Yes, we are perfectly serious: dogs understand dog body language; when a human approaches a dog, that human needs to approach the dog using body language which a dog can correctly interpret.
Your friend would be wise to educate herself on the subject to prevent further injury to herself or her family through foolish assumptions (”I like hugs, Fido must like hugs too.”)
Humans have arms; dogs do not; why would you, or any wise dog owner, suppose that a dog would view a hug the same way you do?
Your friend’s injury was caused by her own foolish assumptions; her dog is incapable of saying. “Excuse me, but for my species, you are expressing either that you are challenging me to a fight or that you wish to dominate me.”
It is capable of giving other body language signals that it is uncomfortable with a breach of canine etiquette (which your friend certainly ignored) and, failing those, of biting to get its point across.
Those who are bitten due to their own foolishness should learn from their foolishness, not blame the dog for acting in self-defense.
Listen don’t bother me with your stupid excuse crapola. I grew up with shepards, schnauzers, dalmations...and guess what. I was able to hug them without my face being torn off. The woman lives with this pit bull...her son/DIL and DOG moved in with her about a year ago...they had a baby and the dog knows her...she hugs it and gets attacked....it’s a PIT BULL. That should NOT have happened. Case over...no excuses.