I give a firm handshake then immediately think about washing my hands in fear of getting sick.

I do it out of social obligation but I'd prefer not too.

If I'm passing by someone I know, I rather fist bump them instead of the open passing by slap like drugs are being exchanged that type of thing.

I never realized there was a difference between genders as far as hand-shaking etiquette goes, until that Interview thread came up. I was taught to just give a firm, friendly handshake when meeting someone you don't know for the first time, or in an interview, etc., and have pretty much just stuck with that. Why over think it?

Female, 31, Texas

As firm as my small, adolescent hand can manage without coming off as forceful.

I prefer fist bump :beer: as a greeting instead of the traditional open hand shake too.

Less chance of catching a cold from someone else.

Does any guy shake a femal friends hand for social reasons? I can't imagine that ever happening!

saying that though in general I would dearly love to never have to shake another persons hand. I keep thining of refusing but it's just not worth having to explain why and people are always going to take it personal on some level. You meet somone. YOu say 'Hi'. Jobs a good-un!

I don't think I've ever shook the hand of a woman. I'll shake hands with men, but for some reason shaking hands with a woman seems inappropriate.
A bit like slapping them on the back.
Usually, a smile and nod does the trick.

Bored, Manchester.

I'm not a fan of the weak fish either. I haven't experienced too many weak fish, but I know what you're talking about.

I don't think anyone ever taught me how to shake hands, but I like to try to shake hands in the same way I like handshakes to feel. I love shaking hands because it can be such a warm, friendly gesture, especially when combined with a smile and eye contact. I definitely think about all the nuances of handshaking! :laughing:

I like a handshake that feels as if the person wants to shake hands, so firmness is nice, because that makes the gesture feel convincing...but not TOO firm, otherwise the handshake feels dominating. You definitely don't want to squeeze a person's hand too hard, or just squeeze the fingers. You want palm-to-palm touching.

Also the handshake shouldn't be too short (seems the person doesn't want to touch) or too long (seems the person wants inappropriate closeness and I start to feel uncomfortable).

And of course it isn't really much of a shake. It's more of a clasp and hold with a slight up and then down motion. I would be disconcerted if someone started pumping my arm wildly up and down.

I really enjoy the handshaking part of social interactions and often am the first to offer my hand in greeting when I meet someone...such as fellow mothers I meet on the playground. I'll even offer my hand in greeting to people I already know when I see them again. If you stick your hand out toward a person, most people grasp it out of habit. If a person is friendly and smiles, then you know that's a good handshake candidate...someone who appreciates handshakes.

The only problem is my hands are sometimes cold, which is NOT a desirable hand trait, and so when I shake someone's hand I often include the apologetic comment, "I'm sorry my hand is so cold!"

I said that to someone just yesterday, actually.

Sigh. I want to be a warm handshaker, but my body betrays me. :(

Slapping them on the back?? Maybe you've got the handshake technique all wrong, right-track. A good handshake feels nothing like a back-slap.

I am reminded of this video clip from Sense and Sensibility, where Willoughby won't shake poor Marianne's hand:

This is the most ridiculous thing in the world, yet I think you can actually conclude a lot about a person just based on that initial handshake.

I'm somewhere in the middle, not a limp hand, not a bone crusher, as I equally hate both.

Btw, never shook the hand of a woman? Not even in a business-related situation? Because NOT shaking it seems downright rude...unless where you come from it's not customary to do so so they don't even offer their hand. Strange!

I also thought that was strange. Offering only a smile and a nod seems quite distant to me...especially if the person just shook hands with a man standing next to me.

I'm with this. I feel as though a handshake says a great deal, when combined with other 'first meeting' gestures. Someone who offers me a weak handshake but a very positive greeting for example, I get the impression they're semi-submissive or unsure.

On the other hand, the ex army folk handshake I mentioned before usually is far firmer than I consider is appropriate for a first meeting, so I generally take away the impression that the person is attempting to appear dominant.

I've yet to be tremendously far off base.