7 ms·
Just imagine how many fewer people would fall ill each year with the flu if we didn’t shake hands as our default greeting?
by MobileVet 7y ago
Just imagine how many fewer people would fall ill each year with the flu if we didn’t shake hands as our default greeting?
- fiblye 7y agoI really hope this helps kill the concept of handshaking entirely. Unfortunately, there's still a large segment of dirty-handed people who think you can judge a person based on their handshake.
- SomeGuy789 7y agoThere's a lot of hidden value in physical contact. I don't think it should be disregarded so easily considering society as a whole became much more distant in recent years.
- fiblye 7y agoPotentially. But I find there to be zero value in touching the hands of someone I only just learned the name of. Especially considering I don't even know whether they're the type to cough in their hands, or the type to not wash after using the toilet. Bro hug with a friend I haven't seen in a while? Okay. Sweaty hand contact with a stranger? Never.
- hackeraccount 7y agoThe danger is higher - that's exactly why we do it. It's an easy way to create intimacy with a stranger quickly. There's a reason politicians shake hands and kiss babies.
- fiblye 7y agoHandshakes far predate modern germ theory of disease. The "danger" doesn't really help with intimacy in any way. It's completely unnecessary danger. We'd find sharing tissues with strangers to be disgusting if it were introduced as a greeting today, but touching the hands of someone right after they've sneezed and coughed into them--after which we often unknowingly touch our own face--is regarded as a sign of intimacy or respect.
- thaumasiotes 7y ago> We'd find sharing tissues with strangers to be disgusting if it were introduced as a greeting today Sounds like you're unfamiliar with the practice of agreeing to a deal by both parties spitting into their hand and then clasping hands? There's also the idea of making a pledge by both parties cutting their hands and then clasping hands, mixing blood with each other.
- TheSpiceIsLife 7y agoWhen was the last time you saw anyone do either of those things, other than in a movie?
- thaumasiotes 7y agoI've never seen anyone bow in greeting outside a movie either. (Assuming we're considering books to be "movies".)
- NonEUCitizen 7y agohttps://www.history.com/news/what-is-the-origin-of-the-handshake https://www.history.com/news/what-is-the-origin-of-the-hands...
- powowowow 7y agoA handshake is symbolic and can be easily replaced with a different symbol.
- viklove 7y agoIt's not even hidden value, it's very measurable -- when you touch someone else, your heart rates will trend towards each other and you'll gain a level of empathy that you wouldn't have had without physical touch.
- drstewart 7y agoIs there any evidence that people who prefer handshakes have dirtier hands on average? What a bizarre stereotype.
- lazyasciiart 7y agoThey touch other people's hands more often?
- daveguy 7y agoThis will be a very good silver lining. Bows, elbow bumps. Not sure what the standard greeting will be, but getting away from handshakes and cheek kissing will make all of us healthier.
- pretendscholar 7y agoSomething strikes me as so cowardly about that line of thinking.
- pottertheotter 7y agoIt's time we start greeting everyone with a kiss on the cheek.
- zzo38computer 7y agoI don't think so; just speech is OK, or else bow is OK.
- voicedYoda 7y agoHandshaking came about because kissing on the cheek was what transmitted plagues in the past...
- DoreenMichele 7y agoSome cultures bow.
- mrfusion 7y agoI’d be curious to see any research like that.
- outworlder 7y agoDemolition Man was prescient.
- tluyben2 7y agoYep, I never liked hand shaking because of that. Where I am currently (PT) and where I lived mostly before (ES) kissing is almost mandatory, even often with people you meet for the first time and will never meet again. I think it is the same in Italy & Greece. I think the future might be better with a polite nod instead. But that is because I do not like this contact with just anyone (I did a lot of business travel and it is scary to see how few people wash their hands after doing whatever on the toilet). Obviously with friends/people you know well things are different; I am referring to contact with just anyone you meet. Is there any research about infectious diseases and greetings? Especially handshaking, hugging (another one I could do without unless close friends) and kissing.