Handshake's Demise

The handshake has always seemed to me a strange custom. Sniffing someone, their face or ass, is such a better way of saying "Hello."

The demise of the handshake, however, will not be a good thing for humans. I think it is odd that I have never seen that commented on.

The genesis of the handshake goes back 1,000s of years, to a time before cities, even before villages, when a man raising an open hand toward another was tantamount to saying, "I am unarmed. Don't mean trouble." Eventually that changed to clasping hands, an even more solid assurance that the other guy has nothing in his hand, weapon or otherwise.

The handshake change a little over the centuries and eons. Variations have made their way into various cultures, such as the "High Five" and all sorts of handshake choreogrphies that involved elaborate twists and slaps and slides.

Now we have the fist bump. Simple. Effective. No choreography. There are variations: high or low, hard or light.

The fist bump is partially cool and partially fear. Of germs. As fears spread of passing and catching germs, nasty bacteria that can sicken or even kill, the fist bump will displace the handshake. This is significant in that the fist is counter to the original intent of the handshake: to show an open hand.

Werefolk have never been big on handshakes, not that I have noticed in my over 250 years. It is not possible in dog form, is difficult and awkward in wereform and is even awkward for most of us in human form. But even for us the idea of greeting others with a fist is a bit awkward, and even a little  ominous. And I still say I'd rather give a sniff than a bump or a shake.

Tired. Out patrolling all night.