Irish pol calls for common sense after gov-funded PSA urged grandparents to get consent before hugging grandkids

An Irish politician has called for “a bit of common sense” after a government-supported campaign urged grandparents to seek consent before hugging their grandkids.Released by the group We-Consent — a project of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre which is supported by government agencies — the 25-second public service announcement boldly declares: “Not everyone wants a hug.

Even from the people who love them.”“Awkward? Maybe.Important? Absolutely,” the campaign adds.The video features one grandchild happily hugging their grandparents, while another appears uncomfortable as her grandparents lean in for an embrace.In response to the campaign, Irish Councillor Gavin Pepper slammed both the “Government and [non-governmental organizations]” for “losing the run of ourselves.”“Of course children should be taught about boundaries and nobody should ever be forced into physical contact they don’t want,” the fired-up pol wrote on Facebook alongside the video ad.

“But we also need a bit of common sense.”Pepper described the “relationship between grandparents and grandkids” as “one of the most important bonds in Irish family life,” noting that “a hug from a loving grandparent should not be presented as something strange or suspicious.”The outraged pol slammed the government for “talking constantly about changing traditions” and argued “there comes a point where people are entitled to say: leave some things alone” “Irish culture, family and traditions matter,” he said.Pepper double down on teaching children boundaries and respect — but begged to “bring some common sense back into the conversation as well.”We-Consent — supported by Ireland’s Department of Justice and Department of Children, Disability and Equality — describes itself as a long-term national program that aims to inform, educate and engage with all members of our society about consent.The advertisement, which has gone viral on social media garnering m...