Is this a solely Mormon phenomenon...?

[_DarkHelmet]

I'm curious why this is a social taboo. You're sitting next to your spouse, bored out of your mind, in uncomfortable pews. It's not like people are making out, or groping genitals.

[_just me]

I'm curious why this is a social taboo. You're sitting next to your spouse, bored out of your mind, in uncomfortable pews. It's not like people are making out, or groping genitals.

Exactly. I think it is a nice thing to see. I like that it also happens between parent/child and friends.

We need more good touching in this world! physical affection is awesome!

[_Drifting]

Anyone want to take a crack at my question?

With the LDS Church being such a sexually conservative organization, why is back rubbing, which is a pretty overt public display of affection, so easily accepted as a norm, particularly during Sacrament Meeting?

Personally I think it's a possession thing.
It's one person, usually the female, identifying to other females in the room that 'he' is her man.

Non member couples hold hands, show affection, put arms round each other, hug, kiss etc. Mormons consider this behaviour 'dangerousl' in unmarrieds and so an alternative is needed. Hence the back rubbing.

[_Gordon]

Maybe, since we are talking about a conservative Church, a more interestinng question would be WHY this type of behavior is acceptable?

Why wouldn't it be acceptable??

It's acceptable outside of the LDS church environment, and within...and rightly so. We have couples scratching/rubbing backs, yeah? It's no more 'disturbing' than if they sat there holding hands.

It amazes me, that we have parents rubbing children's backs, and detractors here have no issue with it, yet if couples do it, it's somehow inappropriate sexual action??

Good grief!

[_Gordon]

Only between parents and their children, not between adults.

No.

I said I had my parents scratch/rub my back, and I do it to my children (they do it to me, and I did to my parents...siblings too). I have seen other posters describe same-sex friends doing this also. I also cited couples doing this outside of the LDS church environment.

Why are you trying to make this some heinous issue?

[_Gordon]

Personally I think it's a possession thing.
It's one person, usually the female, identifying to other females in the room that 'he' is her man.

Non member couples hold hands, show affection, put arms round each other, hug, kiss etc. Mormons consider this behaviour 'dangerousl' in unmarrieds and so an alternative is needed. Hence the back rubbing.

You're kidding, right?

Are all the other instances of back rubbing a 'possession' thing? Are parents rubbing their kids' back glaring at other parents to back off?

When one guy scratches the back of another in a boring priesthood meeting, is he telling the other fellows 'he's mine'!?

[_Drifting]

Only between parents and their children, not between adults.

No.

I said I had my parents scratch/rub my back, and I do it to my children (they do it to me, and I did to my parents...siblings too). I have seen other posters describe same-sex friends doing this also. I also cited couples doing this outside of the LDS church environment.

Why are you trying to make this some heinous issue?

I'm not.
I'm describing what I've experienced and my thoughts about it.
The fact that it has resonance with others tells me it is both consistent and disconcerting.

[_Gordon]

I'm not.
I'm describing what I've experienced and my thoughts about it.
The fact that it has resonance with others tells me it is both consistent and disconcerting.

Yet you seem to be rejecting the experience of others, which contradict yours.

[_Drifting]

I'm not.
I'm describing what I've experienced and my thoughts about it.
The fact that it has resonance with others tells me it is both consistent and disconcerting.

Yet you seem to be rejecting the experience of others, which contradict yours.

Not rejecting it, merely pointing out its minority status.

[_Gordon]

Not rejecting it, merely pointing out its minority status.

It's nice to see you acknowledge it (while I disagree on the minority status claim), at least, which should answer your OP.