Why do stupid customs become popular and get passed on from generation to generation? The one I am going to bitch about is hand shaking.
Hand Shaking started back in the old days when people at war with one another (or I'd think people who flat out just didn't like/trust each other) would shake the hand of their enemy to make sure they didnt have any hidden weapons up their sleeve and I also think to make sure they couldn't grab their sword or other weapon and kill them since people usually shake with their dominant hand which also happens to be the main weapon hand. So basically, shaking hands was a defensive maneuver. As we see today, it is unlikely people you meet are hiding weapons up their sleeve nor do we carry around swords so the original point of hand shaking is moot. Why do we do it then? Because somehow it transformed into a gesture of kindess and peace since its original purpose. I say to hell with this.
I don't like shaking hands for many reasons. The main reason is I flat out don't know where the other person's hand has been and wtf knows what germs they are carrying. If you don't clean your hands after you go to the bathroom then don't go and try and shake my hand.
Another reason I don't like it is that people feel the need to try and show their manhood/strength by their handshake and think that putting a high amount of strength in their grip shows how big and bad they are....this is retarded and is worse than those who try and compare their beastly selves to others by their penis size. To try and hurt another person's hand to show how powerful you think you are is outright asinine and I'd like to hope most see this. Now I am no sissy and have above average strength but I do not try and show this to others when shaking their hand because again, it is retarded.
The final reason why I don't like to shake hands is that it is just flat out pointless. Shaking your hand does not better my life and gives me no pleasure and I can introduce myself to you without any hand connection so please, spare me this silly act that you do simply because it is customary to do so now.
Many people will say "but Rob it is the mere gesture of shaking hands that is important not the act of doing it" and to that I say "SILLY." I should be able to say to someone "you know, I appreciate your gesture to shake my hand but I am not comfortable with that" but can I in our messed up society? Well I could but then it'd leave the other person offended for some silly reason and that doesnt do much to help my cause. If I initiated the handshake (BTW I never do) and the person refused saying they don't like to shakehands I wouldn't feel offended and would actually have more respect for the person and they'd get a point right off the bat on my coolness scale.
Anyway, I would love a boycott of hand shaking from here on out and I would LOVE to see how many germs get passed on and how many people get sick by the mere act of shaking hands with another person since most people have poor hygeine, ie not washing their hands after using the bathroom.
My advice? Try to avoid the hand shake but if you can't, make sure to go wash your hand afterward.