Unsigned: Handshakes and cultural greetings are overcomplicated

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The idea behind shaking hands is all a social construct. You think your firm grip asserts dominance and makes you seem powerful. All it really does is make someone elseโ€™s hand hurt.

Itโ€™s all in the culture of your area. Some places kiss cheeks, others shake hands. Thereโ€™s no one universal way to greet another person, especially through the touching that many cultures use for introductions.

What happens when you get it wrong?

Thereโ€™s a whole social anxiety aspect to these physical greetings. How do you casually tell someone that you donโ€™t want to be touched when itโ€™s in their culture to touch you?

Beyond that, if weโ€™re to always accept touching that we donโ€™t want, where does the line of appropriate touching end?

The best way to avoid an awkward encounter is to assess the situation and act accordingly. If itโ€™s a formal setting, be formal. If itโ€™s casual, be casual. In the same way you wouldnโ€™t grab someoneโ€™s ass in an interview, donโ€™t shake hands at an orgy. Of course, as always, if youโ€™re unsure, just ask for permission.

After all, these gestures are supposed to be natural. When we overcomplicate the process by thinking about it and analyzing it, thatโ€™s when our cultural gestures get complicated.

Even if you accidentally shake hands instead of kissing cheeks, we all have to realize that thereโ€™s no one right way to greet another person.

Chill out, be awkward and introduce yourself to some new people. Donโ€™t worry too much about the handshake that starts it off.


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