×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Crazy handshakes
13

Crazy handshakes

Crazy handshakes

(OP)
I'm looking for some opinions from the group in regards to a couple of recent handshake 'incidents' that I experienced.

Incident 1:  

Last week I popped into the office of a colleague.  Also there was one of his direct reports.  I was recently promoted and moved to the head office so I had not met this person before.  I introduced myself and then received an absolutely bone crushing handshake that lasted for an unusually long time...it was like he didn't want to let go.  My initial reaction was that this guy is an @$$hole.  From what I know of this guy he is a good guy and generally gets along well with everyone.  However, now my impression of him, that I can't seem to shake, is that he is a total jerk.

Incident 2:  

I had a software vendor in my office yesterday trying to sell me some expensive asset management tools.  As per usual in these situations, there was the prerequisite before and after handshakes.  This time it wasn't bone crushing but it was firmer then what I would consider normal or comfortable.  What bothered me is that he twisted his hand in such away that it was on top and mine was twisted uncomfortably.  If it wasn't for the handshake I doubt I would have anything negative to say about this person.  I will be meeting him again in a few weeks and now my impression of him is slightly tainted.

My questions:

Am I overreacting?  Can you really tell anything about someone from a handshake?  I think I have a 'normal' business handshake.  Nothing like this has ever lingered on my mind before.  I'm wondering why these experiences have stuck in my head at all.

RE: Crazy handshakes

What is a "business handshake"?  Is that where you do something that you can't stand to perform and act as though you like it?  My advice is to quit acting and 'fess up to the fact that you don't want to shake.  You should learn to be yourself, not who you think you are expected to be.


 

RE: Crazy handshakes

I don't think you can tell anything about a person from their handshake.  What you can do however, is create preconceived ideas about that person as you have illustrated: The First Impression.

Learn to shake hands appropriately so others don't form the wrong impressions of you.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies to make the best use of these Forums?

RE: Crazy handshakes

You will find lots of psychological studies into handshakes, type of, firmness etc.  Just do a search on the web and have a look for it.

I believe it is a personal thing.  I have no idea whether I have a firm handshake or not, so have no idea what others think of me when shaking hands.  But I feel a handshake should be firm.  To me a really soft handshake indicates a lack of confidence.  Whether that is true, I have no idea, just an opinion.

You sound as if you are viewing both of these handshakes a form of attack.  I think you are over reacting.  I bet the people you shook hands with have no idea how firm their handshake is, and didn't give it a second thought.  I would suggest you do the same.

RE: Crazy handshakes

I am convinced that handshakes bring out the worst in some people.  Certainly, some folks are secretly overly proud of their manly grip.

RE: Crazy handshakes

I work with a guy that changes his handshakes each time. Very annoying!
I stick with the basic handshake, then wash my hands.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 08
ctopher's home (updated Aug 5, 2008)
ctopher's blog
SolidWorks Legion

RE: Crazy handshakes

I had a few buddies who took a management option in school and were actually tought a "proper" handshake.

RE: Crazy handshakes

2
Yeahm, there's a whole 'body language' thing about hand shakes.

Twisting your hand on top is supposedly trying to display dominance.  I can't remember for sure but I think a very firm handshake may have similar meaning.

http://www.speechmastery.com/hand-shake.html

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

RE: Crazy handshakes

The dead fish is the worst.  When I was a teenager I used to go on twinning trips to a twin village in france.  Dozens and dozens of handshakes every day.  Handshakes with the same people each day.  After a few days you try to avoid the dead fish.

- Steve

RE: Crazy handshakes

Most Asian countries still do not give a firm Western handshake.  I have learned to grip slightly, leaving my hand rigid but not crushing the other.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies to make the best use of these Forums?

RE: Crazy handshakes

3
Zoobie,

Next handshake you have, try bowing down and kissing the dude's hand.  You probably won't have to worry about another "manly" handshake from him again.  winky smile

I don't buy into "you can tell a lot about a man from ___". (fill in the blank with:  the way he shakes hands, the shoes he wears, his cologne, his handwriting, the car he drives, etc.).  However, as MadMango said, it will affect the First Impression.

Worse than a dead fish handshake to me is the kind where someone grabs your fingers (as opposed to your hand) and crushes them.  In one such incident, I politely offered to kick the gentleman in the grapes if he didn't stop crushing my fingers.

