You haven’t addressed the question of her direct attacks on everyone here. Please do so before accusing us of being in-American.
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.
Austin is pretty much nutbar central, at least in the US. Home of Alex Jones and at least one other conspiracist talk radio host.
Well, I do think there’s a better than 50% chance she’s just a troll, based on posts like this:
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.
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.
I’m guessing they came from somewhere else. 
I have two nephews from Beaumont graduating UT-Austin soon.
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.
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.
I’m guessing a ‘fist bump’ would be far too aggressive and violently intimidating? :dubious:
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.
Down with the Right Buttinskies! We with the Left Butt Cheek [del]Front[/del] Back will fight you to the end!
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?
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.
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
Let’s go to the quarry and throw stuff down there! Excellent! I couldn’t let this go un-noted!
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.
The problem is ZPGZ’s ridiculous insistence that offering the hand, even without touching the female, is attempted rape.
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.