Since cold and flu germs are easily spread by shaking hands, why not discontinue that custom?
Find something else to do instead -- the Vulcans had their "V" thing.
The custom appears to have originated in the Dark Ages as a way to indicate that a person had no weapons in his hand. I suppose that is a better idea than placing one's hands on someone else's thighs, as was the custom in ancient Bible times:
Gen.241.[2] And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
2.[9] And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.
Gen.321.[25] And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
2.[31] And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.
3.[32] Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank.
Gen.471.[29] And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt:
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Anyway, sorry for the impromptu Bible lesson . . .
But why not replace the unsanitary practice of shaking hands with something less likely to spread disease-causing germs? Not that I have anything in mind with which to replace the gesture . . . It's just an idea . . .
Posted by ranger_co_1_75
Shaking hands also developed as a way of showing other people you were not a threat to them. You extended your hand to them, the could see you were not armed and willing to allow them to grasp you and put you in their power.
I think trying to get rid of shaking hands would be about as hard as getting people to stop kissing each other because it spreads germs. After all, the Eskimos didn't kiss, they rubbed noses.
Posted by daniel
no shaking hands with a person is awesome. I doubt that this custom will ever change. It would be scary for people to start making gestures with their hands to each other at a distance. that would be scary to be honest
Posted by KAR36
I don't like shaking hands either but it is a customary act to show courtesy and respect when you greet people in our culture.
I carry hand sanitizer and try to be discreet about using it shortly after shaking hands with people.
I'm all for something else but it would be a challenge to develop universal support for the "V" thing when hand shaking has been going on for such a long time.
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