Cheers,
CanuckMiner

RE: Crazy handshakes

Hey, I didn't say I completely buy into it but there is a bunch of stuff out there about it.

Plus, people who care about this read up on it and start using the handshake they are told means the thing they want to portray.  So even if it starts out as nonsense it can develop some truth.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

RE: Crazy handshakes

I think it very well could be a dominance thing. You should also see that in the way they drive, or what they drive. (Or it could be they don't know how hard there grip is.)
The wet fish hand shake is what I normally get from women, which I feel that if they don't want to shake my hand, then don't (It's more acceptable to me than the wet fish).

But body language is a part of this, and like the saying, words have at least two meanings, could be the other meaning.

Why would an engineer want to move up into managment? And middle managment at that. It's very compettive, and burn outs, at some companies, don't take very long.
 

RE: Crazy handshakes

I'm a bit surprised by the sales guy though.  A lot of sales people groove on all this body language stuff and try to manipulate it.  I would have thought him crushing your hand was a no-no to the body language folks.

Plus remember, Engineers tend to be more analytical than the population at large.  So just like advertising apparantly doesn't work as well on your typical engineer maybe the same goes for body language etc.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

RE: Crazy handshakes

Our most annoying sales guy insists on the "middle five".  Mind you, a lot of his other behaviours are more common in people under 20.

- Steve

RE: Crazy handshakes

(OP)
Some very interesting comments.  I doubt I would have even posted if the situations didn't linger in my mind.  I don't think I have ever thought about someone's handshake for more than 1.25 seconds afterwards...wet fish, bone crusher, or otherwise.  I guess my sense of the situations was that they were overtly intentional....maybe I was wearing my threatening tie that day.

Maybe just having a bad day...or someone slipped something in my coffee.

RE: Crazy handshakes

(OP)
KENAT,

I think that's why it stuck...shouldn't the sales guy being kissing my you-know-what if he wants me to buy his 6-figure box of binary magic.

RE: Crazy handshakes

To break the twisting dominant handshake, take a step forward while bringing his hand to the vertical.  

RE: Crazy handshakes


or grabbing the middle finger and bending it backward over the wrist until he falls to his knees.

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"

RE: Crazy handshakes

One of my colleagues mentioned this handshake.


The Goose:
 
Any handshake can be employed, but followed up with a pat on the bottom, a gentle squeeze for those special clients/'friends'

 

- Steve

RE: Crazy handshakes

Zoobie, your Incident 1 could very well be a result of some rumors about your promotion... of the person was a jerk.

Incident 2 smells of an over achiever.  The palm down handshake could be their idea of saying "I'm your go-to salesman!"

Age, work experience, state of mind, all these and more play into your perception of what the handshakes conveyed.  It is probably something you'll have to figure out.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies to make the best use of these Forums?

RE: Crazy handshakes

When I was a teenager, my grandfathers, father and uncles used to impress upon me that a firm handshake was the mark of a confident man.  I never put much credence into that, though.

I did have a situation in church one time when I was about 14.  An elderly gentlemen offered me his hand during the sign of peace.  He proceeded to crush my fingers as best he could - I guess he was trying to exemplify an element of manhood to me.  Little did he know that I had been water skiing at least 4 days a week for the entire summer and my return grip made his eyeballs bulge...

For the OP's situation, I would directly ask them why they shake hands that way.  Shine a light on how juvenile it is...



If you "heard" it on the internet, it's guilty until proven innocent. - DCS

RE: Crazy handshakes

3
The next time you experience a bone-crusher just say,
"Wow, you have a very powerful grip. You must work out a lot ... but keep it up and you'll go blind."

cheers

RE: Crazy handshakes

I didn't know I had a pretty strong handshake/hands (yeah, probably the jerk type) until my daughters were born. After my wife enlightened me on the bodily injuries I was going to sustain if ever a girl had a broken bone because of it, I have tried to 'control' it (I've played racquet sports and handball all my life).

I guess it comes down to your own style. If you tend to try to convey something with your handshake, you might think someone else might be doing the same. From your post, I think your handshake, for you, is trying to convey you are a professional and have a balanced appreciation/approach to matters.

I actually never paid attention to it before (I do dislike the 'dead fish' one a lot though) and never considered part of the personality. Now you have made me aware of the issue and will be hard to ignore.

