"Its down to a culture of fear and loathing against street people that is created by the right wing media."...There may be some "loathing" on part of the general pubic to embrace individuals as shown in the video; but, the blame shouldn't be placed on those individuals who avoided contact. Self-preservation is an instinct of survival. Those people did not know anything about those street people and they were wise to avoid contact with them. I wonder if the woman who who embraced the man would have done it outside of her group? I don't think so. Your comment about the right-wing media as being a cause is weak. Does the left-wing media promote the activites of hugging strangers on the streets? I don't think so. Humans are the most dangerous animals on the planet. Don't let your perspective of tolerance be the cause of any negative affects upon you. Tolerance has caused millions of humans to lose their lives to dictators, crazed individuals, and diseases!

Its down to a culture of fear and loathing against street people that is created by the right wing media. They are constantly harping on about the supposed dangers of junkies and the homeless. This view is now accepted as fact by society and this is the reaction we get because of it. People have lost all compassion for other peoples suffering or problems. Its not just here in Amsterdam, but the fact its happening here at all is a sad reflection of the changing and lees tolerant attitude of the Dutch towards everything.

What on earth has this to do with Amsterdammers? You could expect this anywhere in the world. If I was a woman and a stranger asked me for a hug do you really think I would give one, in this day and age with murderers, pickpockets, rapists, people with knives etc...?
I have personally been threatened with a knife in broad daylight in Amsterdam and my partner (also male) has been robbed twice. I would consider myself a very friendly person, but I'd never offer a hug to a stranger in the street, even as a guy.
As for putting lipstick on a stranger, isn't that just weird?
The people who thought up this experiment obviously need a reality check!

Im amazed at how can such an unfair social experiment has yielded such accurate results. Dutch people, not just amsterdammers are an unfriendly lot -they will be the first to admit it as well. Can't change them - would love to know how and why they became that way though.

I guess all urban dwellers in the world are like that. A friendly stranger, may or may not have good intentions...

This could also mean that many Amsterdammers have good personal boundaries and haven`t lost their common sense. It is most obvious with the women walking solo down the street who ignored the needy stranger`s request for physical contact. He could have been a pickpocket, a groper or a stalker. The woman who finally did hug him was with friends and left her purse behind.

In my experience Amsterdammers aren't so friendly.

But the social experiments designed weren't fair either. You'd see more hugs if the homeless guy asked more
people who were sitting in a group than by themselves because its less threatening. As for the lady asking people to help her with lipstick it would help if she didn't look like a drug addict.

I know this sounds terrible but if you did the same social experiments in any city with people dressed in the same clothes etc.. I imagine you'd get the same responses.

It is only noble to be good.Kind hearts are more than coronets.