Shaking Hands

Thom Yorke · 10-03-2011, 02:38 PM

In the interview thread the subject of shaking hands in relation to gender came up. I figure most people here probably do it so I decided to add another question to it.

On my mom's side of the family (Estonian heritage, if that matters) they were taught to shake hands very firmly. I have painful childhood memories of one of my relatives who seemed to be trying to break my hand every time we shook hands.

On my dad's side of the family (Canadian/English) they don't have any sort of conduct for shaking hands, but I noticed many of them have relatively weak hand shakes. In general I think this holds true for most of the people here too.

I'd like to see what role location and age play in it as well but that would be a bitch of a poll to make just for shaking hands. So just choose which option best describes you.

Mykonos · 10-03-2011, 02:44 PM

Weak. So very weak. I get too worried that I'll crush their hand otherwise.

Freebase Dali · 10-03-2011, 02:52 PM

I picked firm.
I don't know what it is, but if a guy limp shakes my hand, it's very off-putting.
I don't really find myself shaking hands very often unless I'm dealing with people on a professional level, but I've had a few limp shakers before and it just makes me want to go wash my hands for some reason...

USA
30 years old

Thom Yorke · 10-03-2011, 02:57 PM

Firm for me as well. I was raised to do it but I think I would have done it anyways. And I agree with everything Freebase Dali said.

Canada
21

**Janszoon** · 10-03-2011, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

I picked firm.
I don't know what it is, but if a guy limp shakes my hand, it's very off-putting.
I don't really find myself shaking hands very often unless I'm dealing with people on a professional level, but I've had a few limp shakers before and it just makes me want to go wash my hands for some reason...

This pretty much describes me too, though I'd like to add that women who give the dead fish hand also kind of annoy me. It's the 21st century ladies, it's okay to be assertive.

For the record the Acadian side of my family were a bunch of handbreakingly hard shakers but everybody else was simply firm without trying to crush your hand.

Male, 34
USA

Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra · 10-03-2011, 03:18 PM

I hate touching people. With the exception of sex, I find no joy at all, whatsoever, in human physical contact of any kind... suppose I'm ****ed.

If I have to shake somebody's hand(employer during interview, etc). I will, but they more shake my hand than I shake theirs.

**Janszoon** · 10-03-2011, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra

If I have to shake somebody's hand(employer during interview, etc). I will, but they more shake my hand than I shake theirs.

Only at the interview stage and already making the boss do all the work.

lucifer_sam · 10-03-2011, 03:29 PM

My grandfather instructed me from an early age that a firm handshake is necessary to go anywhere in the world.

I kinda get creeped out by people who do the weak fish; it's like not looking at someone when you are talking to them. Unless you're old or really sloppily hitting on me, don't finger my hand like it's an inattentive cat.

Mykonos · 10-03-2011, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra

I hate touching people. With the exception of sex, I find no joy at all, whatsoever, in human physical contact of any kind... suppose I'm ****ed.

Aww, no hugs? Without trying to sound like a perv, I love human contact.

**Janszoon** · 10-03-2011, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucifer_sam

My grandfather instructed me from an early age that a firm handshake is necessary to go anywhere in the world.

I kinda get creeped out by people who do the weak fish; it's like not looking at someone when you are talking to them. Unless you're old or really sloppily hitting on me, don't finger my hand like it's an inattentive cat.

The image of the worst possible interpretation of someone "fingering a cat" is now seared into my brain.

View Poll Results: Pick one
Male - Try to squeeze as hard as you can	2	4.88%
Male - Firm hand shake	22	53.66%
Male - Weak hand shake	2	4.88%
Male - Put no thought into it	5	12.20%
Male - Don't shake hands	1	2.44%
Female - Try to squeeze as hard as you can	1	2.44%
Female - Firm hand shake	7	17.07%
Female - Weak hand shake	0	0%
Female - Put no thought into it	0	0%
Female - Don't shake hands	1	2.44%
Voters: 41. You may not vote on this poll

10-03-2011, 02:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
Thom Yorke Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,848	Shaking Hands In the interview thread the subject of shaking hands in relation to gender came up. I figure most people here probably do it so I decided to add another question to it. On my mom's side of the family (Estonian heritage, if that matters) they were taught to shake hands very firmly. I have painful childhood memories of one of my relatives who seemed to be trying to break my hand every time we shook hands. On my dad's side of the family (Canadian/English) they don't have any sort of conduct for shaking hands, but I noticed many of them have relatively weak hand shakes. In general I think this holds true for most of the people here too. I'd like to see what role location and age play in it as well but that would be a bitch of a poll to make just for shaking hands. So just choose which option best describes you.

10-03-2011, 02:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mykonos AWhatup Ganache? Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 381	Weak. So very weak. I get too worried that I'll crush their hand otherwise. __________________ 'Not that Becktionary, the Rhyming Becktionary!'- Bender Bending Rodriguez

10-03-2011, 03:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
lucifer_sam Unrepentant Ass-Mod Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3,921	My grandfather instructed me from an early age that a firm handshake is necessary to go anywhere in the world. I kinda get creeped out by people who do the weak fish; it's like not looking at someone when you are talking to them. Unless you're old or really sloppily hitting on me, don't finger my hand like it's an inattentive cat. __________________ first.am

10-03-2011, 02:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
Freebase Dali Partying on the inside Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,584	I picked firm. I don't know what it is, but if a guy limp shakes my hand, it's very off-putting. I don't really find myself shaking hands very often unless I'm dealing with people on a professional level, but I've had a few limp shakers before and it just makes me want to go wash my hands for some reason... USA 30 years old

10-03-2011, 02:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
Thom Yorke Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,848	Firm for me as well. I was raised to do it but I think I would have done it anyways. And I agree with everything Freebase Dali said. Canada 21