# Handshakes to knucks - what's knext? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 9, 2010, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshakes-to-knucks-whats-knext/531853 "2010-03-09T14:58:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshakes-to-knucks-whats-knext/531853/1 "2010-03-09T14:58:45Z")
In the course of my lifetime there has been a progression in the form greetings/congratulations among men, from handshakes to “soul” handshakes, to high fives (and variations), to vertical fist bums, to knucks. I figure that by the time an out-of-date older white suburban dude like me becomes aware of something, it is probably already passe. So how are the cool kids greeting each other these days (which I and my definitely unhip golf buddies will be emulating 5 years from now)? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshakes-to-knucks-whats-knext/531853/2 "2010-03-09T15:14:12Z")
If you want to be hip, finger bang your friends when you greet them. That is, point your finger at them like you’re shooting them. At the same time, make a double clicking noise in your mouth. For extra cool points, wink. No one will ever think you’re a tool when you do this. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshakes-to-knucks-whats-knext/531853/3 "2010-03-09T15:15:48Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > If you want to be hip, finger bang your friends when you greet them. Gotcha! Thanks! Just did that with a couple of guys and they looked at me like I was a tool. Man, they are so uncool! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshakes-to-knucks-whats-knext/531853/4 "2010-03-09T15:17:57Z")
IME, knucks\* are used in place of a celebratory high-five rather than in place of a handshake. \*Knucks are the “terrorist fist bump.” I had to look it up. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshakes-to-knucks-whats-knext/531853/5 "2010-03-09T15:22:02Z")
Also referred to as “daps.” ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshakes-to-knucks-whats-knext/531853/6 "2010-03-09T15:22:35Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > \*Knucks are the “terrorist fist bump.” I had to look it up. Hows it feel to have less street cred than a 49 year old white suburban guy? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshakes-to-knucks-whats-knext/531853/7 "2010-03-09T15:24:54Z")
Sorry, I’m an old white dude too. If I told you the new way to greet people, if I even knew how, it would automatically become uncool. In fact, because you used the word “tool” in a sentance, believing it to be a cool word, you have actually ruined the word for any young person listening. Please, those of us over 50 must be careful with our powers. Just the other day I sent a small tremor through the urban youth community when my pants slipped below my waist and exposed my underwear. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshakes-to-knucks-whats-knext/531853/8 "2010-03-09T15:34:03Z")
Handshakes are never out of fashion. I stick my hand out for a shake, period. I don’t high-five or knuckbump. If someone tries that crap with me, I simply ask them to stop play childish finger games. Yeah, I’m an old codger. So what? Now get off my lawn!!! ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshakes-to-knucks-whats-knext/531853/9 "2010-03-09T15:35:44Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > If you want to be hip, finger bang your friends when you greet them. > > That is, point your finger at them like you’re shooting them. At the same time, make a double clicking noise in your mouth. For extra cool points, wink. > > No one will ever think you’re a tool when you do this. If only I hadn’t stopped reading after the first sentence, then maybe I wouldn’t be getting sued… ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshakes-to-knucks-whats-knext/531853/10 "2010-03-09T15:57:27Z")
Finger bumbs and such is OK when you’re like 20, but when you get Mr Obama doing it, it just looks tacky. As I told my friend, JD, I said: “JD you’re 38 years old, you don’t have “wheels” you have a car.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshakes-to-knucks-whats-knext/531853/11 "2010-03-09T16:15:55Z")
Don’t get me wrong - I’ve never fully embraced the fist bump. Don’t know if I ever initiate it, but I’ve gotten a little smoother about responding in kind when someone else does. (I assume I resemle Jon Stewart and his “Senior Black Correspondent.”) Like so much else, I’m pretty much stuck in the “slip me five” that we used in my high school and college. I know I’ll never be cool again - if I ever was. Just kinda curious what the next generation of cool kids is going to do. Trying to figure out how many new ways there are to make hand contact. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshakes-to-knucks-whats-knext/531853/12 "2010-03-09T16:54:45Z")
Lately the bro-hug has entered my consciousness. I don’t know if it’s cool or not, though. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshakes-to-knucks-whats-knext/531853/13 "2010-03-09T18:09:18Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Handshakes are never out of fashion. I stick my hand out for a shake, period. I don’t high-five or knuckbump. If someone tries that crap with me, I simply ask them to stop play childish finger games. > > Yeah, I’m an old codger. So what? Now get off my lawn!!! Same here. No way in Hell I’m going to try to fist bump a judge or opposing counsel. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshakes-to-knucks-whats-knext/531853/14 "2010-03-09T18:22:59Z")
I still can’t believe “smell ya later” replaced “goodbye.” ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshakes-to-knucks-whats-knext/531853/15 "2010-03-09T18:35:24Z")
[Demolition Man greeting](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9Pck7y3G70#t=3m50s) ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshakes-to-knucks-whats-knext/531853/16 "2010-03-09T21:13:39Z")
[Christian Side Hug](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_Oj0-splZw&feature=related) seems to be all the rage with the with-it whippersnappers these days… ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshakes-to-knucks-whats-knext/531853/17 "2010-03-09T21:26:45Z")
If [David Beckham](http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20081203/beckham-ap.jpg) is doing the Maori [hongi](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXtlMLrj6LY), then all the kids will be soon too. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshakes-to-knucks-whats-knext/531853/18 "2010-03-09T21:33:11Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > Finger bumbs and such is OK when you’re like 20, but when you get Mr Obama doing it, it just looks tacky. In black culture\*, there is no such thing as an age limit for ‘giving pound’. Everyone\*\* does it. Mostly, it is done fist on top of fist, though, not bumping knuckles. But both ways work. \*Not speaking for all black culture, just the black culture that I have witnessed. \*\*I don’t really mean _everyone_, I just mean lots of people that I know. ---
**Author:** ![breaking-reality](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a8b319/32.png) [@breaking-reality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breaking-reality)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshakes-to-knucks-whats-knext/531853/19 "2010-03-09T23:07:45Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Same here. No way in Hell I’m going to try to fist bump a judge or opposing counsel. I believe you should try this out. If for no other reason, the look on the Judge’s face if you tried. “Counsel, is that a threat? Put your hand down before I throw you out of my courtroom.” Better yet, every time you win a motion, fist bump your client or co-counsel… As a side note, I second whoever said the fist bump does not replace a handshake, but rather replaces a high-five. Now, would you ever really high-five a judge or opposing counsel? Probably not. But would you high-five your kid after they win a soccer game? Probably. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshakes-to-knucks-whats-knext/531853/20 "2010-03-10T00:02:13Z")
This thread just made me nostalgic for Berkeley in the 70s. I actually once or twice, non-ironically, did the 3-part soul shake with someone. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handshakes-to-knucks-whats-knext/531853.md?page=2)