# The ZPG Zealot handshake thread party extravaganza **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 29, 2016, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-zpg-zealot-handshake-thread-party-extravaganza/758713 "2016-06-29T16:14:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-zpg-zealot-handshake-thread-party-extravaganza/758713/241 "2016-07-01T18:24:21Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > Can’t help feeling uncomfortable at mass pile-ons on lone individuals, even if they habitually say foolish shit, quite apart from the clear merits of the arguments refuting their foolish shit. It skates too close to the “letter of attainder” (the group using its collective power to have a go at a single specified person), which is unconstitutional and therefor un-American. You haven’t addressed the question of her direct attacks on everyone here. Please do so before accusing us of being in-American. ---
**Author:** ![tonyfop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85f322/32.png) [@tonyfop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tonyfop)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-zpg-zealot-handshake-thread-party-extravaganza/758713/242 "2016-07-01T18:30:28Z")
When I meet new people, I extend my right hand and introduce myself. In my 46 years of life, there was one time when I was in NYC during fleet week, so I was wearing my Navy uniform, I met a young Orthodox Jewish couple. The man shook my hand, but when I extended it towards is wife, the husband informed me that in their culture it was not permissible for a woman to touch any man other than her husband. I apologized to both of them, and we continued our conversation. No social norms were broken, and no unauthorized touching occurred. I filed that piece of information away, in case I ever run into any Orthodox Jewish women again, and I continue with my normal pattern of offering a handshake to everyone I meet, regardless of sex or gender. Seeing as outside of NY and Israel the chances of running into Orthodox Jews is rather remote, I don’t forsee any problems. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-zpg-zealot-handshake-thread-party-extravaganza/758713/243 "2016-07-01T18:41:26Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > This isn’t UT-Austin, is it? Austin is pretty much nutbar central, at least in the US. Home of Alex Jones and at least one other conspiracist talk radio host. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-zpg-zealot-handshake-thread-party-extravaganza/758713/244 "2016-07-01T19:37:58Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > I just instinctively feel uncomfortable to see a crowd dogpiling a single individual at such length; it’s been going on like this for several years. Can’t help feeling uncomfortable at mass pile-ons on lone individuals, even if they habitually say foolish shit, quite apart from the clear merits of the arguments refuting their foolish shit. Well, I do think there’s a better than 50% chance she’s just a troll, based on posts like this: > [@ZPG Zealot: A troll too far](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zpg-zealot-a-troll-too-far/567621/177): > > Why do you think I was so offended by the gesture? I was not a prostitute, but they were treating me like one. It was highly insulting. That’s why the gesture is so disgusting. You can be a perfectly respectable woman but some asshole comes around sticking out his dirty hand and someone can see it and wonder if you are for sale. It simply not right. In retrospect, I sometimes wish I had stabbed some of those men, but the past cannot undone. I fight so that other young women do not have to face that humiliation. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-zpg-zealot-handshake-thread-party-extravaganza/758713/245 "2016-07-01T19:38:07Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Austin is pretty much nutbar central, at least in the US. Home of Alex Jones and at least one other conspiracist talk radio host. Austin is actually a pretty cool laid back city. You can’t judge it by two of the inhabitants. You have nutjob (or conman) Alex Jones. You also have the loony left college crowd that takes things so far that those that would normally be by their side slowly back away. Many more people just want to go to 6th St and hear some good music. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-zpg-zealot-handshake-thread-party-extravaganza/758713/246 "2016-07-01T19:50:41Z")
I work a tech-based job and until recently was part of my company’s IT dept. Anything that smells even vaguely of “I’m treating you differently because you were born with ovaries” makes my blood boil over. ZPG if you’re still reading this thread: men extend their hands TO OTHER PEOPLE FOR WHOM THEY HOLD RESPECT. By doing this “oh don’t shake my hand” dance, you’re actively making other women an object for whom they “shouldn’t” mentally have the same respect. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-zpg-zealot-handshake-thread-party-extravaganza/758713/247 "2016-07-01T19:52:48Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Many more people just want to go to 6th St and hear some good music. I’m guessing they came from somewhere else. 😃 I have two nephews from Beaumont graduating UT-Austin soon. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-zpg-zealot-handshake-thread-party-extravaganza/758713/248 "2016-07-01T20:00:15Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > ZPG if you’re still reading this thread: men extend their hands TO OTHER PEOPLE FOR WHOM THEY HOLD RESPECT. By doing this “oh don’t shake my hand” dance, you’re actively making other women an object for whom they “shouldn’t” mentally have the same respect. I disagree. Not shaking hands is utterly unremarkable, and is not cause for any disparagement or ridicule. The zealot deserves censure for her sexist, hateful attacks on women and men, not for not wanting to shake hands. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-zpg-zealot-handshake-thread-party-extravaganza/758713/249 "2016-07-01T20:56:34Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > I’m guessing they came from somewhere else. 😃 > > I have two nephews from Beaumont graduating UT-Austin soon. It’s been a while but when I lived down that way there was a lot of good live music there. Elsewhere in the city too but more spread out. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-zpg-zealot-handshake-thread-party-extravaganza/758713/250 "2016-07-01T21:23:04Z")
I’m guessing a ‘fist bump’ would be far too aggressive and violently intimidating? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-zpg-zealot-handshake-thread-party-extravaganza/758713/251 "2016-07-01T22:21:28Z")
