Note to self. Mike Arrington doesn’t want to shake your hand.

In his own words:

I’m not just talking about the sweaty palms handshake, which sends shudders down my back. I even take issue with the firm and dry handshakes that we engage in every day. I’d like to see the ritual ended.

200+ comments later on that post, it made me overly aware of something I haven’t been giving much thought to.

Actually, hand shakes are a Western ritual I had to get used to again after living for years in Shanghai where strangers hand business cards to each other with two hands, pretend they’re all impressed with each others’ companies and titles and then get down to talking business. No physical contact necessary. No one insulted.

Then again, the weird thing is, in recent years I notice people in China starting to shake hands when meeting foreigners. Perhaps an attempt to meet us half way while engaging in international business? Not sure. Maybe the two handed business card pass off thing isn’t so bad in these times.

Another random thought. We’ve got this upcoming Geeks On A Plane Tour so should we just call it cross cultural assimilation and bow the whole time in Tokyo, Beijing and Shanghai? We’re going to have people reaching out for handshakes while the other person’s bowing. People bowing while the other person’s holding out a business card with two hands, etc. etc.

Anyways, don’t think we’ll be giving up the handshake any time soon.  I think parents of toddlers have germier situations to be aware of. Ever since my son started going to daycare and turned himself into a little germbot. Ever hug a little boy at the end of a long day of eating dirt, picking his nose and all that fun stuff 3 year olds are doing when in the company of other 3 year olds? Great, now i’m going to be hyper aware and sneak squirts of Purell during my next meetings.

Just what I need. Another OCD. LOL.