How do you feel about limp hand shakes?

Question

That is one of my personal pet peeves...Why can't some people just shake with a firm grip?

Answer 1

If it's a female whose handshake is limp I think the following either:

1. She's passive

2. Insecure

3.Snobbish (as in my skin is too good to touch yours!)

If it's a male whose handshake is limp, I think the following, either:

1. Trying to be gentle;

2. He's gay;

3. Passive

4. Very insecure

I always have a firm handshake as it shows professionalism, assertiveness, and confidence...so, if I so happen to shake a hand that's limp, then I automatically squeeze harder...especially if a male's handshake is limp!

Answer 2

Because the 'firm grip' is a western male cultural thing. Right up there with riding horses and shooting six guns.
Many non-US cultures do not appreciate the firm grip. It is simply a touch of hands.
Many people in the US do not appreciate the firm grip. Try shaking hands that way when you have arthritis or rheumatism.
Or when you are standing in a receiving line and have a couple of hundred hands to shake.
Why do you think politicians do the arm grip type of handshake? It's so they can control what's happening. Otherwise they wind up with bruised hands at the end of the day.
Sorry if it's one of your pet peeves, but there are good reasons why some people prefer not to shake hands with a firm grip.

Answer 3

I guess it depends on whom I am meeting. Generally, people with limp hand shakes are more shy rather than rude or indifferent. I won't say it's a gender thing because I do meet ladies who give firm hand shakes. I like to give firm hand shakes too but it all depends on the strength given by the other party as well.

In creating bond between newly met acquaintances, matching their tone, pace and possibly handshake strength is a plus rather than a minus.

Answer 4

My first reaction is that it seems insincere, like they're shaking my hand because they feel they should, not because they're genuinely interested in meeting me. BUT there are people out there who come from cultures with different customs on greeting, and also people who have arthritis and whatnot that may not want to injure themselves by shaking hands too hard.

Truthfully, one of those I'm-a-big-man-so-I'm-going-to-crush-you handshakes tick me off far more than the limp handshakes - I always wonder what they're trying to prove...manliness? A real man knows he's manly without crushing the hand of a woman half his size, sorry!

Answer 5

OOHH! PLEASE!! STOP complaining about limp hand shakes!!! When you do, out of fear of being ridiculed for a weak handshake jerks squeeze your hand as hard as they can!

I have horrible arthritis in my hands. I would MUCH rather have a gentle shake than a Paul Bunyan crunch. There have been days when I go to shake but quickly retrieve it before we get to shake and say, "I'm sorry, I have arthritis and squeezing my hand hurts" (basically I chicken out last minute)

Other times I have gone ahead with the handshake with my heart beating fast, and they crunch your bones and even when your eyes bulge out they don't seem to get the message!!

In fact, that will be my next question here on Y! answers.... how to tactfully tell a jerk that their freakin hand shake was excruciating and they don't have to make it extra hard to avoid people having them complain they have a limp hand shake.

Answer 6

In Europe if you shake hands with a bone crushing grip like Americans do, you are generally thought of as a barbarian.

Answer 7

The only exception should be for an older person who might have arthritis and squeezing too hard can be painful. Otherwise it's like a wet fish being dropped into your hand.

Answer 8

It's like shaking hands with a fish. UGH!

Answer 9

I call them "cold fish" handshakes. They are so awkward, and make me want to wipe my hand on something after I'm done. Maybe no one has taught them how to shake hands - anything is possible.

Answer 10

Yeah i know and usually when its limp its damp too..yuck!Makes a very bad first impression for me.