# The ZPG Zealot handshake thread party extravaganza

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-zpg-zealot-handshake-thread-party-extravaganza/758713>\
**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:** 1\
**Showing post:** 1

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**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-zpg-zealot-handshake-thread-party-extravaganza/758713/1 "2016-06-29T16:14:18Z")

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I’ve noticed threads that get into handshakes at all sometimes seem to derail into discussions with **ZPG Zealot** about their appropriateness, so I thought I’d create a one-stop-ZPG Zealot-handshake-thread to move any such discussion to, so that threads on other topics can stop being derailed (I did this before with some transgender bathroom issues that seemed to have some success). Before I made this thread I googled to see if there was any such thread already made, and I found so many threads that seemed to be derailed into this issue away from their OP, and no one-stop-shop thread, that I decided it would be appropriate to create this one.

I’m also curious to further explore **ZPG Zealot** ’s views – learning about points of view that seem incredibly different and strange to me is one of the main reasons I come to the Dope. So if she’s interested, I hope she’ll respond to my last few points in a thread that was getting derailed:

> [@Ladies, how do you feel when you catch a man looking at you?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-how-do-you-feel-when-you-catch-a-man-looking-at-you/758055/157):
>
> Not based on the input of women in real life and on this forum – most women would be offended by such a question (and I have explicitly asked whether they would be offended if I asked permission, and most have said “yes”).
> 
> Since I want to minimize the chance of offending women, I am forced, statistically, to offer handshakes (without a demand, and without a tantrum if they choose not to shake) to women when I meet them, without asking first.
> 
> If I ever meet you in person I won’t do this. But from every other woman I’ve talked to, online and in real life, about this circumstance, the best way to minimize the chance of offense is to offer a handshake without asking.

> [@Ladies, how do you feel when you catch a man looking at you?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-how-do-you-feel-when-you-catch-a-man-looking-at-you/758055/158):
>
> I don’t want to offend women or make them feel uncomfortable, so I play the numbers based on reports and conversations in person and online. And with handshakes, the input is clear and overwhelming, from my discussions – the best way by far to minimize the chance of offending a woman in regards to handshake is to offer a handshake upon first meeting them _without asking if it’s okay_. That’s what the numbers tell me. It would be wholly irresponsible of me to take **ZPG Zealot’s** advice on this since that would result in me offending far, far more women.

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