I have to confess I have shaken the hands of many, many men in my life. Some of these men were even complete strangers. Sometimes I even shook the hands of multiple men and women in the course of a few hours.
Handshaking by consenting adults, specially when the appropriate safety measures are taken, is natural and nothing to be ashamed of.
Oh, sure, *you *would say that. Harlot.
My nephews are 6 and 3yo and they understand that when Auntie Nava shakes her head and says “got a cold”, it doesn’t mean she’s stopped loving them, it means she’s got a cold and would therefore get those hugs and kisses at a better time. Heck, the last time it happened, they’d come up spontaneously for a kiss, I’d said “cold”, the 6yo had said “oh, I hope you get well soon, I hate colds!”, then my brother asked “have you kissed Auntie Nava yet? You know you’re sup-” and got cut off by a double rolleyes so large it could have been used as a Ferris wheel and, in stereo, “she’s got a COLD, Daaaaad!”
Saying “no thank you” is a routine part of greeting rituals, I’m reasonably sure the Japanese don’t expect someone who’s wearing a bodycast to bow.
I have a question: since I shake hands either in Mass or with people I meet in a business context, would it mean I’m a slut in church and a whore 9-5?
The thing is, I can completely respect her desire to not shake hands. Much of my family are Orthodox Jews and don’t shake hands with members of the opposite sex. It’s never been an issue! They understand that offering to shake hands is a normal part of our society and politely declining is perfectly acceptable.
Anyone who doesn’t accept the polite refusal is an ass. But you’re not an ass for assuming that the person in front of you will behave like 99.99% of the people they’ve met before will.
They don’t have to inform everyone verbally. If they could just show some sign, maybe a big red “A” on their clothes, it would make things easy on everyone.
Personally, I’m thinking about making a badge.
That’s exactly my feelings on the subject. And, really, I don’t think ZPG’s are that far off from it, either. She always ratchets up the crazy when people start questioning her.
In all seriousness, I don’t know how she thinks people are supposed to advertise the fact. I mean, I was squeezed between a crowd of people on the train the other day…should I have made sure to inform them of my “status” in case they wanted to make sure they should avoid touching me?
I feel no obligation to respect people’s phobias, when my actions are, in all other respects, socially acceptable… If it is that important, they should avoid situations where the objectionable act may occur.
One reason she is opposed to adoption is she cannot then know the legitimate from the illegitimate. She needs to know your blood line so she can judge you, clean or unclean, and know whether or not to interact with you.
She hates American ways, loves old Roma ways, yet lives and works in America, longing to return to a time that never really was. And she makes a living reading people’s futures.
I disagree that this is the full extent of her feelings (and for the record, I agree with both you and IvoryTowerDenizen about it being perfectly acceptable not to shake hands). She’s stated that she believes people are deliberately attempting to offend her when they extend a hand for a handshake. She sees it as an active assault on her beliefs rather than the normal way people in our society engage in greeting rituals. She also talks about being “forced” to shake hands numerous times by people who refuse to respect her expressed desire to avoid shaking hands, which I don’t believe for one second.
You know who else wanted people to wear badges, don’t you?
Girl Scout Hitler?
I grew up on the lower east side with a lot of orthodox Jews and they will not touch non-family members of the opposite sex. Because they have this belief, they take measures to avoid physical contact. They did not view the rest of the world as full of sluts and rapists AFAICT.
Just for the record, some women get offended if I shake all the male hands and simply wave at the women. They think its a bit sexist.
I think he’s also a bit racist and seems to hate muslims.
Why don’t you just tell them you don’t shake hands?
Don’t forget that she also knows lots and lots of women who are depressed to the point of being suicidal because they’ve been ‘forced’ to shake hands with men at work.
I particularly enjoy how ZPG will accuse women of “not standing up for sisters’ rights” on the handshaking issue, but is perfectly capable of telling those same women they don’t have the right to breastfeed in public, adopt children, etc. There’s a word for this kind of behavior, but it’s not coming to mind now…
With a child, Nava? A child?! Where will the promiscuity end? Do you see where human contact takes you?!
Some of us tried to explain this to ZPG at one point - many women (myself included) would be insulted if a guy only shook hands with the other men in the room and ignored the womenfolk so as not to offend their delicate dispositions.
We were told in no uncertain terms that we were just too stupid to realize that we were being raped constantly by a bunch of greasy rednecks and that we needed to attend some kind of seminar so we could learn to be as easily insulted as she is.
In other words, ZPG being offended=totally valid. Anyone else being offended=person who doesn’t understand anything about anything. The world should just adapt entirely to please a very small percentage of society. She shouldn’t have to adapt for anything. We tried to explain the irony in this, but no dice. She’s either too stupid or too stubborn (or too trollish) to understand.
I’m thinking of adopting. Can someone tell me where the best bushes are to hang out looking for children to snatch?
Heh heh, you said “bushes” and “snatch”.