Originally posted by VargIts like they want to crush your hand into submission. If they do that, give a couple of firm shakes back and release. If they persist, tell them to let go. If they dont, headbutt them, and tell them you said let go. Has worked before. It doesnt happen twice with the same fool.
I hate those guys who try to crush the life out of your hand like some macho test or something.
Actually it's only happened to me once, I think (ex-girlfriend's father), but I felt like saying "what the f are you doing man?".
Originally posted by rbmorrisNot at all.
Honestly? You're not the least bit creeped out by shaking hands with someone who's been shaking hands with hundreds of other people all day...people who have been shaking hands with hundreds of others...etc? It was like a friggin' hot zone. Next time I'm wearing a biohazard suit.
How many times do you wash your hands per day?
bah, try being a woman in that world. You get everything from the limp, fishy hand shake (more like a squeeze, actually) to the "wiggle, wiggle, leer" you get from some guys. And the only thing worse than the swaty handshake is the bone-dry arid one that feels like being grappled by a crustacean.
pfffft, even worse are the women who think they have to kiss you hello, kiss you goodbye, etc. etc.... Thank god for the air kisses...
Originally posted by Nordlyswell, I imagine it depends mostly on the woman. I've been in enough situations where the man actually kissing your hand is not out of the question, so I tend to offer my hand sort of at an angle, with the palm slightly down. A lot of guys don't know how to handle that, so you either get the guy who wants to treat you like another guy and grabs your hand and nearly shakes your arm out of the socket, or you get the guy who tries to be tender, acknowledging you're a woman, not some longshoreman, and will take your hand with more of a "thumb on top" type of grasp. In this case, one simple, yet firm shake is desired, with a slightly longer "hold time", instead of the more vigorous pumping action you get with a man's handshake.
Do you think it makes much of a difference? The descriptions given by men in this thread sounded much like what I have experienced, so I doubt women get very different handshakes.
Yes, I do think it makes a difference. Although probably not as much if you just stick your hand out there like a guy (meaning typical thumb-up position). Most guys will tend to take their cue from you, though (except for the more dense ones), so that's why I say it depends on the woman. And I suppose to a lesser extent, on how she's dressed. I tend to get a lot more of the typical "man's handshake" when I'm just in jeans.
Originally posted by rbmorrisRelax. Events like that keep your immune system from being bored and weak.
Damn this silly tradition. I was at a business conference today where they give away all sorts of trinkets (squeeze balls, pens...etc.). The best one BY FAR was hand santizer.
Originally posted by SuzianneIs that a common thing to do in the US? In what situations? It's something you'll have happen very rarely, if ever, in Germany or Norway. But it happened to me when I was in Romania, where it seemingly still is very common. That took me completely by surprise, so it was rather awkward. Men also always open the door for women in Romania, which I wasn't used to either. Not very practical if someone is showing you the way through a building with lots of doors, and you always have to go through the doors first, but don't know where to go from there...
I've been in enough situations where the man actually kissing your hand is not out of the question