When someone gives their hand with palm up for handshake?!

Rescue Blues

So upon a quick few searches on the internet about possible reasons for this, it seems as if no one finds this annoying for the same reason as I do. I just read people saying that you're meant to think that they are giving you the upper hand, and that they're therefore giving you control, or else that they're showing you that they're not concealing any weapon, etc. Hmmm.

This is how I see it; when someone holds out their hand for a handshake you expect it to be vertical. If someone holds it out horizontal with the palm up, it can be confusing for a split second. It's like they're holding out their hand to give you food or something. You now have to twist your hand to accommodate them. It feels like I'm being made comply somehow... with yet another handshake game.

I just get the impression a person would only do this because they had an elder say that they should always do it, or that they read something stupid on the internet. The next time I get this, I think I might just hold my hand out the exact same way!

Are people still handshaking?

dxhound2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058368105/when-someone-gives-their-hand-with-palm-up-for-handshake

When I put your thread title into Google it told me: "About 2,970,000 results". Instead of a quick few searches, give it a bit of effort.

Rescue Blues

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122593388#Comment_122593388

Those are results related to handshaking in general… such as shaking too tightly, limply, etc. I'm on about something a bit different.

While I have you, did you ever have someone try this with you though?

ILoveYourVibes

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058368105/when-someone-gives-their-hand-with-palm-up-for-handshake

Im just waiting for you to smoothly slip me my 20 accross my palm. 😎

Quantum Erasure

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122593367#Comment_122593367

In [current year] of COVID...

It's a power play, like in Japan if you bow lower when meeting someone you respect them more, and are therefore the better person

beachhead

The open palm can be a sign of wanting to dominate.You counter it by bringing your other hand to cover the other person's outer hand.Thereby "clamping"the hand they have offered you.Do it quickly before they do likewise.

chooseusername

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122593699#Comment_122593699

This, and then slide your right hand up the other persons wrist and grab that tightly and pull them forcefully towards you. That'll show them who is the boss.

dxhound2005

My pseudo science take on it is that it is perceived on Boards as a male pursuit. Seen on other internet resources also, where the idea of any female contribution does not seem to be countenanced. And what is on the internet in general, is mostly repetition of what someone else has come up with. Whether based on any good science or not. The question about the bit below is WHO considers it a submissive gesture? Sources close to the writer??

"Offer your hand with your palm facing sideways. When a person offers his hand with the palm faced upwards, it is considered to be a submissive gesture. Conversely, when someone offers his hand with the palm faced downwards (or twists his hand downward during the handshake) it sends a message of superiority. But people who offer a sideways hand to shake send a message of equality and confidence."

peckerhead

Hold your hand up, palm facing your opposite number, and say "High five" in a faux American accent.

AyeGer

You are over thinking this a bit too much op. I would find it a bit odd but some people are a bit odd.

o1s1n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122593710#Comment_122593710

Or push the sleeve up their arm and say 'hello, I'm from the umbrella factory'

Rescue Blues

@dxhound2005

"Offer your hand with your palm facing sideways. When a person offers his hand with the palm faced upwards, it is considered to be a submissive gesture. Conversely, when someone offers his hand with the palm faced downwards (or twists his hand downward during the handshake) it sends a message of superiority. But people who offer a sideways hand to shake send a message of equality and confidence."

It's an intentional submissive gesture though… which is the whole point of the thread. It would be like if you asked someone to throw you something, and you expect them to throw it at chest height, but then they throw it towards your knee! It's unexpected.

Capt'n Midnight

Henry VIII wearing voluminous cloths.

Japanese samurai developing a way of knee walking so they could move quickly from a kneeling positing.

IIRC some research on Game of Thrones showed that real life Italian nobles had a comparative death rate. Serious business.

beachhead

It's more common that you think.Some swell heads think it's cool

beachhead

Not confined to males.

iamstop

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122593855#Comment_122593855

High fives are played out man. I'm taking it back to the low fives. Late 70s vibe man. Far out man. Groove on man, peace out!

GreeBo

Vertical = formal

Horizontal = informal, expecting a smack of hands followed by bulging biceps.

https://giphy.com/embed/BvsKJXGzqfNPq

Astartes

They could have been checking if you know the secret handshake. Evidently you didn't.

fortwilliam

Slip me some skin brother….

twogoatsonehat

Haven't googled but seem to remember Masonic handshakes brotherhood and the like. Or a gay recognition signal. Stroking inner palm.

Lewis_Benson

I wouldn't worry about palm up. Palm down, as long as it's not a limp handshake, anyone who can't shake hands properly needs to be shipped off the island.

twogoatsonehat

Your criteria for being " shipped off" seem a bit arbitrary then again your comment would add you to my shipped off list. The joys of modern interactions. I hope you posted in jest. If I am forewarned of a handshake I will give my balls a good scratch and give a hearty manly handshake.

zell12

Has elbow bumps gone out of fashion?

Blind As A Bat

The normal way is to offer the palm sideways. I suppose children aren't taught by their parents how to shake hands anymore. Holding your hand out palm up is weird. Like holding your hand out for a smack in the days of corporal punishment. I'd carry a wooden ruler in my pocket and give them a swift whack of it.

Donald Trump

Edit. Nevermind. Link doesn't work

Strumms

just wave…furiously…

Grayson

Doing it all wrong