The handshake is initiated when the two hands touch, immediately. It is commonly done upon meeting, greeting, parting, offering congratulations, expressing gratitude, or completing an agreement. In sports or other competitive activities, it is also done as a sign of good sportsmanship. Its purpose is to convey trust, balance, and equality.[5]
Unless health issues or local customs dictate otherwise a handshake should always be made using bare hands. In some regions especially in Continental Europe, attempting to perform a handshake while wearing gloves may be seen as an inappropriate or even derogatory behavior. In traditional American etiquette the requirement to remove a glove depends on the situation - "A gentleman on the street never shakes hands with a lady without first removing his right glove. But at the opera, or at a ball, or if he is usher at a wedding, he keeps his glove on."[6]
In Anglophone countries, shaking hands is considered the standard greeting in business situations. In casual non-business situations, men are more likely to shake hands than women. It is considered to be in poor taste to show dominance with too strong a handshake;[5] conversely, too weak a handshake (sometimes referred to as a "limp fish" or "dead fish" handshake) could also be considered unseemly[7] due to people perceiving it as a sign of weakness.
The origin of the custom of shaking hands (and using the right hand, which was commonly the dominant hand for doing anything ), was to show they were not carrying a weapon to attack the other person with. Commonly, it was the VISITOR who instigated the handshake, because the visitor was they one most likely to attack and rob somebody. Secondly, this is where the universal distrust of lefthanded people started . They could shake the right hand quite easily, whilst therefore keeping their predominant hand free to attack with a weapon. At one time, the handshake was done with BOTH hands at once, and the tendency for some to shake hands with the right hand, and place the LEFT hand on top of the two right hands being shaken was another way to confirm that there was no weapon concealed, and therefore there was nothing to fear from the encounter Nick
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10:17 AM
kyunderdawg Member
Posts: 4373 From: Bowling Green, KY. USA Registered: Aug 2008
Funny you bring this up Wichita. I was thinking about hand shakes the other day. Anyone notice the amount of "limp" hand shakes lately or is it just me? Whatever happened to a good "firm" hand shake?
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10:56 AM
kyunderdawg Member
Posts: 4373 From: Bowling Green, KY. USA Registered: Aug 2008
I interact with vendors and sales people all the time. So shaking hands comes up, its a form of greeting.
I sometimes forget and crush some knuckles but most of the time I try to use the correct pressure. I know I failed when someone snatches their hand back like they just got stung
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11:01 AM
Scottzilla79 Member
Posts: 2573 From: Chicago, IL Registered: Oct 2009
KYUnderdog had the answer. We still shake hands the same reason we still don't wear the exact same clothes. Its a way to size up someone new. A bit animalistic.
Funny you bring this up Wichita. I was thinking about hand shakes the other day. Anyone notice the amount of "limp" hand shakes lately or is it just me? Whatever happened to a good "firm" hand shake?
i lost my "firm shake" after my accident and subsequent hand surgery.. Cant judge a personalty by its cover alone...
I interact with vendors and sales people all the time. So shaking hands comes up, its a form of greeting.
I sometimes forget and crush some knuckles but most of the time I try to use the correct pressure. I know I failed when someone snatches their hand back like they just got stung
Unless you're some kind of genetic freak, is there some reason you're unable or unaware of how much grip strength you're using? You must be dangerous in the kitchen. Can you even pick up an egg or a glass without crushing it in your mighty grip? Do you have to drink from steel drums?
A handshake should be "firm" but it's not a dick measuring contest to see who can outsqueeze who. You should also pay attention to how hard the other person is squeezing your hand. If they're giving you a limp handshake, you should ease up on the grip. The human brain normally works fast enough to notice this and adjust your grip strength before you break any bones.
Funny you bring this up Wichita. I was thinking about hand shakes the other day. Anyone notice the amount of "limp" hand shakes lately or is it just me? Whatever happened to a good "firm" hand shake?
I could answer that, but then this would become a political thread.
