Handshakes

[User482]

Do you think I am eight?

It's difficult to tell from your posts.

How it is now is pretty irrelevant to my parent's decision in the sixties. It was highly segregated. But that was probably wasn't a factor in their decision, as they happily sent me to a segregated school.

Actually, I say "happily", but there wasn't much choice back then if you wanted quality teaching.

Ah. So your criticisms are based on a partial account from 50 years ago.

And I still wouldn't let a hypothetical child of mine make either oath (oops, "promise") on this page.

The existing Scout Promise:
On my honour, I promise that I will do my best
To do my duty to God and to the Queen,
To help other people
And to keep the Scout Law.

New alternative wording of the Promise:
On my honour, I promise that I will do my best
To uphold our Scout values, to do my duty to the Queen,
To help other people
And to keep the Scout Law.

Doing your best and helping other people? It'll never catch on.

 

[jefmcg]

Ah. So your criticisms are based on a partial account from 50 years ago.

I wasn't criticising scouts, I was just saying why I couldn't join. You decided it was an attack on the entire scouting movement.

I also wouldn't join any organisation that had an oath of allegiance to the US flag. I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing, I just wouldn't do it.

Doing your best and helping other people? It'll never catch on.

You may be ok with "duty to the queen". I am not.

This does mean I have lied under oath. I'm ok with that. I had good reason. I would not ask a child to do it, just so they can dress up and collect badges.

 

[User482]

I wasn't criticising scouts, I was just saying why I couldn't join. You decided it was an attack on the entire scouting movement.


You may be ok with "duty to the queen". I am not.

This does mean I have lied under oath. I'm ok with that. I had good reason. I would not ask a child to do it, just so they can dress up and collect badges.

You think that describing a youth organisation as "paramilitary" isn't a criticism? Aye, right.

I'm not ok with "duty to the queen" but I place it a very long way down the list of things to worry about, and take the view that a ten year old can make their own mind up.

 

[Floating Bombus]

In the case I mentioned a few posts ago, paramilitary was not merely an advantage, it was the whole point. Different time (to either now or jefmcg's day) and place.

 

[jefmcg]

You think that describing a youth organisation as "paramilitary" isn't a criticism? Aye, right.

I'm not ok with "duty to the queen" but I place it a very long way down the list of things to worry about, and take the view that a ten year old can make their own mind up.

So you have a list of things to worry about, and my throwaway line about the scouts is higher on it than lying under oath?

 

[Tin Pot]

The worst kind of handshake is the one used by big swinging dick alpha males who hold their fat paws out with the palm facing down. This is a domineering and patronising power gesture because it forces the other person to proffer their hand palm-up which is a gesture of supplication. Apparently the way to deal with it is to place your own hand palm down on top of the other person's hand, which will make them feel really upset though they won't understand why.

I want to try it on my loud boorish domineering boss one day. Maybe next time.

Ooh, that sounds fun. I might try that one out.

 

[User482]

So you have a list of things to worry about, and my throwaway line about the scouts is higher on it than lying under oath?

Your ludicrous hyperbole doesn't worry me in the slightest. Unlike my daughter's school: its insistence on a uniform means it's just a matter of time before the children are sent to the trenches.

 

[jefmcg]

Your ludicrous hyperbole doesn't worry me in the slightest. Unlike my daughter's school: its insistence on a uniform means it's just a matter of time before the children are sent to the trenches.

Again. you took a single throwaway line about my childhood and took it as an attack on the whole scouting movement.

Ludicrous hyperbole - perfect phrase.

 

[BrumJim]

OFF TOPIC ALERT!

Anyway, delighted by the friendliness of the French Office Handshake, I tried to introduce it on a once-a-week basis to an office with flexible working hours, where people used to just slink in, start their computer, and get down to work, without acknowledging anyone else in the vicinity, let alone rest of the office.

Went down like a lead balloon, other than the sniggering ones who felt that "French Greeting Day" involved a lot of kissing.

P.S. - French handshake greeting - don't forget to shake the hand of everyone else in the office - not just those you are coming to talk to, and whatever you do, DON'T shake the same hand twice in one day. This apparently means "you mean nothing to me, you're so forgettable".

 

[User482]

Again. you took a single throwaway line about my childhood and took it as an attack on the whole scouting movement.

Ludicrous hyperbole - perfect phrase.

I've just heard that they're making the kids line up in the playground as a prelude to training them in the use of bayonets.

 

[jefmcg]

Sigh.

The person who didn't want me joining the scouts was a rifle instructor when he was 16, and stayed involved in the military all his life. But fine, you can mischaracterise what I said all you like.

 

[jefmcg]

OFF TOPIC ALERT!

Thank you. But I think you mean "ON TOPIC ALERT"

P.S. - French handshake greeting - don't forget to shake the hand of everyone else in the office - not just those you are coming to talk to, and whatever you do, DON'T shake the same hand twice in one day. This apparently means "you mean nothing to me, you're so forgettable".

I would never survive if I was French: who to kiss, who to shake hands with, when to move to VOUS to TU. It would be a minefield of potential offence.

(but I think I have the arrogance down pat )

 

[Aperitif]

I'm all fingers and thumbs when it comes to shaking hands, but here's a view tu-tu.

I agree with Nickyboy too - about the 'bro' style handclench thumbgrip. Tells me that cudgels were the preferred weapon of choice and not broads words...
But, like language, it evolves. Handshakes all round is a good thing in France - don't let anyone palm you off with a reason for not doing it.

 

[winjim]

You may be ok with "duty to the queen". I am not.

It rather depends on what you consider that duty to be, n'est-ce pas? An anti-monarchist might consider it their duty to see that she is removed from her position and an alternative titular head of state installed.

 

[mustang1]

The worst kind of handshake is the one used by big swinging dick alpha males who hold their fat paws out with the palm facing down. This is a domineering and patronising power gesture because it forces the other person to proffer their hand palm-up which is a gesture of supplication. Apparently the way to deal with it is to place your own hand palm down on top of the other person's hand, which will make them feel really upset though they won't understand why.

I want to try it on my loud boorish domineering boss one day. Maybe next time.

A guy I know does that. So one day he offered his hand, palm down. I grabbed it, palm up, and gave it a really really huge enthusiastic shake, then I pulled him towards me and gave a bear hug.

Was priceless.

Another one that annoys me is the guy who is chatting, and every so often he'll use his finger and poke my chest as if it's part of the conversation. Don't know how to explain it properly but it's kinda like him trying to keep my attention.

I dealt with this by stroking his cheek. He was very confused. I think it's quite normal in some cultures to prod people while talking, it might even be a sign of affection, I don't actually know why it's done, but it seems domineering more than anything else.