This is in my opinion obviously, but it might be part of someone's personality if that someone uses it with a purpose. Otherwise, it's just fingers closing.

<<A good friend will bail you out of jail, but a true friend
will be sitting beside you saying " Damn that was fun!" - Unknown>>

RE: Crazy handshakes

When he gives you a strong handshake, respond with "Hey big guy...You know what they say about big hands...".

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 08
ctopher's home (updated Aug 5, 2008)
ctopher's blog
SolidWorks Legion

RE: Crazy handshakes

(OP)
unotec,

Actually, up until a couple of days ago, I thought a handshake was just fingers closing.  I would have been happy to live out my days not knowing or thinking anything different.  To top it off, I started a thread on it so it will now forever be tattooed on my mind.  I have a meeting in a half hour...maybe I'll give the guy a hug.

 

RE: Crazy handshakes

Or kiss on both cheekswinky smile

You could just put your hand out and before the other person gets theirs out just start violently shaking your own.  I seem to remember chuckling at this when I was about 7 or so.

Or just before he touches your hand you pull yours back and run it through your hair like the Fonz.  Again, hilarious when I was a kid.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

RE: Crazy handshakes

So what's this dead fish everyone keeps talking about?

RE: Crazy handshakes

If you'd bothered to look at the highly informative link I gave above you'd know that...

Quote:

The Dead Fish

This is a cold, sometimes wet, unemotional shaking of hands. It is the definition of apathy.

winky smile

Actually my Dad always used to use this term so I've heard it before.

 

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

RE: Crazy handshakes

Never seen the definition before, thanks. Nevertheless the mental picture was pretty clear.

<<A good friend will bail you out of jail, but a true friend
will be sitting beside you saying " Damn that was fun!" - Unknown>>

RE: Crazy handshakes

Lead guitarists are infamous for dead fish handshakes.

RE: Crazy handshakes

So we should assume someone with a dead fish handshake is either a laed guitarist or a whimp.

If you don't want to shake my hand just say so, or say you have a cold or something.

RE: Crazy handshakes

Zoobie,
I'm with you on the second rtpe.  I honestly believe that the palm down is a dominance thing to which I invariably respond by twisting to the vertical (usually with a smart arse comment).

RE: Crazy handshakes

I'm not a poker player, so people who are observant can usually tell in just moments what I'm thinking by looking at my face.  I've recently had an uncomfortably long handshake - the dude just didn't want to let go - I was making eye contact the whole time, so he probably watched my facial expression go from friendly to puzzled to put-off in a matter of seconds.  That one ended with me straightening my hand (thumb up) and raising an eyebrow.  I don't often have trouble with crushers...  maybe they know better.  I do run across dead fish from time to time.  Not quite the same as a woman's handshake - the women are at least being firm to the extent they can, and you can feel it - the fish are clearly not even trying (makes you want to see if you can make the fingertips pop off... but I've managed so far to keep the squeezing to a minimum with those guys).

One thing that always creeps me out is guys with smooth, silky skin...  or hands that are slightly greasy with moisturizing lotion.  Blech!

I wonder what people think of the calluses, scars, nicks, and cuts on my hands... and the grease under my fingernails... it probably worries some (they probably go straight away to wash their hands).
 

RE: Crazy handshakes

Zoobie,

"My questions: Am I overreacting?"

Yes.

Another story. I used to play competative table tennis and one guy had a reputation for not shaking the hands of his opponent as is customary. His team members were embarrised and eventually kicked him out. His reason was never really clear. I'd suggest the act of handshaking is more important that it's implementation.

RE: Crazy handshakes

Wear a sling on your right arm and offer your left hand.

By the way, salesmen are often trained not to offer the handshake but to respond when it is offered to them. This is simply because some "buyers" don't like to shake hands with salesmen (I know the feeling and in my list I include politicians, modern architects and lawyers (especially lawyers) but it gets a bit difficult when you want to include managers in your list as they are likely to take an unreasonable dislike to you).

Unotec, can we introduce you to Cass?
Cass, can we have a video playback posted here please?

JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
 

RE: Crazy handshakes

Handshakes...

I hate it when someone wants to shake my hand right after I've come out of the washroom and my hands are still a little damp.  Sometimes I can get in an "I just washed my hands" disclaimer as they're making the grab so they're not disgusted, but sometimes I can't.  And then I wonder if they read the Dilbert cartoon where Dogbert sneezes on his paw and then claims it's wet because he just washed it.