Funny you bring this up Wichita. I was thinking about hand shakes the other day. Anyone notice the amount of "limp" hand shakes lately or is it just me? Whatever happened to a good "firm" hand shake?
Yeah, I REALLY hate shaking guys w/ a guy, and I get the 'dead fish'. Get that all the time. yecccch.
My favorite handshake is the one where ya grab the other guy's forearm, but I only do that one w/ my best buds...
Unless you're some kind of genetic freak, is there some reason you're unable or unaware of how much grip strength you're using? You must be dangerous in the kitchen. Can you even pick up an egg or a glass without crushing it in your mighty grip? Do you have to drink from steel drums?
I was a welder for 15 years, I used hand tools and had callouses so thick I could sand down paint with them. I work in IT now and I wouldn't call them delicate but the people I work with are not the same as the people I worked with when I was welding. Sometimes I don't pay attention and squeeze a little more than I should.
I also don't initiate a hand shake, its just not something I do. But in my family that is the acceptable greeting between guys. No limp shakers in my family so its just how I shake hands.
I am dangerous in the kitchen
[This message has been edited by Jake_Dragon (edited 05-07-2011).]
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12:47 PM
Scottzilla79 Member
Posts: 2573 From: Chicago, IL Registered: Oct 2009
------------------ “Every mans is a diary in which he means to write one story, but writes another; and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he vowed to make it” ~ James Barrie "I define nothing. Not beauty, not patriotism. I take each thing as it is, without prior rules about what it should be.” ~ Bob Dylan "Learning sleeps and snores in libraries, but wisdom is everywhere, wide awake, on tiptoe." ~ Josh Billings
Unless you're some kind of genetic freak, is there some reason you're unable or unaware of how much grip strength you're using? You must be dangerous in the kitchen. Can you even pick up an egg or a glass without crushing it in your mighty grip? Do you have to drink from steel drums?
I've been reading up on autism a lot lately, and it seems that some forms would leave a person unable to correctly gauge the "proper" pressure for a handshake. So Freak may be a bit on the strong side
It's not that the person trying to "show off", or that he doesn't know his own strength, he could very well just not be able to properly judge what a person should, or shouldn't use for a handshake.
Brad
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07:16 PM
kyunderdawg Member
Posts: 4373 From: Bowling Green, KY. USA Registered: Aug 2008
Maybe I'm a little messed up in my thinking when it comes to a firm shake then. When I think of a "firm" hand shake I think of men, of lets say cowboys. You know they always give a harty shake. Now days it's more like Broke Back Mountain cowboy style.
I've been reading up on autism a lot lately, and it seems that some forms would leave a person unable to correctly gauge the "proper" pressure for a handshake. So Freak may be a bit on the strong side
It's not that the person trying to "show off", or that he doesn't know his own strength, he could very well just not be able to properly judge what a person should, or shouldn't use for a handshake.
Brad
I have Aspergers, which isn't really Autism, but it has some similarity's. I WON'T shake your hand.. It has nothing to do with the other person, and nothing to do with germs or anything. I just don't like to be touched by people i don't know.
[This message has been edited by Jonesy (edited 05-07-2011).]
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08:51 PM
Formula88 Member
Posts: 53788 From: Raleigh NC Registered: Jan 2001
I was a welder for 15 years, I used hand tools and had callouses so thick I could sand down paint with them. I work in IT now and I wouldn't call them delicate but the people I work with are not the same as the people I worked with when I was welding. Sometimes I don't pay attention and squeeze a little more than I should.
I also don't initiate a hand shake, its just not something I do. But in my family that is the acceptable greeting between guys. No limp shakers in my family so its just how I shake hands.
I am dangerous in the kitchen
Point made. Remind me to never shake your hand, or try your cooking.
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10:13 PM
doublec4 Member
Posts: 8289 From: Oakville, Ontario, Canada Registered: Jun 2003
I got a 'tip-o-the-fingers-squeeze' shake the other day. A wave of gay ran through me like quicksilver. I went outside and punched a kitten square in the face. My sack returned to it's previous hang level.
