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Did Handshaking Come Back?
In the post-pandemic era, I was quite enjoying not having to press any flesh, so to say.
As a very stereotypical software engineer I can wholeheartedly confirm the fact that the only flesh I physically touch on a regular basis is confined to the cold meat selection residing in my fridge, attempting to pet the neighbour’s cat (that I’ve somehow found myself feeding), and, naturally, when I perform my regular bathroom related ablutions.
When it comes to other humans, all romantic associations aside¹, after the I can happily say, with an enormous sense of relief, that an awkward fist bump with a car dealer is the furthest I’ve gone in years, and it’s been absolutely delightful.
Many’s the time, in the awkward handshake riddled years, that I’ve been forced to press the flesh with all kinds of people that I’d really have preferred not to engage with at all, least of all physically.
That’s not just the aggressive extrovert sales manager types either, making up for their own personality defects by working on the strength of their flexor digitorum profundus, and wrestling unsuspecting customers into acquiescence through dominant notionally alpha male hand greetings.
Or indeed those persistent soft skill evangelists who themselves have attended numerous “corporate charisma” and “how to make people warm to…