My religious and ethnic culture requires a deep tongue-kiss upon introduction, plus a hearty squeeze of the right buttock, followed by a shout of “HOT-CHA! Oh, you kid!!!” For either sex. Don’t disrespect my religious and ethnic culture, fucker. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-zpg-zealot-handshake-thread-party-extravaganza/758713/252 "2016-07-01T22:27:04Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > My religious and ethnic culture requires a deep tongue-kiss upon introduction, plus a hearty squeeze of the right buttock, followed by a shout of “HOT-CHA! Oh, you kid!!!” Down with the Right Buttinskies! We with the Left Butt Cheek [del]Front[/del] Back will fight you to the end! ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-zpg-zealot-handshake-thread-party-extravaganza/758713/253 "2016-07-01T22:33:44Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Never thought I’d ever share the world with somebody who equates handshaking with rape. > > Maybe the “Zero Population Growth” part of her name anticipates handshakes leading to babies? > > What gets me is that ZPGZ will start describing a nice, normal everyday slice of life then instantly turn it into a nightmare of sexual depredation. She described her early years of school as having a point where the school administrators all the sudden decided it was OK for boys to touch girls and from then on she faced endless molestation. Just how does that happen in a normal society, regardless of culture? > > Is this how she counsels rape victims? “I’ve suffered as much as you, fellow rape victim. Men are constantly trying to shake my hand and I feel so _violated_!” I think the most interesting part of the ZPG POV is that the woman is a palm reader by profession. She literally makes her living by touching people’s hands. There’s a hooker joke in there somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-zpg-zealot-handshake-thread-party-extravaganza/758713/254 "2016-07-01T22:37:05Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > I think the most interesting part of the ZPG POV is that the woman is a palm reader by profession. She literally makes her living by touching people’s hands. There’s a hooker joke in there somewhere. She’s trying to drive away the competition? ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-zpg-zealot-handshake-thread-party-extravaganza/758713/255 "2016-07-01T23:56:53Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > My religious and ethnic culture requires a deep tongue-kiss upon introduction, plus a hearty squeeze of the right buttock, followed by a shout of “HOT-CHA! Oh, you kid!!!” For either sex. > > Don’t disrespect my religious and ethnic culture, fucker. > [@jsgoddess](#): > > Down with the Right Buttinskies! We with the Left Butt Cheek [del]Front[/del] Back will fight you to the end! Dr. Seuss’ magnum opus _The Butt-er Battle Book_ was written to warn humanity of this very conundrum. \*On either side of a Great Divide Folks squeezing glutes had great disputes: “Squeeze the left! It’s far more heft!” “No! Squeeze the right! It’s nice and tight!” \* It ends with the Rear Admiral Mac Kiester of Leftbuttockia and The Right Honorable Rumpole of Tushmenistan locked in a neverending embrace with both hands glomped onto the other’s seatcushions, never daring to let go otherwise the high explosives wired into their underwear will blow the whole world to smithereens. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-zpg-zealot-handshake-thread-party-extravaganza/758713/256 "2016-07-02T00:02:34Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > ZPG if you’re still reading this thread: men extend their hands TO OTHER PEOPLE FOR WHOM THEY HOLD RESPECT. By doing this “oh don’t shake my hand” dance, you’re actively making other women an object for whom they “shouldn’t” mentally have the same respect. Different cultures have different attitudes towards physical contact; especially physical contact between members of the opposite sex. I don’t really see how this is a problem ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-zpg-zealot-handshake-thread-party-extravaganza/758713/257 "2016-07-02T00:27:24Z")
> [@Azeotrope](#): > > Dr. Seuss’ magnum opus _The Butt-er Battle Book_ was written to warn humanity of this very conundrum. > > \*On either side of a Great Divide > Folks squeezing glutes had great disputes: > > “Squeeze the left! It’s far more heft!” > “No! Squeeze the right! It’s nice and tight!” > \* > It ends with the Rear Admiral Mac Kiester of Leftbuttockia and The Right Honorable Rumpole of Tushmenistan locked in a neverending embrace with both hands glomped onto the other’s seatcushions, never daring to let go otherwise the high explosives wired into their underwear will blow the whole world to smithereens. Let’s go to the quarry and throw stuff down there! Excellent! I couldn’t let this go un-noted! ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-zpg-zealot-handshake-thread-party-extravaganza/758713/258 "2016-07-02T00:28:30Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Different cultures have different attitudes towards physical contact; especially physical contact between members of the opposite sex. I don’t really see how this is a problem Well one problem is that **ZPG Zealot** doesn’t seem to be describing any culture known to anyone anywhere; it just seems to be her personal lunacy. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-zpg-zealot-handshake-thread-party-extravaganza/758713/259 "2016-07-02T00:41:44Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Different cultures have different attitudes towards physical contact; especially physical contact between members of the opposite sex. I don’t really see how this is a problem The problem is ZPGZ’s ridiculous insistence that offering the hand, even without touching the female, is attempted rape. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-zpg-zealot-handshake-thread-party-extravaganza/758713/260 "2016-07-02T00:45:50Z")
Since most of you brilliant members are too dumb to Google this… (with respect to the culture questions) _…Islam prohibits non-essential touching and physical contact with a person of the opposite gender, with the exception of certain immediate family members, as a sign of modesty, humility and chastity. In addition, it is a form of respect towards the other person by acknowledging no one has the right to touch them except for their nearest and dearest…_ I assume you’re smart enough to find the link to the above by pasting the above in a Google search window. If not, tough shit. You’ll see the entire explanation if you do. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-zpg-zealot-handshake-thread-party-extravaganza/758713.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-zpg-zealot-handshake-thread-party-extravaganza/758713.md?page=14)