I've tried not shaking people's hands when I have a cold.  Singers appreciate it.  Businesspeople are taken aback.  I don't think our culture has yet internalized that colds are spread more by hands than by air.

Ever since I saw a one-armed person do the upside-down left-handed handshake, I've adopted that for any time my right arm is occupied carrying something large.  It doesn't seem to bother anyone.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies:  FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

RE: Crazy handshakes

I always wash my hands right after or ASAP after shaking hands. More people these days do not wash after the restroom!

I also wash if I handle doorknobs and gas pumps. It's not OCD, it's just gross.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 08
ctopher's home (updated Aug 5, 2008)
ctopher's blog
SolidWorks Legion

RE: Crazy handshakes

I just hate shaking hands with a salesman type, then having my hand smell like his cologne for the rest of the day.

RE: Crazy handshakes

I don't really see the point to handshakes at all. :shrug:
Much like wearing a tie every day.  I suppose it's all symbolic and traditional.  I do enjoy tradition in many things, but for some reason I can't explain, handshaking simply evades me. I form my impression of someone after a few minutes talking with them.  Their handshake does nothing for me in that regard.

I'll respond with a rigid hand/palm in case they are a "crusher" and no firmer grip of the fingers than seems necessary or seems in line with the opposing shaker.  I seldom think/remember to initiate a handshake.  I don't really mind doing it... I just don't usually think of it.

The one style that kind of irritates me is when they close their hand before my hand is all the way in "the pocket" and wrap around just my fingers.
 

RE: Crazy handshakes

The handshake strength depends a lot on the culture that you are in: I am European living in Far East for over 6 years and right now I recognize that I have a much lighter handshake than before. I remember when I arrived I shaked hands pretty hard for Asian taste. I am a quite tall, is not uncommon  to be 20-30cm taller than the persons that I speaking to, so imagine, a huge foreigner giving a deadlock handshake grips was not exactly friendly by Asian standards.
Right now, when I handshake Europeans or Americans I notice that usually I give a "dead fish" in their standards. It is not on purpose, but a fact of life. Even so, I try to adapt my handshake to the person that I am giving it to.

And I do not try to psychologically profile the person that I am speaking to by his or her handshake.  

RE: Crazy handshakes

This thread is perhaps the most useless and hilarious I've come across.  I'd give stars to those of you that made me laugh out loud but I'd take a while.

RE: Crazy handshakes

here's my thoughts on the second guy:

car salesmen are taught to twist hands like that, as a show of dominance.  take it back from them by clasping your free hand on top of theirs (you've seen politicians do this, I'm sure).

and here in the USA south, it's considered a serious faux pas to offer your hand to a woman.  wait till she offers hers.  that's saved me from several bonecrushers...

RE: Crazy handshakes

I've been involved in a lot of bad handshakes recently.  I can't tell if it's me or them.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies:  FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

RE: Crazy handshakes

Well, I guess I'd have no problem with a golden handshake.

JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
 

RE: Crazy handshakes

Just this past weekend, a used car salesman nearly crushed my hand while turning it.  As an experiment, I aggressively turned it over, squeezed, and put my other hand on his and called him down.  I asked him why he was squeezing so hard and whether he did that to everybody.  He acted embarrassed and apologized to me.  I'll be going back there tomorrow, so I'm curious if he changes tack.  I'll let you know...


If you "heard" it on the internet, it's guilty until proven innocent. - DCS

http://www.eng-tips.com/supportus.cfm

RE: Crazy handshakes

He did it again...

I'm pretty sure that it's just natural for him now.  I twisted his arm again and smiled at him, then he remembered and released his grip with a smile.


If you "heard" it on the internet, it's guilty until proven innocent. - DCS

http://www.eng-tips.com/supportus.cfm

RE: Crazy handshakes

swearingen, thanks for the update.  I was curious what he would do, and you are probably correct it is habit for him now.

RE: Crazy handshakes

Swearingen,
I've been down that road as well.  After you try to make the offender aware of his action by straightening his hand and he is still unaware of it, I have asked, "what's with the domination gesture"?  You should here some of the stuttering explanations!

RE: Crazy handshakes

I think that its a cultural phenomena and that in the western culture (as Bill indicates) signals dominance.

