How is your handshake ?

Wren

Wren

Well-known Member
Location
Europe
“He has a good strong handshake”, those words seem to suggest a firm handshake means a good character

I’ve found men tend to shake hands more than women, I’ve certainly not shaken too many over the years but had cause to over the weekend and I realised, I don’t ‘shake’ at all ! :laugh:

I sort of just hold the proffered hand, with maybe a gentle squeeze, leaving any shaking that’s going on, up to the proferee.....

How is your handshake ?
 

I dislike shaking hands and think it’s going out of fashion. It started to see if someone was carrying a weapon. It’s ending because people don’t want to share germs, IMO. I have arthritis in my hands, painful, so don’t want to shake.
 
My Dad always told me to hold the proffered hand firmly, squeeze back if they squeeze, not tightly but don't just let my hand lie there in someone else's hand because that just feels weird. Over the years, as I've shaken different people's hands, I have come to understand exactly what he meant!

I will initiate a handshake if the situation calls for it, at my discretion. Usually it's when I'm meeting with older adults and/or clients. I will always take a proffered hand if it's extended. (I carry hand sanitizer with me always, so I can discreetly sanitize afterwards lol) I've noticed that with younger people, it's more common to give a quick hug, which I am always happy to do. That is my preferred form of greeting for any age, though I'm sensitive to others' preferences and don't force hugs on anyone!
 
Wren said:
Mine must be underdeveloped through lack of use...... we just sort of stood there holding hands, I felt like saying “You gonna shake or what” ?
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I learned when I was very young that a handshake says a lot about a person and was taught to grip firmly and shake while looking into the eyes of the person you are connecting with.

Those loose fishy handshakes are uncomfortable. :playful::eek:nthego:
 
A good solid firm shake for men. For any who have arthritis or female an offered cupped hand shake, lightly. I guess old school here.
 
Keesha said:
Those loose fishy handshakes are uncomfortable. :playful::eek:nthego:
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brings back memories

During high school graduation ceremonies there was a lota handshakes
Lines of them

So, to kill the boredom, and get that tired smile from getting even more pathetic,
some of us guys decided to use our middle fingers to tickle the palms of the shaking hands

Quite amusing to see expressions go from a grinning greeting to one of quizzical mystery

Heh, their eyes would get that puzzled unseeing look

Hey, what price entertainment
 
I never gave much thought to handshakes, I've done it over the years with other women and men. I don't grip hard or shake up and down, but just give a regular hand shake short with a normal hold. I don't want to hug a man or woman that I'm meeting for the first time.
 
Firm, but not with a macho display of pressure.

I had a guy do serious damage to my wrist, once, when I endeavored to shake his hand, out my driver's side window, as I left his property. This guy stood 6'5", and weighed around 235 lbs. He squeezed my hand so tight, while turning my wrist, that I'm sure my tendons were injured.

I was a young guy, at the time. In this day and age, I'd sue his butt for assault, no lie. What he did was totally unnecessary.

In truth, I sort of judge people by their handshakes, initially: I like firm pressure, and a steady look into my eyes, with a smile on one's face. (The guy, above, was a conceited butt head.)
 
Pappy said:
I was told never offer your hand to a lady unless she offers her first. I prefer to hug anyway. Some men I know, shake hands and bump shoulders at the same time. My kids do this.
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I was also taught not to shake or offer to shake a lady’s hand unless she offers her’s. I’m also a hugger, but only if I know the person and he/she shows some acceptance to it.

It’s somewhat funny, but I’ve had people of all ages from young men and ladies to older men and ladies that would be a first time flyer and after landing they seemed to be so thrilled that they made it through the trip that they would ask if they could hug me. I have never turned down a hug from a gracious flyer.

I officiate high school basketball and umpire college baseball, so in the sports world, there are different types of greetings, including shaking hands.
 
I'm not a Hugger...I shake hands a lot with people outside of my closest family members or friends... I meet a lot of people so I'm always shaking hands, but I have OA in my fingers so as long as someone gives a proper palm to palm handshake my fingers don't get hurt, but when you get people who squeeze your fingers instead of thumb between thumb & palm to palm, that HURTS!!
 
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Pappy said:
I was told never offer your hand to a lady unless she offers her first. I prefer to hug anyway. Some men I know, shake hands and bump shoulders at the same time. My kids do this.
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That is my understanding also but I understood that job interviews and business transactions were the exception.
Then you get into those ridiculous handshakes that go on into secret silly stuff. Some of those handshakes are like Olympic gymnastics for the hands.
 
hollydolly said:
I'm not a Hugger...I shake hands a lot with people outside of my closet family members or friends... I meet a lot of people so I'm always shaking hands, but I have OA in my fingers so as long as someone gives a proper palm to palm handshake my fingers don't get hurt, but when you get people who squeeze your fingers instead of thumb between thumb & palm to palm, that HURTS!!
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Can relate. I don’t hug strangers but do offer my hand to shake if an introduction is made.
I don’t have tiny dainty women hands and don’t consider myself a weak handshaker but some people squeeze and pump too hard when shaking hands :eek:nthego:
 
I don't shake, just give a firm squeeze. I haven't met many with enthusiastic shaking or crushing squeezes, but wimpy touches turns me off, gives me the feeling the person is not a warm person.
 
I avoid handshakes and never initiate, though if someone offers their hand I will reluctantly offer mine. I also don't like to be hugged (by strangers), so just give me a friendly smile and get on with it.
 
Growing up in the South I don't know if this is the norm, but in my greeting there were a lot of handshakes, hugs and even pecks on the cheeks. My handshake isn't firm as I have rather small hands.
 
My handshake is firm. I hate it when someone offers their hand and it's just kind of like a dead fish. On the other hand, I don't need to be squeezed to death. I shook hands with a guy once, and it was like he wanted to crush my hand. I just looked him in the eyes and smiled. Wouldn't give him the satisfaction of saying "ow." Turns out he was a real a**hole. So I think a handshake says a lot.
 
My handshaking is very cautious because of the arthritis in my fingers, ow.

I believe British women are more likely to shake hands than their American sisters.
 
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