# Someone offers you a left-handed handshake... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 13, 2015, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-offers-you-a-left-handed-handshake/734543 "2015-10-13T13:13:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-offers-you-a-left-handed-handshake/734543/21 "2015-10-13T17:48:19Z")
I just switch hands. If I am holding something/someone in/with my left hand I have never met a person who could only use their left hand stick it out. They pay more attention to the situation and don’t make that mistake. I don’t extend my hand without looking at the person so even if I missed something, I am quick to switch or wave it off in one way or the other. I have never met someone who used their left hand because of custom. It may exist someplace but I have never seen nor encountered it. ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-offers-you-a-left-handed-handshake/734543/22 "2015-10-13T18:02:14Z")
It’s the official Boy Scout handshake, which I belonged to as a teen/young adult and still maintain my registration as an adult leader so I can occasionally teach Law and Citizenship merit badges for a local troop run by my neighbor, so accepting and reciprocating a left hander is second nature to me. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-offers-you-a-left-handed-handshake/734543/23 "2015-10-13T18:09:03Z")
> [@skdo23](#): > > It’s the official Boy Scout handshake, I never knew the Boy Scouts were such a sinister organization. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-offers-you-a-left-handed-handshake/734543/24 "2015-10-13T21:21:29Z")
I had a major injury to my left wrist (snapped off the wrist bone), and I don’t like people touching it. I’d leave them hanging, and show them my hand with a “Sorry.” ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-offers-you-a-left-handed-handshake/734543/25 "2015-10-13T21:50:46Z")
> [@skdo23](#): > > It’s the official Boy Scout handshake, which I belonged to as a teen/young adult and still maintain my registration as an adult leader so I can occasionally teach Law and Citizenship merit badges for a local troop run by my neighbor, so accepting and reciprocating a left hander is second nature to me. Don’t forget the secret left-hand finger-intertwining of the Order of the Arrow (or did I just give away a secret - I can’t find a Google image for it) ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-offers-you-a-left-handed-handshake/734543/26 "2015-10-13T22:00:36Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I never knew the Boy Scouts were such a sinister organization. And so very gauche! :o ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-offers-you-a-left-handed-handshake/734543/27 "2015-10-13T23:44:57Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I never knew the Boy Scouts were such a sinister organization. If that’s an old school _Simpsons_ reference then I’m very impressed! ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-offers-you-a-left-handed-handshake/734543/28 "2015-10-14T01:36:27Z")
I read this as “Someone offers you a left handed MILKshsake” and was thoroughly confused, but excited to have my ignorance fought…now i am disappointed and embarrassed. So embarrassed, I wish you all were dead. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-offers-you-a-left-handed-handshake/734543/29 "2015-10-14T01:48:17Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > The only time this has happened to me was with a guy with one arm, so I figured I’d cut him some slack. Sounds like someone else already did. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-offers-you-a-left-handed-handshake/734543/30 "2015-10-14T01:59:09Z")
If they extend their left I’ll extend my left. If I’ve already extended my right and they reach for it with their left, I’ll leave it at that and shake as best I can. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-offers-you-a-left-handed-handshake/734543/31 "2015-10-14T02:38:43Z")
I can’t actively move my right arm for the next month so I’m giving a lot of left handed handshakes right now. Normally I’m in my doing so people get it and shake with their left. Today during a long meeting I removed my sling and left my arm dangling by the end of the meeting I guess the guy I was meeting with forgot so he offered his right. I just told him sorry and kind of nodded at my bum shoulder then extended my left hand. He shook it with his left. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-offers-you-a-left-handed-handshake/734543/32 "2015-10-14T06:04:50Z")
Even if they put their left hand out first I will inevitably still put my right hand out simply by force of habit. I will however, then immediately retract it and quickly replace it with my left hand. Touching the top of another guy’s hand sets off the homophobe alarm real quick\*!\* 😃 ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-offers-you-a-left-handed-handshake/734543/33 "2015-10-14T06:25:55Z")
Happens constantly with news shooters because the right hand is tied up with the camera, so left to right grab, left to left shake, fist bump, elbow bump or laugh all work as needed. Because seriously, who gives a shit really? ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-offers-you-a-left-handed-handshake/734543/34 "2015-10-14T08:22:02Z")
I have to do this quite often…guess my right hand is often up to mischief. What’s funny is how hesitant people are, and then they shake your left hand very gently. It’s like “OK, I’ll try this wacky _left_ hand idea of yours… My God, it worked!” ---
**Author:** ![TwoCarrotSnowman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twocarrotsnowman/32/15879_2.png) [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-offers-you-a-left-handed-handshake/734543/35 "2015-10-14T09:19:13Z")
I’d extend my left hand… but at the last moment, pull it away, press my thumb to my nose, and wiggle my fingers in the time-honoured manner. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-offers-you-a-left-handed-handshake/734543/36 "2015-10-14T14:15:25Z")
> [@2gigch1](#): > > Because seriously, who gives a shit really? Muslims do. Literally. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-offers-you-a-left-handed-handshake/734543/37 "2015-10-14T21:02:12Z")
I’d do a Moe Howard. Feign surprise, then anger, say “oh, wise guy hey?” followed by an eye poke, nose pull, and slap. ---
**Author:** ![Hrududu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Hrududu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hrududu)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-offers-you-a-left-handed-handshake/734543/38 "2015-10-14T22:29:58Z")
Am I being whooshed or are people genuinely thrown by a left handed handshake? Is there some etiquette I’m missing that says you must only ever shake with your right hand? I genuinely have no idea which hand I offer if I’m the first one to do so and now I’m paranoid. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-offers-you-a-left-handed-handshake/734543/39 "2015-10-14T23:08:03Z")
> [@Hrududu](#): > > Is there some etiquette I’m missing that says you must only ever shake with your right hand? I genuinely have no idea which hand I offer if I’m the first one to do so and now I’m paranoid. Yes. If you have to ask this, you were never a young left-handed child who had to endure lectures about how we only shake hands with our right hands. The explanation we got was usually because people wipe with their left hands… which might be true _of them_. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-offers-you-a-left-handed-handshake/734543/40 "2015-10-15T00:53:06Z")
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