All salemens seems to believed that a crushing handshake signals credibility.

I arab cultures e.g. (at least in the Gulf) men almost only touches each others hands when they shake. That takes a little getting used to.

Best regards

Morten

BTW: The hugging thing that has become more popular here in Denamark was actually a methode for verifying that the person you greet is not carrying a consealed weapon - sort of like "frisking".

RE: Crazy handshakes

Tell him you want to decline the handshake out of consideration, because you have a bad cold.

RE: Crazy handshakes

I've done that.  When I really had a cold, not just to avoid.  It didn't seem to go over well.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies:  FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

RE: Crazy handshakes

I think that when you get an actual, decent, firm, handshake, it does indeed tell you something about the other person; he is either a naturally gifted handshaker, or someone who is both courteous and thoughtful about handshakes, particularly, if he's actually paying attention to your body language and adjusts his shake accordingly.  

Someone who causes you obvious pain but doesn't change his MO is either a sadist, alpha-hole, or completely oblivious to the feelings of others.  The other person's body language and eye contact can all reveal certain aspects of their personality.   

TTFN

FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

RE: Crazy handshakes

A dead fish handshake from a woman has a different meaning and connotation than from a man.  For a man, who is supposedly culturally trained to handshake with "confidence" it connotes the opposite.  

However, for a woman, there's a confusing mix of tradition and modernism and sexism.  A firm handshake from a woman has historically been read as being "butch," while the dead fish handshake is probably a cultural holdover from the days when women didn't shake hands, since they were rarely armed, and would have had no need to demonstrate peaceful intentions.

TTFN

FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

RE: Crazy handshakes


I don't have the opportunity to shake hands with many women, so I wouldn't know if most of them give that weak, limp type.  But I've had men shake my hand with too delicate of a grip.  It usually makes me look to see what's wrong with their hand.

Rarely have I encountered the too strong handshake, but then I have a strong grip and not terribly delicate bones.

I think a lot of people have a low level of body awareness in general.  I would not expect most to be able to tell how hard they grip much less read the other person's body language for a signal to loosen the grip.

 

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"

RE: Crazy handshakes

If she offers you her hand you put your credit card in it. At least, I think that's the current thinking.

JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
 

RE: Crazy handshakes

That would depend on what sort of girl you're dealing with!  Some only take cash, you know.

RE: Crazy handshakes

Would that depend on palm up, or palm down. It's sort of herd to put something in a palm down arrangment.

So is there a difference if a girl offers you her left or right hand?

RE: Crazy handshakes

For the overly firm handshake....return his grip firmly and place your free (left) hand over top of the handshake. Gripping tightly,  take a step towards him and lift his hand to your shoulder height while turning 180 degrees, staying far enough away from  him to keep his arm extended. In turning away from him while still holding his handshake firmly his arm will be forced to rotate clockwise until his palm is facing up. Facing away from him, with his arm extended across your shoulder and elbow acting as a fulcrum on your shoulder, pull down on his hand. If done fluidly you will be greeted with surprise instead of resistance and only 18 pounds of pressure is needed for his elbow to shatter across your shoulder.

Its a good defensive jujitsu move if someone is coming at you with a knife but works even better as a hilarious conversation starter if someone greets you with a handshake that is too firm for your liking.


As a serious answer to the original question...yes you're overreacting.
 

RE: Crazy handshakes

My anecdote:

I am great at concentrating and I actually get very distracted by handshakes.  It is typical for people to give you their name just before or while shaking your hand and my concentration on the act of the handshake almost always makes what I hear (the name) never enter my consciousness.  Therefore...with me...a great handshake = I don't know your name.

Wonder if anyone else's single track mind defies them in this way.
 

RE: Crazy handshakes

Thanks to all for the good laugh! Also love the ad at the bottom "Huge selection of Shaking Hands Items"

Is it ok to use the Jujitsu move on a girl? (Only as a hilarious conversation starter... of course)

RE: Crazy handshakes

Someone on a TV show the other night had a much better answer.  If the handshake is getting too much, you should "cup their balls" with your free hand.

- Steve

RE: Crazy handshakes

Many people are taught to shake hands firmly. In my career, I have found that many people feel that a firm handshake in an indication of the character of the individual offering it. Handshaking is an American custom and it is difficult to avoid this ritual and retain your sense of goodwill with everyone in the business world. Some peope will be deeply offended if you don't shake their hand. I think you are better off shaking hands that not doing so.

