How common/normal it is to touch friends of opposite gender, like maybe when you are working out together or just holding hands in crowded places?

Anonymous

I'm an introvert and very shy so I usually don't like lot of touching in general. But I seen reels and few pics on insta where most people are okay with dancing together where the guy even picks up a girl in his arm or touches her butt.

I am asking this stupid question because I am new to gym, there I met a guy who I was friends with when I was in college. He offered me his help and I agreed. Now, on Monday he grabbed my waist when I was doing pull up and told me "I am giving you little support, do 5 this time.

After completing my set I politely told him not to touch me again like that. Since that day, he's avoiding me completely. Yesterday, I went to him and initiated a conversation asking him random silly questions and he was just giving me one word answers while doing this workout. I asked him if he likes to workout alone and he said yes and that he only wanted to help me as I don't know anything about workout and how to use machines.

After a bit of annoyance I asked him for his help and he just said "You have learned all the basics if you want I can share some youtube videos with you." I just thanked him and left.

I shared this with my bestie and she said that I made him feel like a creep and perv and that he will never talk to me again.

How common/normal it is to touch friends of opposite gender, like maybe when you are working out together or just holding hands in crowded places?
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