How important is a firm handshake?

[ValkyrieAg]

When I was 5 years old, eye contact was the first thing my dad taught me along with a firm handshake.

"you look a man in the eye, whether he is bigger or smaller than you. Stick out your hand into their space before they do. When you grab each others hand, make sure you are the one with the dominant hold. Look him in the eye and introduce yourself loud and clear."

I can't remember how many times people complimented my dad and I when I was young. Noone expects a five year old to shake your hand better than some 40 year old men.

I'll go to a party (coming from TEXAS, yall) and shake someones hand and I can tell.....with just a handshake what you are all about. I have met guys at parties for the first time and shook their hand and felt like I was holding an 80 year old womans hand.

If its especially weak, I'll even call someone I don't even know out. "Cmon, my grandmother is 80 and has a better handshake than that."

I have great respect for someone who can get the dominant hold in a handshake against me. Thats immediate respect where I come from. I'll buy you a fuckin beer if you can do that.

Also, I don't give a damn if I am with my south texas small town white folks or smokin a blunt with my FUBU friends. Black/White/Hispanic/Whatever.....I shake your hand just the same. Like a man. Theres only one way to do it.

ValkyrieAg Reviewed by ValkyrieAg on 04-02-2007. How important is a firm handshake? When I was 5 years old, eye contact was the first thing my dad taught me along with a firm handshake. "you look a man in the eye, whether he is bigger or smaller than you. Stick out your hand into their space before they do. When you grab each others hand, make sure you are the one with the dominant hold. Look him in the eye and introduce yourself loud and clear." I can't remember how many times people complimented my dad and I when I was young. Noone expects a five year old to shake your Rating: 5

[ValkyrieAg]

1-10 its an 11.

I have snagged jobs with my handshake alone.

[stinkyattic]

Very important IMO, for chicks too. It makes me think someone has substance. I hate spaghetti handshakes.

On the other hand, guys who grab your hand TOO hard make me think they are overcompensating for something else... wonder what THAT might be..,.

[station]

A firm handshake is something my old man always taught me when i was a wee' young 1. obviously eye contact to but it was more of the handshake. i hate it when i shake some ppls hands and they got the limp wrist going and not even trying to shake ur hand, then u feel bad for crushing there hand. dam pussies.

[smokeblunts3]

10

My dad taught me from a young age also that a firm handshake and for you to be the one to put your hand out first was key. But you can't always tell that much from a handshake. What if they have a bad hand? I recently cut 2 tendens in my pinky on glass its all healed but for a short time after my handshake was alittle weak not to menchin(sp?) because when i would shake someones hand there fingers where right where my cut is and that shit still hurts if you push on it to hard. I usually only give handshakes to ppl i don't know tho, so i'm sure they judge me from it because i judge them from theirs.

[higher4hockey]

a frim handshake is important, and you can tell a lot about someone by it. but in my opinion trying to outsqueeze the other guy gives off the wrong impression.

and you're right, there is only ONE way to shake hands, all that other shit drives me bonkers. whenever im at a party or something and someone tries to give me some bullshit handshake i'll tell them right then and there to shake my hand like a man.

[bong_man]

i think mines abit to rough! a good few people thought i was bout to break there hand when i was shaking it lol dunno i picked up a very tight handshake from switzerland

[ValkyrieAg]

Oh well there is a difference between having the dominant position and squeezing too hard. Squeezing hard is only acceptable when beer is involved.

Hey blunts. One time I met my buddys great uncle. He was about 80 years old and used to bullride and bronc-ride. I went to shake his hand and grabbed his wrist. I looked down and he was missing his thumb. hehe. Very cool guy, says it happens all the time.

Though blunts, where I come from....lets say you go to a friend house and there are 4 people there you don't know. In my book you should immediately shake their hand and introduce yourself. I feel disrespected when I don't get a handshake sometimes. Don't jump over couches and whatnot, meet everyone in your immediate area. Even if it is 20 minutes later, it can be fixed by saying "hey, I didn't get your name. Im xxxxx" stick out your hand and all is forgiven.

[Greenport]

IF U DONT GIVE A FIRM HANDSHAKE THEY WILL HATE U!

[MOBABN]

Oh well there is a difference between having the dominant position and squeezing too hard. Squeezing hard is only acceptable when beer is involved.

Hey blunts. One time I met my buddys great uncle. He was about 80 years old and used to bullride and bronc-ride. I went to shake his hand and grabbed his wrist. I looked down and he was missing his thumb. hehe. Very cool guy, says it happens all the time.

Though blunts, where I come from....lets say you go to a friend house and there are 4 people there you don't know. In my book you should immediately shake their hand and introduce yourself. I feel disrespected when I don't get a handshake sometimes. Don't jump over couches and whatnot, meet everyone in your immediate area. Even if it is 20 minutes later, it can be fixed by saying "hey, I didn't get your name. Im xxxxx" stick out your hand and all is forgiven.

hah man i think its a Texas thing bc everytime i walk into a party i gotta introduce myself and give em a handshake. I was in florida partying last year and tried to do the same thing, they looked at me like i had no head or something...oh well. Also i was a used car salesman for a year and a half, i could tell wether or not i was gonna sell you a car that day by your handshake.