Handshakes

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That's the same with me.

While that sounds quite noble and undoubtedly practical in those environments, modern toilet paper is more hygienic, and does not punish people for being left handed. It'd be really cool if religious-cultural traditions could adapt instead of staying so static.

Many of them are. You're also seeing a lot of new non-denominational organizations pop up now for that very reason. People of faith, not dogma.

I will accept a handshake if offered, only because the awkwardness that refusing creates is worse than the germs I have to suffer until I can wash my hands. I never initiate handshakes except in instances where I have to impress someone with my social skills, like during a job interview. I always feel awkward doing it though, because I'm always afraid the other person won't notice my attempt or will otherwise ignore it, so I never extend my hand fully; my elbow always stays parallel with my body. It's not deliberate, I can just never remember that I need to be more deliberate about the gesture until after the fact. I wish it weren't a thing though, I hate people touching me. I can accept hugs from friends and family, but not strangers, and even people I know can't touch my head or shoulders, or otherwise bump me lightly without me freaking out or getting angry.

Thank you - sometimes I may bet a weeee bit cynical.

I do not struggle with them at all. I know how long to do it, which hand, and, according to what others have said, I do have a 'good firm handshake'.

I also offer to give/recieve handshakes at a 50/50 rate.

There are a few issues I have with it though:

1. Hygiene. I am very clean and hygienic, but don't consider myself a neat-freak. However, someone who is clearly not very clean or hygienic at all, I feel very uncomfortable shaking their hand, for obvious reasons. It's disgusting not knowing where their hand has been.

A lot of the male members in my family especially, do not use soap. Yes, they wash their hands and shower and such, but not using soap after you take a poop disgusts me.

2. When another male tries to have a 'firm handshake' back. I've noticed this issue mostly with young males around the same age; shaking hands becomes some kind of one-man-up-manship d*ck size contest for who can squeeze the hardest.

I've gotten my hand squeezed very hard because of these trying-too hard types.

I think as one gets older, they learn learn what intensity to squeeze the other person's hand.

I already know my handshake is firm but not too hard - I don't absolutely squish their hand.

Not a fan of dogma myself, I didn't realize this was happening until I saw four different non-denominational churches in a very small Georgia town when I visited my parents at Christmas.

So, if the Southern, Bible Belt, strongest bastion of deep, long held religious and dubious beliefs is seeing a bit of rebellion against the dogma, then I wonder how strong it has to be and really not noticed unless you see it directly.

Now, the question is this: If they are rebelling against dogma, what are they still hanging onto? I am heartened to see such rebellion. Critical thought is always good. But, what other things still linger?

See? I too am cynical. I just happened to see those things popping up and it's made me think.

But, my basic faith in people remains the same.

How did we get onto the topic of religion and dogma in a thread about handshakes?

How old religious traditions that made sense in a long ago era are still being applied, many times viciously, to segments of populations.
Edenthiel had mentioned them punishing people for being left handed.

^"There's no such thing as a left-handed samurai." I'm sort of left handed, so I often use boken [training swords] with my left.

Oh sure, blame me for the mess. Just to clarify, they weren't punishing people for being left handed, they were punishing them for being evil. Their handedness was a sign of the devil, much like a pagan woman floating when she'd been dunked in water, someone having a birthmark or many of the signs of autism.

Did not mean to blame you. But, your following examples are an excellent example of how something that made sense ages ago gets twisted to serve some other person or group's needs. It would seem your examples would be an extreme case of polarization which we are seeing happen in greater and greater numbers.

And, by the way...My birthmark was an actual bar code, when scanned, said "doofus". They wouldn't listen when I told them it was just a 999.

Idiots.....

Yeah, hyperbole.....although many would think I am the spawn of Satan incarnate.

I have a huge birthmark. Is there any reason why some birthmarks look the way they do? I read somewhere that birthmarks are from previous events/injuries in past lives. So...did something happen to my left leg in a previous life?
Sorry to get totally off topic.

I don't like hand shaking or anything of the sort, even hugs (only my mom can hug me).

I read that in some cultures using your left hand socially is wrong because that's the hand most people (who are right-handed, naturally), use for cleaning themselves. Gross.