by the illustrious paper), I have two reactions.

Reaction 1: 98% of teenagers are hugging because they want to touch each other, or at least they want to touch one specific person and if they hug everyone then they can give an extra special hug to that extra special lady or gentleman.

Reaction 2: The remaining 2% of teenagers are well on their way to becoming that person you know who is always way too friendly and intimate even though you barely remember their name (see: the close-talker, the cheek-kisser, the guy-who-grabs-at-your-necklace-while-talking-to-you-in-a-way-that-makes-you-think-he's-probably-just-looking-at-your-chest-or-gay-or-something, the person-who-grabs-at-your-side-fat-to-illustrate-how-much-skinnier-you-are-than-either-your-previous-self-or-themselves).