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11:32 PM
IMSA GT Member
Posts: 10716 From: California Registered: Aug 2007
I got a 'tip-o-the-fingers-squeeze' shake the other day. A wave of gay ran through me like quicksilver. I went outside and punched a kitten square in the face. My sack returned to it's previous hang level.
It's amazing how "shriveled" things will get when in the wrong situation
With that said, what the hell IS wrong with men today? I shake hands and, as mentioned above, listen for the other guy's cracking bones. Be a man and shake like a man.....pussies
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11:47 PM
May 8th, 2011
Scottzilla79 Member
Posts: 2573 From: Chicago, IL Registered: Oct 2009
Gee maybe some people have injuries or arthritis. Now that I know what's going through the mind of some of you 'firm handshakers' I think I might have to punch someone in the face next time they try cracking my bones.
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09:09 AM
Boondawg Member
Posts: 38235 From: Displaced Alaskan Registered: Jun 2003
Gee maybe some people have injuries or arthritis. .
As do I. The firmness of my shake is adjusted and matched to the firmness of the grip of the hand I am shaking. Isn't that how a handshake is supposed to go?
[This message has been edited by Boondawg (edited 05-08-2011).]
Gee maybe some people have injuries or arthritis. Now that I know what's going through the mind of some of you 'firm handshakers' I think I might have to punch someone in the face next time they try cracking my bones.
Don't hurt your arthritis, like I said its not on purpose. Just don't extend your hand if you are afraid you will get hurt.
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10:36 AM
Formula88 Member
Posts: 53788 From: Raleigh NC Registered: Jan 2001
As do I. The firmness of my shake is adjusted and matched to the firmness of the grip of the hand I am shaking. Isn't that how a handshake is supposed to go?
Yes, that's how it's supposed to go.
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11:15 AM
ryan.hess Member
Posts: 20784 From: Orlando, FL Registered: Dec 2002
I got a 'tip-o-the-fingers-squeeze' shake the other day. A wave of gay ran through me like quicksilver. I went outside and punched a kitten square in the face. My sack returned to it's previous hang level.
hahaha
I've never experienced that kind of handshake. I've noticed a lot of younger folks with jelly handshakes though.
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12:07 PM
G-Man Member
Posts: 281 From: Indianapolis, IN Registered: Aug 2008
This may be the same thing that Boondawg was talking about but, one type of hand shake that just irritates me to no end (even worse than the limp-fish) is when someone doesn't go 'palm-to-palm' and basically seizes my hand across the fingers and squeezes. Unless you're hands are alot bigger than their's, you can't even begin to squeeze back. My impression from this is that the person is a complete a$$hole and/or is trying to intimidate me.
-Gary
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03:23 PM
Boondawg Member
Posts: 38235 From: Displaced Alaskan Registered: Jun 2003
This may be the same thing that Boondawg was talking about but, one type of hand shake that just irritates me to no end (even worse than the limp-fish) is when someone doesn't go 'palm-to-palm' and basically seizes my hand across the fingers and squeezes. Unless you're hands are alot bigger than their's, you can't even begin to squeeze back. My impression from this is that the person is a complete a$$hole and/or is trying to intimidate me.
-Gary
That is indeed what I was talking about. I thought they were going to 90 degree my hand & kiss it!
I always try to go for a firm handshake, but I notice more often than not, especially if it is someone who is trying to impress/compensate, that he'll grab my fingers instead of the palm of my hand. That makes it damn near impossible to give a firm handshake back, and I walk away feeling like a limp-wristed pussy.
Goddamnit you bad handshakers, make sure that the webbing of our thumbs is touching! Your webbing shouldn't be crushing the space on my pointer finger between my knuckles! So for all you folks that have been receiving the jelly shake lately, make sure you're at least giving their hand the possibility to grip, and not just seeing how tight all their knuckles will press together.
), was to show they were not carrying a weapon to attack the other person with. Commonly, it was the VISITOR who instigated the handshake, because the visitor was they one most likely to attack and rob somebody. Secondly, this is where the universal distrust of lefthanded people started 
