Poll: How do you shake hands?

[SckizoBoy]

Because you aren't imaginative enough.

Should I have put an option: 'gentle stroke' then?! *hrk*

As long as you're reason for not being suprised has nothing to do with that awful tv show "Ladette to Lady" then it's fine. If it is........

Spoiler

Oh, heavens, no... couldn't stand that show... I found it somewhat sexist.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

Extend right hand, grasp, shake, inject infection via hiddle needle, release. Fast but manly.

 

[Macgyvercas]

With my left hand. Carryover from Boy Scouts.

Surely the Scouts would have had you learn to shake with the right hand? That's where I learned about the tradition.

OT: With the right hand, and make it firm, but not aggressive. A proper handshake.

The Boy Scout handshake is with the left hand. Since it's closer to the heart, it's a symbol of friendship. I started with the right hand, but switched to left after I joined.

 

[bluepotatosack]

Usually it's daps. Otherwise it will be a manly handshake.

 

[SomethingUnrelated]

With my left hand. Carryover from Boy Scouts.

Surely the Scouts would have had you learn to shake with the right hand? That's where I learned about the tradition.

OT: With the right hand, and make it firm, but not aggressive. A proper handshake.

The Boy Scout handshake is with the left hand. Since it's closer to the heart, it's a symbol of friendship. I started with the right hand, but switched to left after I joined.

Interesting! I had always been told to shake with the right because it was your weapon hand (if you were in the military 'back then'), and in order to shake hands, you would have to put your weapon down, thus eliminating any offensive capability. Still, nice to hear an interesting account for why you do it differently!

 

[War Penguin]

I grab their hand firmly, look them straight in the eye, smile, and shake. Don't be afraid of sweat or germs. You'd be surprised how many people judge by the handshake. That's why you gotta do it right!

 

[Feralcentaur]

...Not well, I end up having a loose grip and my arm goes up and down in a ridiculous exaggerated fashion as I rarely shake hands with anyone and the only times I have they've been an older relative or a Teacher thus making me feel somewhat nervous, that and the while me not liking to feel anything touching my flesh including air.

Now I just try to avoid ever having to do handshakes at all by just raising my right arm and hand up slightly in front of me while also to my side to about the same height as my upper chest for a couple of seconds so that the palm of my hand is facing the same way as I am and say something short and simple like "Hello" or "Goodbye" and then lower my arm.

 

[mikev7.0]

I also do it in the manly way (though I am a woman). When I meet new people and if I chat with them for longer than a moment and notice we might hit it off I will offer my hand to introduce myself. I've been taught to do this ever since I was a child but apparently some people think it's a way of saying, "I wanna have sex with you, now!"... Which is doesn't... Cultural differences.

What different cultures did you come from? I've always been taught the same as you have and I'ts mostly percieved as just being polite and usually appreciated.

As for the crusher handshake I think I'll just use Eddie Izzard's idea the next time it happens to me and start screaming and trying desprately to free my hand.

 

[XIII's Number XIV]

I only do this with people I've never met. I just meet them halfway with whatever hand they're using and apply the same strength they use.

Yes it's rather meek, but A: I'm a girl, and with the way I was raised, I have to be polite, and B: I don't meet new people much, ergo I don't have much hands to shake.

 

[TheSaw]

I don't like touching people so I stay away from shaking hands. It just gets me all freaked out.
It gets extremely awkward when someone goes to shake my hand and I quickly retract it.

 

[SuperSuperSuperGuy]

I'm rather weak in terms of handshakes, mostly due to the fact that I'm not comfortable with touching others.

 

[Jodah]

Firm with random people, hand breaking with relatives, thumb hook grasp thing with friends.

 

[sanomaton]

What different cultures did you come from? I've always been taught the same as you have and I'ts mostly percieved as just being polite and usually appreciated.

Oh, I'm from Northern Finland (Lapland) but I've spent a lot of time in South Finland because I went to school there. When I shook hands with the girls I lived with in the dorm they looked at me as if I was some kind of creature from outer space and guys just took it as flirting. :| Back at home it is just polite and appreciated by many.

 

[Debirufisshu]

I selected 'amha crush you hand'. My grandfather always taught me that a man with a stong handshake, is a man with no dishonesty.

 

[Valksy]

Firm, fast.

Most of the (other) women I have shaken hands with have been limp and floppy. Learn how to do it, dammit. After a limp shake I usually want to wipe my hand on something. Be positive, be assertive.

Place I used to work was often visited by older posh blokes and they always greeted the women there with the double-cheek kiss. Yeah. I don't do that. First time a guy tried to do it to me, I stepped back and stuck out my hand.

Learn to do it. Being perceived as wimpy, no matter your gender, is just not clever.

If doing the handshake greeting for someone I did like - when they guy was landing 3 or 4 kisses on the other women - I simply added my left hand to the back of the shake so it would seem warm and friendly.

Do it right if you are going to do it.

 

[Plinglebob]

I've been to a number of job interviews recently and the handshakes people give at the beginning have always been utterly pathetic. One was so bad I was biting my tongue to stop myself going "Ok, lets try it again and do it properly this time!"

 

[Scarim Coral]

I pretty hand shake with a light grip well sometime firm and shaking it quickly.

 

[SckizoBoy]

Firm, fast.

Most of the (other) women I have shaken hands with have been limp and floppy. Learn how to do it, dammit. After a limp shake I usually want to wipe my hand on something. Be positive, be assertive.

Place I used to work was often visited by older posh blokes and they always greeted the women there with the double-cheek kiss. Yeah. I don't do that. First time a guy tried to do it to me, I stepped back and stuck out my hand.

Learn to do it. Being perceived as wimpy, no matter your gender, is just not clever.

If doing the handshake greeting for someone I did like - when they guy was landing 3 or 4 kisses on the other women - I simply added my left hand to the back of the shake so it would seem warm and friendly.

Do it right if you are going to do it.

See, these days, I find the double-cheek kiss thingy a little inappropriate if I meet a woman for the first time, so I shake hands firmly, but not as much as with other guys. Only when a certain level of friendly acquaintance has been achieved does the kiss-as-greeting start.

Oh yeah, forgot about the whole two handed one... I always fear ulterior motives when that happens.