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From: unixcorn@dcc1.UUCP (math.c)
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Re: "dead fish" handshakes given by males to females
Message-ID: <150@dcc1.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 17-Jul-85 19:50:08 EDT
Article-I.D.: dcc1.150
Posted: Wed Jul 17 19:50:08 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 19-Jul-85 00:58:28 EDT
References: <234@cuuxa.UUCP> <850@ihlpg.UUCP> <698@lll-crg.ARPA>
Reply-To: unixcorn@dcc1.UUCP (math.c)
Distribution: net
Organization: DeKalb Community College, Clarkston GA
Lines: 38
Summary: 

In article <698@lll-crg.ARPA> bandy@lll-crg.UUCP (Andrew Scott Beals) writes:
>In some random article or another, someone female says that she hates
>"dead fish" handshakes given by males and goes on to say that they should
>leave a "good indication of their presence" (paraphrased) and not treat her
>like china. [what annoys me are men who shake my hand like a dead fish...]
>
>Of course, the degree of firmness that can be given without pain varies
>widely from person to person (with a good metric being that women can
>tolerate a good deal less squeeze (or perhaps the men are all being macho
>and just aren't complaining)), and I don't really want to hurt anyone, but
>being that I'm not Emily Post, I shall bow to her:
>
>[taken from chapter 3, "How do you do?"--Greetings]
>
>Personality of a handshake
>

  What really irritates me is that (in a social situation at least) IT IS
OFTEN FORGOTTEN THAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE WOMAN'S PEROGATIVE to initiate
the hand shake when being introduced to a new male.
If she doesn't put her hand out to be shaken, you (males) are not
supposed to push yours out there ( or worse yet, grab hers)

  She is supposed to decide if that contact is desired and if not, it
should not be 'pushed' on her. 

  I assume in a business situation it is better to be ready to shake 
hands with 'anyone'. Then you hope for a decent firm (non-bone crushing)
grip.

PS I know a lot of older people (and others) with arthritis who 
would prefer gentle firmness to macho clamping any day.
-- 

             unixcorn  (alias m. gould)

                   "there's a unicorn in the garden and he's eating a lily"
                    gatech!dcc1!unixcorn