As for the crazy handshakes, they might be signs of manipulation or one-upmanship. Maybe a guy wants to prove his strength or maybe he wants to catch you off guard and make you yell, thereby diminishing your stature in the presence of others. Perhaps he feels that you appear strong and confident and he wanted to take you down a notch.

I have often been turned off by crazy handshakes. Most often, it is when the other person grabs the ends of my fingers instead of doing a full hand grasp. I have yet to figure out what that means. It is too wierd to contemplate. I suppose it means that the other person is afraid that I might put a death grip on them and they want to avoid that fate. However, since I have done nothing to give that impression, I have to suppose that they are trying to manipulate me somehow.

In your case, I definitely feel that some form of manipulation is being attempted. Think about what impression you may have given to make someone react that way. If you don't come up with anything, you may be interacting with sociopaths.  

RE: Crazy handshakes

I don't hold a whole lot in other's handshakes personally, but it bugs the crap out of me if I give a weird one. Say they clutch your hand early before you acheive the proper poisitioning or something, and they get just the fingers. I can't do that; I always ask for another. Probably seems a bit obcessive to them. Haha Eh. We're all "weird" in some way, right?

RE: Crazy handshakes

Ooh, that's been happening to me a lot lately.  They just get the fingers, and I wonder if they think I give crappy handshake.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies:  FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

RE: Crazy handshakes

If something weird happens in the handshake say something about it.  "Woah, how did that happen?"  "Eh, are you trying to arm wrestle me or what?"  If it was an accident then they will usually laugh, relieve some tension, and maybe promt a re-try.  If the assailant did it intentionally they will usually be embarassed that you pointed out their ridiculous (failed) attempt at intimidation.  If you say nothing they win, at least in their mind.  Then they get really annoying.

Otherwise I don't put much stock in handshakes for most of the reasons listed above.  Could have been an accident, could have been intentional.  If it was intentional there will most likely be other issues that arise during the meeting; they are also likely to be more hampering towards your objective than the handshake.

Although I have to laugh at the facial expression when, every once and a while, there are no towels left in the restroom and somebody grabs my soaking hand after I walk out (washed of course).  I think that would be the worst.   

RE: Crazy handshakes

Or maybe they've got arthritis or rheumatism or a broken knuckle. Anyone giving me a bonecrusher will be nursing a sore groin or foot or ear (if they are lucky) shortly after.



 

Cheers

Greg Locock

SIG:Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

RE: Crazy handshakes

Greg, would you really risk losing your job because you gave someone a punch or kick? Would it really be worth the cost?

RE: Crazy handshakes

Depends how much they'd hurt me. I ain't punching anyone, my knuckles are fragile enough as it is.

Cheers

Greg Locock

SIG:Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

RE: Crazy handshakes

SKIAK,

When the no-towels-in-the-bathroom thing happens to me, I go and grasp a friend's bare arm with both hands and say, "Could you come help me get my keys out of the toilet?  I dropped them by mistake."


If you "heard" it on the internet, it's guilty until proven innocent. - DCS

http://www.eng-tips.com/supportus.cfm

RE: Crazy handshakes

Wet bathroom hands...I hate it when someone wants to shake my hand when it's damp.  I have to issue the disclaimer.

And then I wonder if they read the Dilbert cartoon where Dogbert sneezes into his paw and then moments later shakes hands with someone and says, "Excuse my wet paw, I just washed it."

Hg

Eng-Tips policies:  FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

RE: Crazy handshakes

Maybe they should replace the hand blowers with paper despencers.

RE: Crazy handshakes

swearingen, a star for that - I've got the perfect person to try that on.

RE: Crazy handshakes

So how do you know how firm your handshake is? Do you try it on coworkers, or with your spouse?
Or maybe you just judge it on the size of the eyes of the person you are shaking hands with.

RE: Crazy handshakes

Who goes to the county fair? There are much better things to do right around here in the city, and they don't have the barn smell.

And since we are engineers, should we not look at why we shake hands to determine how to shake hands?

If we take the premice that shaking hands is to show we have no weapons, then a wimpy hand shake will do.

If we take the premice we need to some how impress the other person, then an over powering hand shake is right.

So maybe the reason is somewhere inbetween.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources