Do humans like being petted?

[NoxidKin]

I love to be petted, and hugged, but only when I'm comfortable with the person, and not around my shoulders or neck from behind.

I do like a thorough massage but I need to be in control, I hate someone coming up behind me and touching my shoulders.  Top of my head is fine.

And I pretty much love all hugs all the time.

It's nice to hear people talking about it openly.  :)

And it's a bit sad to me that quite a few people don't like it at all.  I wonder if they would, in a world with different social rules.

But whatever petting regime you prefer, I hope you recieve it.  ^.^

[Trench_Man]

Anecdotal but during my teens in the times where I've needed comforting from deep emotional or mental stress I remember my mom would hug me and "pet" my head softly and it was actually very comforting when she did that so while I can't say I'd like being petted frequently like a cat or a dog I can say with certainty it has a time and place for me.

[lakes]

Everyone else in the thread: There's some studies on this....
Me: Do massages count as petting? 

[Null]

You know, I've never really been pet, but I might like it depending on my mood and who's doing the petting. I think that my ideal petting conditions would be when I'm sleepy and by someone that I feel close with. I don't think I'd like being pet by someone that I'm not close to even if I know them.

[ceejaytwoyoshi]

I figured it'd depend on the person and preferred love language.

[MediocreMetastasis]

I anybody tried to pet me I'd probably push them away. I'd probably let them do it if they are someone intimate in my life but nobody fits that criteria atm.

People do like being petted tho. Look at furry conventions for example, if there's a need for badges that say "no pets", "no hugs", "no uppies" then obviously there's been frequent amount of petting done at those places.