Do Handshakes Matter Anymore

Of course. I have an alright handshake, but I absolutely hate it when when I go in for one, and the other side has a weak handshake, or, even worse, when they start the shake with your hand completely out of the equation (just your fingers).
 
Handshakes rock.

@SensuousLettuce said:

@ZimboDK: Maybe you just gave a really piss poor interview and that's all he felt you deserved.   Like, the 'I'm not hiring this clown so why bother giving him a good handshake' handshake?

Yeah, it was before the interview so, no.

I shook hands with my stylist a few weeks ago and she just looked at me like what the H but then was like 'That must be a British thing.' I assumed a handshake hello was universal.

Handshakes are part of body language, something which is more important than spoken language when meeting people face to face. My handshakes are good, firm, sometimes even have a little swing in them if it's for an especially good occasion like striking a very good trade in which case I also have a smile on my lips. When some joe gives me a sloppy weak limp-wristed handshake the alpha male genes in me see a little pup that just flopped over on his back and to show me his vulnerable underside as to say "You are the boss".  I consider handshakes to be like that rise a glass and smile after taking a shot deal after a toast while out drinking, I am a master of those. Could go on forever about body language, will just say - observe yourself as you go about your normal life and interact with people, and how they interact with you. Good communication will get you places in business and pleasure.

I  hate handshakes. They're pointless. Oh, hello, let me touch your hand to show you I'm a normal person. Oh good, you're touching my hand too, we now trust one another. By the way, I sure hope you're not one of those guys who doesn't wash their hands after they've been to the toilet, or you know, have a cold or the flu. Also, your extremely sweaty hand was just what I was looking for, I'm so glad we met. Please use all the information you took from the handshake to build an opinion of me, and not the next few minutes where I speak to you like a human being.
 
Get out.

I think it's good to have a firm handshake.  Keyword firm.  If your handshake is weak, obviously, that's not great.  However those who try to hard to give a hard handshake come off even worse to me.  I get it, you've got a gym membership and you want me to know.  Now go date rape your cousin, you alpha-male cunt.

you can tell a lot from a persons handshake, so yes

Anyone who thinks that handshakes are significant or indicate personality traits is a fucking moron. It's the sort of thing that imbeciles pay attention to and lend weight because they can't bother paying attention to things that actually matter. One may as well make business decisions according to hair color or cola affinity.

Handshakes have been officially replaced by high fives.

I tend not to shake hands. A greeting and nod should suffice. I judge first impression by if the person walks, talks and operates with purpose. I save the handshake for business deals, well played matches, and warm greetings to my friends. And yes, they should always be firm and convey your sincerity. A shake with someone you don't know as a first greet feels empty, even if you have the grip of a manbear.

Now I'm not advocating the 'I'm an alpha male' handshake crush of doom, but put a little muscle behind it.  Thoughts?

It's all about the fist-bumps, bro. Yeeeaaah, word.

Handshakes are still very important, shows manners and confidence.
 
So I'm firmly against these religions and cultures who are against it.

I handshake differently with different people.

@Beforet said:

I try to open every introduction with a handshake, so it still matters to me.

Same here otherwise its just a knuckle to knuckle hit showing respect (mainly close friends)...seriously who does high fives anymore >.<

The Japanese bow. I like that. It shows respect without none of this alpha male stuff, and no touching is involved. I try to use the nod as often as I can, but it always leads to a handshake.

If I shake somebody's hand and they don't put any firmness into it, i automatically know they are a pussy. 

I never know how much is too hard, so I usually just try to match whatever the other person is doing. Nothing I hate more then someone who squeezes real hard though. It just screams "I'm a douche bag" to me for some reason.

 I've given such firm handshakes that I've visibly startled people. I don't try to break fingers, but you'll remember if you've shaken my hand. I'm a light dude, but the one piece of advice I practice dally came from my grandfather: "Boy.....crush em."
 
 ...I think he meant handshake-wise.

I shook hands with my stylist a few weeks ago and she just looked at me like what the H but then was like 'That must be a British thing.' I assumed a handshake hello was universal.

Handshakes are still very important, shows manners and confidence.  So I'm firmly against these religions and cultures who are against it.

sorry, the fist bump is the wave of the future. eat shit handshakers.

I do it to be polite, but I've never really given it too much thought importance-wise. The way some folks do it, though, it seems like we should phase out handshakes and just punch each other square in the face in greeting. 

