fore-arm handshake

[shootthebandit]

While watching "the eagle" i noticed that people were shaking forearms. Ive seen this before in other movies involving ancient rome and ancient greece and it got me thinking: why dont we adopt this style of handshake?

Its a much firmer greeting, theres nothing worse than a limp handshake. Its also a lot more hygenic, when we consider that we use our hands for everything.

For extra discussion value. Would you prefer this style of handshake or do you prefer our current one?

Also what was the cultural significance of this type of handshake in ancient times or was it just the 'norm' back then?

 

[Caiphus]

My friends and I, because we were super cool, used to do the forearm shake back in high school. We'd give each other Roman names, and everything. And we felt like men!

God, I used my teenage years wisely.

Edit:
So yes, if it wasn't totally weird to do this to people who aren't in on the whole thing, I would do it.

 

[Remus]

I could maybe see it as a more jovial handshake in modern times, since not everyone's an assassin these days. more of a between friends or comrades thing than between strangers. But for regular meet & greets between people who likely don't know each other or have never met before, I'd prefer a regular handshake. Keeps the other person at arms length and such.

 

[squall9126]

Limp handshakes are the worst, but they also provide valuable insights. If i get a limp handshake i seriously reconsider associating myself with that person and if it's for business i don't do any deals until i can do some background research on them, this has helped a lot. As much as i'd love to have better handshakes doing the forearm shake would kinda screw with my system.

 

[SckizoBoy]

My friends and I, because we were super cool, used to do the forearm shake back in high school. We'd give each other Roman names, and everything. And we felt like men!

Actual tria nomina (with or without agnomina) or just plonking '-us' onto the end of everything?! '

OT: Eh... you can get limp forearm handshakes too, they just don't grip your wrist properly. And it's just as irksome.

Still, it works best when wearing a sagum and/or Hellenistic-era equestrian armour with vambraces... provides a satisfying 'klank'... =_=

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

Limp handshakes are the worst, but they also provide valuable insights. If i get a limp handshake i seriously reconsider associating myself with that person and if it's for business i don't do any deals until i can do some background research on them, this has helped a lot. As much as i'd love to have better handshakes doing the forearm shake would kinda screw with my system.

I really like this post. It's fun.

I'm suspicious of the people who go in for the death-grip handshake. I always wonder what they're trying to prove... Or trying to hide. And why they feel the need to rearrange the bones in my hand.

 

[Heronblade]

Limp handshakes are the worst, but they also provide valuable insights. If i get a limp handshake i seriously reconsider associating myself with that person and if it's for business i don't do any deals until i can do some background research on them, this has helped a lot. As much as i'd love to have better handshakes doing the forearm shake would kinda screw with my system.

Judging an individual based on a handshake makes about as much sense as doing so on the basis of clothing or tone of voice. It is a superficial characteristic that in nearly all cases has zilch to do with whether or not the individual is competent at what they do. Just like most other social standards we've made up for first meetings, in many cases, all a good handshake can really tell you is that the person in question studied how to make a good impression on people that pay attention to handshakes.

One of the most competent, productive, and frankly brilliant programmers I know wears t-shirts with weird slogans to work and gives a handshake that can barely be felt. He appears at first glance to be about as reliable as a homeless alcoholic, and yet is probably in reality his company's most valuable employee.

 

[Moloch Sacrifice]

Yeah, I guess it might be a little manlier. The only trouble is, I lose my natural advantage; as a thin, pale guy I normally get to surprise people with a firm handshake. Call it weird, but I genuinely enjoy the second of surprise on people's faces when they realise that this scrawny nerd is capable of doing more than pretending to have dead fish for hands.