The Handshake

[BIG IRON]

A mans handshake tells you absolutely nothing of his character. Judging a mans handshake says a lot about that mans character!!

Snap

[Speedgoat]

A mans handshake tells you absolutely nothing of his character. Judging a mans handshake says a lot about that mans character!!

So Jeff, was my handshake firm?

[Redneck Archer]

A mans handshake tells you absolutely nothing of his character. Judging a mans handshake says a lot about that mans character!!

disagree.

my experience today proves my point.

and I am not saying someone that gives me a wimpy hand shake that I complete discredit them, but it makes me start paying closer attention to what and who and how they are.

[C.Read]

I usually just do a fist bump and either blow it up or do the jellyfish

This made me laugh.

I, too, pay attention to a persons handshake. Tells you a lot about them.

[Tubby]

I was also raised with being able to take a man's word with his handshake. Good firm grip, looking you in the eye goes a long way.

I've been around and worked the pipeline industry my whole life. 99% of the folks I've met also have been in it a long time and come for a hard working background. There's bee just a few folks that would give the "dead fish" or the fingertips for a handshake. I also knew immediately that I couldn't' trust them as far as I could throw them. Turned out I was right on 2 occasions. One of them in particular was out to get me run off a job and succeeded by making up lies. It bit him in the butt though a few years later. He showed up on a job and I was there doing the welding inspection. He drove from Oklahoma for the job here in central Tx and I told him to turn around and go home. I made sure he didn't get paid his travel time either. Karma, best served ice cold!

[Snakelover]

A mans handshake tells you absolutely nothing of his character. Judging a mans handshake says a lot about that mans character!!

Jeff, you didn't know that the bad character gene decreases forearm strength? I like a firm handshake, but I agree with you... it says nothing about character, only that no one's taught them the right way to shake hands.

The other extreme is just as bad, if not worse. There is a guy I knew that shakes everyone's hand as though trying to break every bone in their hand. It didn't bother me for him to shake my hand that way, but when I say everyone, that includes women and even little old ladies. An elderly lady (65+) told me he hurt her hand when he shook it. That's totally messed up! Making a point to shake hands with bone-crushing force doesn't make you a macho man, it just makes you an a-hole. Save the vice-grip for those who can return it or, better yet, just give a firm but gentle handshake to everyone.

[GR5]

A hand shake means nothing now days. Made a deal on some acreage joining my property a few months back. We agreed on the price. I was familiar with the surveying and the title company and was asked buy the seller to start the process. We shook hands. i had the property surveyed and the title started. We both were notified that the title was ready and agreed to meet for closing the following Tuesday. The lady at the title company called me Monday and said the seller was selling to another person

[Redneck Archer]

just give a firm but gentle handshake to everyone.

I like it rough!

[jerp]

Echoing snakelovers post - just as bad as the dishrag is the macho guy who "shortgrips" you and starts crumpling your fingers before you get a good grip. Handshake protocol demands that the thumb/index webs interlock before pressure is applied! I will admit I know some good guys with soft and feeble handshakes - I find it more annoying when people don't look at you when they are shaking hands.

[Roy]

Here's some useful advice on handshake etiquette...

http://wesleycox.hubpages.com/hub/handshake-etiquette

[100%TtId]

you know, that is actually a good thought. hindsight, but a good thought. next time.

You should call ATT and let them know. They can look up a trouble ticket and see if they dispatched a tech to your location. My guess: that was a phreaker trying to get access to your phone system.

[18ncs]

Jeff, you didn't know that the bad character gene decreases forearm strength? I like a firm handshake, but I agree with you... it says nothing about character, only that no one's taught them the right way to shake hands.

The other extreme is just as bad, if not worse. There is a guy I knew that shakes everyone's hand as though trying to break every bone in their hand. It didn't bother me for him to shake my hand that way, but when I say everyone, that includes women and even little old ladies. An elderly lady (65+) told me he hurt her hand when he shook it. That's totally messed up! Making a point to shake hands with bone-crushing force doesn't make you a macho man, it just makes you an a-hole. Save the vice-grip for those who can return it or, better yet, just give a firm but gentle handshake to everyone.

This is part of what I was about to say. My Father had bad arthritis and one guy that he did business with gave him a death grip everytime he saw. Dad would not complain about him killing his hand but when we would walk away it was the first thing he said to me. Since he wouldn't I finally talked to the guy but it bever stopped. Finally we did less and less business. I have taught my daughters how to meet people and to shake hands properly.

You should have given the perp a good firm shake until the law showed up. It is never too late to call the authorities today, that guy is out right now trying the same thing on someone else.

Exactly JERP, look me in the eye when we shake hands.

[Mac...]

I love a "dead fish" handshake! I crush em everytime! LMAO!
I let em walk away thinking, "I'll never do that again!"

[Hart8]

This is a good thread.Keep it goin'! Gonna wait a while to post my own thoughts though,cause I've gotta Ex marine corps drill sargeant,retired;and working for the state. that's got a weak handshake,and reason is because so many "friendly" folks when he was growin' up,were intimidated by him.Gotta nutha' brother in S.tx that's 6'6",that does the same thing,but only to folks he doesnt know.He'll break my right hand in a heartbeat,when we hook up after not seein' one another in a coupla' years! My right thumb has been mangled by those 2!

[Captrix]

A good, firm handshake applies to women, too, IMO.

I'm 62, have worked since age 16, and broken a couple of "this job is for men only" ceilings in the course of my career(s).
I realize many women have chosen (or been financially able to) to expressly stay at home full time their whole lives (I did as well for seven years after the birth of our son, then I worked in education for 12 years to match my kid's schedule - I've been back in corporate since 2004) and occasionally I've stuck my hand out upon being introduced only to receive a hesitant look, then a soft, weak hand - sometimes fingertips only - from other women. In my experience, these ladies just haven't been exposed often to "the handshake" protocol.

I'm just posting to say to all women - it's OK to shake hands firmly. Give your whole hand, with no hesitation. No need to break bones, lol, but give a good grip. It's OK, and NOT "unfeminine"

I am so glad you posted this. I am afraid to shake hands with women, I try to avoid it because I'm scared I'm going to hurt them or break fingers

I had a guy come in the office last week for a meeting about insurance and I shook his weak girly hands and thought he was going to fall to the floor, he let out a strange grunt so I let go. I think he was in pain My 5 yr old has a better handshake than the insurance guy did, at least he brought donuts.