There is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the Oklahoma Christian University student center and other areas across campus: PDA.
PDA stands for public display of affection. While displaying affection publicly isn’t bad in moderation, there is a line that many couples on campus cross. We all know these people: the excessive PDA-ers. We might have even been one at some point.
If you’re on campus at all, you’ve undoubtedly witnessed this phenomenon first-hand in the student center.
You’re going to your dorm so you have to cross through the student center. There is already that awkward sense that everyone is looking at you as you cross through, heels clicking loudly even though you’re wearing tennis shoes. You lock eyes with a girl as her boyfriend is awkwardly kissing her ear. Yeah, time to get out of there.
You’ve just finished eating in the caf when you go out the backdoors, out of the caf to play the piano tucked in there. To your disgust, right outside your eating facility you find one of these awkward couples next to the piano. Gag.
You’re about to go into chapel and in the conservatory right outside Hardeman Auditorium a couple is just making out in broad daylight, right there in the clearing in full view.
All couples should be aware of their intent and surroundings when they are displaying affection. If you’re a Christian, you have probably already heard the run-down about being pure, so you should also watch yourself because of that. But even if you aren’t a Christian, you should be aware of what you do in public places. It does make people see you differently.
Another reason to be careful about excessive PDA is that international students might feel even more awkward about the display.
In the United States it is okay to display affection to an extent, but in a few other countries and cultures it is largely unacceptable. In places like China and India, PDA is very frowned upon. In fact, about seven years ago the Indian court almost arrested actor Richard Gere for publicly kissing actress Shilpa Shetty.
Even if people don’t care about what anyone else thinks, they should care about their significant others and whether they feel awkward.
The main reasons not to be an excessive PDA-er: it makes people feel awkward, people judge, it can be awkward for the other person, and it can sometimes go against what the Bible teaches about purity.
Being physical in public places not only affects the couple, it affects students – both foreign and otherwise – workers, strangers, God and even teachers.
I say all that to say this: don’t be one of those couples who make out and are overly affectionate in public places. Just don’t. It’s awkward and we’re embarrassed for you.
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