h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The title needs to change, but that's the general idea--how handshakes are used in modern culture. Any feedback is appreciated (as always), good or bad.

http://www.h2g2.com/A404588

I think this is a good start, but that the entry might be improved by some more research. Here's some questions:

1) What are alternatives to handshakes?
2) When/where are the origins of the handshake?
3) Geographically/culturally, where are handshakes used and where are they not?
4) Any good handshake taboos?
5) Maybe something on OCD people who are afraid to shake hands because of the germs?

Yeah, I thought I recalled in Boy Scouts that the 'Scout Handshake' is with the left hand. We always joked that it had to do with people somewhere using their right hand to wipe their bottom.

Don't know how true that is, but there you go.

Also, I reckon a bit about the origins of the handshake might be in order - something about trying to shake a dagger up the sleeve loose.



- X

This was a nice start to an entry however. You've got a nice style of writing - just needed a bit more research IMHO. (I really don't want you to think I'm slagging this entry. I liked it, I just wanted to see a bit more )

Hello,

Very interesting. I think it's a nice start and an interesting take on something we do everyday. Of course, it would be interesting to see what the reaction would be from people who don't normally shake hands in their culture.

I seem to recall hearing somewhere that handshakes involved grabbing someone else's stabbing hand as a sign you were both unarmed. Of course, if they were underhanded, they could stab you with their left, thus giving the word 'sinister' its negative connotations. I'm not sure how true this is (it sounds a bit too wacky), but you might want to see what you can find. There was a similar suggestion that the clinking of glasses descended from a custom of mixing drinks to ensure none of them were poisoned (again, it sounds a bit too neat and tidy to be true).

Incidentally, there is a door in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin that's from an interesting handshake story. Basically, two nobles got into an unfortunate argument and subsequent fight. One retreated to the safety of the cathedral. The other pursued him there to apologize and avert a potential war. In order to demonstrate he was in good faith, he cut a small hole in the door and stuck his arm through to clasp his opponen't hand in friendship. It's apparently the origin of the phrase "Chancing one's arm". You can probably find a better description of the particulars online if you're interested.

I agree that entries on other forms of greeting would be interesting (eg, the bow in parts of Asia, etc). Whether or not all of these should be rolled up into one entry or be separate entries in a series is unclear to me.

Yours,
Jake

Editorial Note: This conversation has been moved from 'The h2g2 Writing Workshop' to 'Peer Review Sin Bin'. This entry already has another thread in the Workshop at http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/F57153?thread=72871 which we've left active.

Editorial Note: This conversation has been moved from 'Peer Review Sin Bin' to 'Shaking Hands'.

Back to Entry - became Edited Entry A20363267 Shaking Hands