Shaking Hands

[poliphilo]

A political candidate came canvasing last night. He stood on the doorstep smiling nervously and shook my hand three or four separate times in the course of a minute. His grip was very loose and limp.

I was discussing this with Judy. She shook hands with President Bill Clinton once and was surprised how hot and damp and flabby he was. She admires Clinton and thinks his hand may have been hurting from over-use but I'm not convinced.

None of us knows what its like to be on the receiving end of our handshake- which makes it very hard for us to control the message it sends.  Is a handshake a reliable indication of a person's character?  I have to say- fair or unfair- I take it as such. 

Comments

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm....

I have a very gentle handshake and tend to use both hands- that's an artefact of being left handed, I suspect.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think a double-handed shake signifies warmth.

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

I kiss on both cheeks too but that's the influence of continental living! It still surprises some Brits. :o)

[chochiyo-sama.livejournal.com]

I always end up with two hands too--I shake with the right but then put my left over the top of both hands and give a little squeeze and hold like that for a few seconds. It's like a tiny hug. Unless I don't get a good vibe from the person. Then they get just their fingers squeezed. I don't go palm to palm. If I am meeting someone for the first time (and I get a good vibe from them), I look into their eyes and ask a question during that "hold time." It helps me to remember their name because we are connected at hand and eye and it seems to give emphasis to their name and personality in my mind.