Handshakes

[evman150]

So I shook Stephane Dion`s hand today, and he had an awful limp handshake. This concerned me greatly.

I have a nice firm handshake. This is how I believe everybody should shake hands. Do limp handshakes bother anyone else around here? Any guilty parties?

[Tyler]

Dion had a weak handshake? Somehow Im not surprised.

How the Liberal party elected him as a leader, I'll never know.

A limp handshake is always a big turn off for me when I meet a new person. Its silly, but it really comes off as a sign of weakness for some reason.

[Displaced Flames fan]

I find people are shocked when I offer my hand for a shake. My Dad's generation doesn't expect it anymore. I find that sad.

My handshake sets the tone for any meeting.

[V]

It's nasty. I'm actually surprised that a successful politician would have a lousy handshake, though.

I've got a client who has a terrible handshake. One day I just had to say something over lunch. And it's gotten far better since.

[Dion]

Interesting comment on limp handshakes


BETHLEHEM, PA - Can having a lousy handshake knock you out of the running for a job? Well, maybe, according to employers responding to Job Outlook 2001, an annual survey of employers' hiring intentions as they relate to new college graduates. The study is conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

Ironically, a candidate's handshake - which has no visual impact - came out higher on the influence scale than more in-your-face attributes such as body piercing, obvious tattoos, and unusual hair styles.

http://www.vault.com/nr/newsmain.jsp...43&cat_id=1481

[arloiginla]

I try to have a nice firm one especially since I'm a pianist

Are there different rules for women? They always seem to have limp ones but somehow it seems ok.

[Jiggy_12]

I hate it when I reach in for a nice firm handshake, and the other guy just gives you a sponge to hold onto. Says a lot about the person.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

I find people are shocked when I offer my hand for a shake. My Dad's generation doesn't expect it anymore. I find that sad.

My handshake sets the tone for any meeting.

I had an incident like that when a group of us finished our game of golf yesterday. As customary everyone shakes hands with the other and says thank you for the game. This one retired chap had a stunned look when i offered my hand. Said he wasn't used to shaking hands at the end of a golf game.

[jayswin]

What a petty world we live in.. I try to have a firm handshake though, as I know people are very judgmental and assume a lot about you based on it, instead of you know...getting to know you. Ah good old first impressions.

[GGG]

Maybe dion should stick with the fist bump.

[NSFL]

Limp but dry handshake or firm but clammy handshake? Which do you prefer?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by arloiginla

I try to have a nice firm one especially since I'm a pianist

Are there different rules for women? They always seem to have limp ones but somehow it seems ok.

It's not ok.

It's not the strength of the handshake but the effort.
I'm very weak but I try to give a firm handshake and people appreciate that.

[Got Miikka?]

It is a fine line to walk, though, because I've experienced the entire handshake gamut and that includes getting shakes from people who could bury the needle on one of those hand-strength measuring machines. For me a bone-crusher is just as bad as a limp one - and they both indicate weakness.

[Rathji]

A proper handshake should match pressure.

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by NSFL

Limp but dry handshake or firm but clammy handshake? Which do you prefer?

Firm and Clammy 100% of the time. I feel dirty after a limp handshake.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Got Miikka?

It is a fine line to walk, though, because I've experienced the entire handshake gamut and that includes getting shakes from people who could bury the needle on one of those hand-strength measuring machines. For me a bone-crusher is just as bad as a limp one - and they both indicate weakness.

What's with the bone crushers? Are you so insecure that you need to try to damage my hand with your ######ed handshake to prove that you're a man? Does my size intimidate you? Attempting to crush my hand: does that make you feel better about your small stature? For all of the ''punch-in-the-face" threats I've issued, the bone crushing handshakers are most at risk.

[flylock shox]

My pet peeve with handshakes are the early closers: people who can't wait for the thumbjoint contact before they feel the need to squeeze.

And on that note, this thread should be merged with the gay bar thread.

Cockmeat.

[PowerPlayoffs06]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

My pet peeve with handshakes are the early closers: people who can't wait for the thumbjoint contact before they feel the need to squeeze.

That drives me nuts too. I've re-done handshakes after people pulled that crap on me. I also hate when you try and start on the down-shake and the other guy, for some reason, starts on the up-shake and cancel eachother.

Or if you combine the two you just wind up holding hands for a few seconds. It's like something off of Seinfeld.

George: I held a mans hand today, Jerry.
Jerry: What were you doing that for?
George: I didn't mean to, Jerry! I had this meeting with this guy at work and we went to shake hands and he closed too early.
Jerry [Nodding]: Ahh, the Early-Closer.
George: You gotta let your thumbs lock. There's no shake if you don't lock thumbs!
Jerry: The locked thumb is what makes or breaks shakes.
George: To make it worse, I tried to keep going anyway and started on the down-shake...
Jerry: You gotta start on the down-shake. It's the natural start to any handshake.
George: And he started on the up-shake, and it cancelled eachother out, so we just sorta stood there, holding hands.
Jerry: The Early-Closer-Up-Shaker; the bane of any handshake.

[Claeren]

So which is worse, too firm or too limp?



I think too firm is worse.

At least with too limp you know the person is not trying to make up for inner-shortcomings with a silly physical attempt at alpha behavior. Sure limpies may not be overly manly but at least you know you will generally be judged by things other than how physically strong you are for the rest of the meeting/encounter.

Firm handshakers make me uneasy because I wonder what other messed up ways they will try to impose their will on a meeting. Talking over everyone? Ignoring everyones contributions at the end and trying to take over the agenda? etc etc.

Since most meetings now days are more about business (using wit/brains) than caveman hunting (using brawn) it seems more comforting to be in that scenario with a limp shaker than an overly firm shaker?


(Obviously in the middle is best for exactly that reason. Firm enough the person knows you are not weak or intimidated but limp enough that the person knows you are secure enough to not have to depend on your strength to succeed.)


I find shaking womens hands to be really tricky, especially older women. I am a big guy (6'4/210) and when this little womens hand comes out you never know if you are getting a real handshake or one of those horrible girly things where they half grab your hand.....

If a women presents her hand fingers first (like old fashioned women style?) what are you to do as a guy? Just grab the fingers lightly? It is not like you are to kiss the hand?!




Oh, and I am not sure I see Harper as that much more of a firm shaker than Dion? Neither is super manly in my eyes? I guess Harper gets the edge though but only because Dion gives such an extreme impression of softness?




Claeren.

[AvsJerk]

Lately I have been finding myself throwing in the left hand also...kind of making a handshake sandwich. It works great when shaking womens hands and also is effective on the overly aggressive shaker...it non-verbally says "Hey little buddy...calm down...this isn't an arm wrestling contest".