From: THE SPECIALIST      
To: KNIGHT OWL          
Subject: Relationships  
Date & Time: 05/01/91 18:37:50
Message Number 16393

TS>"physically intimate, close, non-sexual relationship"?
KO>It is a relationship where body contact exists, whether it be a hug,
KO>or a kiss.  It can exist between two people that are close friends.
KO>The above mentioned 'acts' are usually given for assurance, 
KO>condolance, or other reasons as they arise.
 
Kinda catch all, ain't it?  It may be physically close but intimate it
ain't.  Intimate implies something more serious than "Oh, it's so good 
to see you!" or "Hey, I'm sorry to hear about your dad...." or other
situations like that.  (The word intimate is difficult for me to fully
describe, so here goes:)  Intimacy is more of a "I am fond of you more
than anyone else." or "I care for you more than I care for anyone else,
more than I care for myself."  type of thing.  It follows that if you
feel that way for someone (and they for you) that sexual relations 
between thon should be exclusive...or else, you have cheapened what you
feel for the first one by doing the same thing with someone else.
 
Physically close, yes, this implies position.  But intimacy is something
else altogether.