One for the guys: handshaking

[Draggletail]

There are a group of five or six guys I know in the pub who get into buying rounds.

 

Every night as they filter into the pub, they go through a round of handshaking.

 

It always seems a bit unspontaneous and routine to me.

 

I don't often go in for handshaking myself, but I can spot the subtlties and nuances someone puts out when wanting to shake so I extend my hand and give a firm but not too hard handshake, and I don't hang on for too long.

 

I do know a guy who believes he has a firm handshake but it's like gripping a limp lettuce.

 

And I don't like the handshakers who, as you withdraw your hand, they pull it back towards themself and won't let go.

 

I'm just interested in peoples views on handshaking, and their own hanshaking habits really

 

EDIT: I think of handshaking as traditionally a male thing - it would be good to get womens views too

[squidge00]

I suppose it like kissing between female friends....or between male and female friends.

 

However, a handshake should be firm, otherwise i think it defies the whole point of doing it.

[LordChaverly]

Didn't hugging and kissing as a greeting between supposedly macho men come into vogue from the 1970s onwards as a result of the influence of gangster chic movies (e.g. Scorsese's 'Mean Streets', or more recently 'The Sopranos' )?

[KenH]

Didn't hugging and kissing as a greeting between supposedly macho men come into vogue from the 1970s onwards as a result of the influence of gangster chic movies (e.g. Scorsese's 'Mean Streets', or more recently 'The Sopranos' )?

 

I think it is more likely that we all started to travel to places in Europe where this sort of thing goes on. Despite fog for the 4 months of the year that it doesn't rain, we have decided that we will have a "cafe culture" with tables in the sun* and men all shaking hands as if they are in the Cafe Opera in Barcelona.

 

 

 

*You will see this again in June of 2007.

[Cyclone]

I shake hands when meeting someone for the first time, or being formal.

 

I always find it odd if someone wants to shake my hand at other times, I'm just not into random physical contact of that nature. I'd be happier with a slap on the back or a punch in the arm.

[DaBouncer]

Firm grip, always and without question.

I don't feel someone is putting forth the effort if they offer a limp handshake.

 

Don't hold on for too long, just long enough to show respect.

My hand usually ends up with palm facing down or down at an angle to the recipient during the shake.

 

Show em who's boss

[taxman]

Never in a social setting, always in a work setting.

 

You can tell the tax evaders - all clammy and limp

[Guest]

...You can tell the tax evaders - all clammy and limp

That's because you scare them, you horrible man .

 

I only shake hands when I meet someone for the first time when it's in a formal/work capacity. Otherwise it's a simple 'hello' or a quick kiss, depending on who it is/how well I know them.

[LordChaverly]

handshaking supposedly developed as a way of ensuring that a person's right hand did not have a sword in it. Now that very few of us carry swords, perhaps it is about time we dispensed with this ridiculous and unhygienic practice. I suggest we replace it with genteel bowing (you can even grade the degree of bow, depending on whether you wanted merely to display formal respect or to engage in undignified grovelling)

 

I personally operate a gender specific approach to this matter. When greeting men, I favour a slight, almost imperceptible, bow of acknowledgement; with women, I favour a French kiss (or when I am feeling particularly gregarious, an Australian kiss).

 

[Zamo]

Firm grip, always and without question.

I don't feel someone is putting forth the effort if they offer a limp handshake.

 

Don't hold on for too long, just long enough to show respect.

My hand usually ends up with palm facing down or down at an angle to the recipient during the shake.

 

Show em who's boss

DB, I've always wondered. When we met, what did it mean when you tickling my palm with your middle finger?