Still important. A weak limp handshake gives me the impression the person doesn't care or doesn't have enough confidence to shake hands like a person. So that starts whatever social interaction is going on in a negative way. Sounds silly but it's just part of that nonverbal communication that we all have going on. Likewise when you can tell a person is trying their hardest to crush your hand that usually makes me think the person is trying too hard to be overpowering. Has to be a good balance for it to be a good handshake imo. Handshakes are more and more rare in every day life though. I usually only shake hands with opponents in tennis or at formal things.

strong handshakes give me a broner

Good way to catch a illness. Especially at e3

I'm of the thought that nothing earns you respect as much as a good solid handshake, but I'm old fashioned like that.

I never know how much is too hard, so I usually just try to match whatever the other person is doing. Nothing I hate more then someone who squeezes real hard though. It just screams "I'm a douche bag" to me for some reason.

Handshakes are very important. First of all, it ties up the persons right hand and confirms they are not holding a dagger. 
 
But a mans handshake should be manly. If its too firm, you let everyone know that you're a giant pussy who needs constant reassurance that hes a badass. If its too weak, you let everyone know you're a giant pussy who is scared to grab a mans hand and shake it. Somewhere in the middle projects confidence.

In business it's important, and it means something. 
 
I have a relatively weak handshake, so I wonder what that says about me......

They're the perfect set up before I deliver a swift kick to the gut and give em the ol Stone Cold Stunner! 
 

I give decent handshakes.  Maybe you live in a poor handshake area.  

People with shit handshakes are people I immediately classify as the types raised in the soccer mom era of "everyone is a winner and no one is a loser". That is not the kind of attitude I want, I want someone who can get the job fucking done.  

I hate the idea of getting to know someone's personality through a handshake. It's one of the most retarded fucking things I've ever seen. Not everyone is confidence personified with a square jaw and a puffed-out chest, and believe it or not, some of us get nervous as fuck before a job interview. Knowing this, it's understandable that you might not have the strongest grip when you're in that state of mind. There's no cure for nervousness, no matter how many times you say "It's not a big deal" you're still going to think it's a big deal, and the idea that you can present the proper credentials and look like a great candidate and fail because you don't grip some asshole's hand hard enough is beyond me. It's so stupid, but it's really just the first thing that's wrong with the hiring process. There's also the bullshit resume where we lie about ourselves and our interests, plus there's the drug tests that turn responsible Cannabis users into despicable criminals without futures. It makes me sick. Nobody is the person they say they are on their resume, who are we trying to fool? And then there's those awful questions they ask about teamwork and leadership, as if you're ever going to be honest in front of them when money is involved. It's such a horseshit system in general.

I think a lot of people don't mention how pivotal eye contact during the handshake is. And just in general. But yeah, they matter as much as they ever had, and you want the guy to know you're there.

It's a silly, superficial thing to base your opinion on someone off of.    But we are a silly, superficial species.

Absolutely.  When I introduce myself I shake hands almost every time.  It's just the proper and warm thing to do.  Obviously it's situational as well, if it's a big room of people you're not going to go and shake everyone's hand.  I think it's a courteous thing to do in general.

Who seriously thinks that much about this stuff, if somebody puts their hand out to shake your hand then shake it, if they don't then who cares. Just be polite. If you're worrying about what kind of handshake you're putting out there you're already losing.

I'm a handshake sort of person and give them more often then I give hugs. 
 
As a man, when I shake another man's hand and that hand is practically limp I get a little uncomfortable.

I enjoy a firm handshake.

I tend to use handshakes as a sign of respect when parting ways with somebody. Mine is not firm however.

when i am introducing myself i dunno why but i always try to squeeze my hand harder than the other person. 

Handshaking is essential, otherwise I can't authenticate you over a secure connection.

For government it matters, or political jobs and stuff. You have to get your free mason handshake right.

The fathers of a few ex girlfriends I've had were very dependent on outdated norms like a good firm handshake is the sign of a true man. After experiencing their fathers even try to crush my hand as a semi-kidding but kinda they really wanted to way, I even started using the well known strategy of shaking a person's hand in a certain way so they can't crush your hand no matter how hard they try. It's just the certain grip you have, it's online somewhere.  
 
But yeah I see these sort of things going away pretty quickly with the newer generations. Another thing I haven't seen in a while is giving somebody the middle finger. I think our society has become a lot more emotionally hurtful and sneaky, which makes me sad. Before, a person would give you the finger if they didn't like you. Now they just flood your facebook account with hate messages or try to hack your email. Fucking cowards