It should be noted that this post is written in the words of guest-blogger Sarah Walker Cleaveland, as she said “I have an idea for your blog” while she was half-asleep. It seemed like a good idea at the time – we’ll let you be the judge now.
I think you should use your influence to convince the internets that handshakes are part of the 1.0 world, very “modern” if you will.
Think about it: we live in an age of germs and phobia about germs and handshakes spread germs. Plus there are all the bad handshakes that you can get:
- There are those people who try and just crush your hand.
- There are those people with wet or moist hands (and you’re not quite sure why their hands are wet).
- There is of course the “limp” or “dead fish” handshake.
- There are people who just grasp your fingertips. Or the people who seem like they’re trying to take your pulse.
- People who have just coughed or sneezed.
- People who are eating shit and have crumbs and goop on their hands.
I mean, so many bad handshakes. And instead, I think we should promote the return of the curtsy.
Curtsy is clearly postmodern (no right way to do it – so many options and variation). The curtsy is 2.0. It’s a sign of respect, we don’t have to touch each other, anyone can do it, we can all have fun laughing at each other (hence: more joy in the world). People of different heights can do it – you don’t have to kneel down to a child to do it. And doesn’t it just sound like a word that is more fun to say…curtsy. Try it…”curtsy.”
I see only one flaw with this plan – which is that while there is at least the slight possibility that we might be able to teach Sadie how to shake…the curtsy will be a little harder.
