Anyone Find Handshakes Awkward

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DarthScorpio11

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So, i went out to get some ice for the cooler at the gas station for a party tomorrow, and when i was getting back into my car some guy came up to me, and asked if i went to ______ High School. I said yes, and then he said he used to ride my bus. I graduated in 2008, so it's been a few years, but i did recognize him by face. I told him that i think i remembered him, and he told me his name. I remember him being in one of the younger grades. According to my sister, he graduated in 2011. Anyways, he stuck his hand out, and awkwardness ensured. I gave him a handshake, but isn't that a little formal for the situation. I'm not used to younger people giving handshakes as greetings...
 

Total LOLige

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I find them awkward because of my far superior masculinity I end up crushing their hand(I joke of course) maybe a little awkward.
 

Dags90

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I find the various other non-handshake greetings complicate things. You go in for a normal handshake, and they want to do something different? That's awkward.

I find hugs to be way more awkward.
 

DEAD34345

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I find them awkward because of the interview advice I've been given about 10 times at various points throughout high-school and college. I always wonder if my handshake is too firm, or not firm enough, or lasts too long, or not long enough, etc, etc. It makes me think anyone who shakes my hand is silently analysing it and judging me.

(By the way, what the hell is "Firm but not too firm", exactly? You can't get any more vague than that.)
 

xXGeckoXx

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DarthScorpio11 said:
So, i went out to get some ice for the cooler at the gas station for a party tomorrow, and when i was getting back into my car some guy came up to me, and asked if i went to ______ High School. I said yes, and then he said he used to ride my bus. I graduated in 2008, so it's been a few years, but i did recognize him by face. I told him that i think i remembered him, and he told me his name. I remember him being in one of the younger grades. According to my sister, he graduated in 2011. Anyways, he stuck his hand out, and awkwardness ensured. I gave him a handshake, but isn't that a little formal for the situation. I'm not used to younger people giving handshakes as greetings...
Handshakes are surprisingly complicated. If you ever do one of those mostly retarded business attitude courses many schools do now days one of the thing they cover is how handshakes communicate confidence. You always have to exactly match the strength of the other person, it's part of the whole first appearances thing.

About awkwardness. If a person looks like they are going to go for a handshake when you first meet them do it, if they where not going for it then they will anyway swerve into it and the awkwardness will be on them and you will look suave and sophisticated as opposed to confused by their greeting. If they where going for it then perfect double win.

lunncal said:
I find them awkward because of the interview advice I've been given about 10 times at various points throughout high-school and college. I always wonder if my handshake is too firm, or not firm enough, or lasts too long, or not long enough, etc, etc. It makes me think anyone who shakes my hand is silently analysing it and judging me.

(By the way, what the hell is "Firm but not too firm", exactly? You can't get any more vague than that.)
Stupid vague idea. The point is to match the firmness of the opposing parties handshake. You approximate their strength (big Scandinavian guy, go in relatively strong. Small korean lady, forget the word firm don't apply pressure.) The moment you make contact you will know how much pressure they are about to apply quickly match that. Sounds complicated really simple. Adapt as quickly as possible to them and give yourself an edge by approximating based on appearances.
 

DarthScorpio11

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lunncal said:
I find them awkward because of the interview advice I've been given about 10 times at various points throughout high-school and college. I always wonder if my handshake is too firm, or not firm enough, or lasts too long, or not long enough, etc, etc. It makes me think anyone who shakes my hand is silently analysing it and judging me.

(By the way, what the hell is "Firm but not too firm", exactly? You can't get any more vague than that.)
well, i mean between people in everyday non-professional life...
 

JochemDude

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No, their bloody handy that's what they are, you can tell a lot about someone by how they shake your hand.
 

LongAndShort

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Only when people make them awkward, or they are thrown out formally. But really I think people overthink it a fair bit, and make it difficult.

I know whenever I meet up with my mates a few hands are thrown and are casually grasped and shaken. It's like an adult high five.
 

DEAD34345

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DarthScorpio11 said:
well, i mean between people in everyday non-professional life...
I know. Like I said, after receiving all that advice about interviews I wonder if anyone who shakes my hand is judging me. I know I would be if I wasn't too busy wondering about my own handshake.
 

SilentCom

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I find any human contact to be awkward in many circumstances. The only times I would feel fine with physical contact is the rare instance in which I trust someone enough to be close.
 

DarthScorpio11

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deadman91 said:
Only when people make them awkward, or they are thrown out formally. But really I think people overthink it a fair bit, and make it difficult.

I know whenever I meet up with my mates a few hands are thrown and are casually grasped and shaken. It's like an adult high five.
i prefer a fist knock, or something, and im 21...
 

LongAndShort

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DarthScorpio11 said:
deadman91 said:
Only when people make them awkward, or they are thrown out formally. But really I think people overthink it a fair bit, and make it difficult.

I know whenever I meet up with my mates a few hands are thrown and are casually grasped and shaken. It's like an adult high five.
i prefer a fist knock, or something, and im 21...
If it's been established amongst friends that fist-knocking is an appropriate greeting/parting action, than fist-knock away. It hasn't been amongst my mates, so if someone seriously tried to do it we would label them a pretentious wanker and beat them down emotionally until they saw the error of their ways (but shit, we're right royal bastards). I like to think of stuff like that as small-scale cultural relativity.
I also think that the handshake is far more universal a (and I use the term loosely) mature greeting, across a broader spectrum of ages and creeds.
 

Redlin5_v1legacy

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Aug 5, 2009
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They only get awkward if it goes on for too long. Otherwise I don't mind them and I like the "you can tell a lot about a man by his handshake" mentality.
 

zehydra

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JochemDude said:
No, their bloody handy that's what they are, you can tell a lot about someone by how they shake your hand.
sorta. It's by no means a perfect system.
 

Mikodite

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Handshakes are for work. Hugs are for close friends/family/significant-other.

Else, don't fucking touch me you crazy son of a *****.
 

Jfswift

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Nov 2, 2009
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I agree that in that scenario it was a little awkward. It's too formal for a conversation like that. My issue though is more with people with weak handshakes. I don't trust anyone who does that. I wonder why they even bother because to me it conveys ulterior motives.