1. Why on earth are they going for the lips. I know some of my gay friends kiss other girls on the lips but seriously that isn’t the norm. I much prefer to save my lips for my partner.

2. I find it creepy. As an Aussie I wasn’t bought up to kiss everyone, actully no one except my partner. Next time it happens I would suggest a comment like ‘whoops, sorry about that’, then they will know your not comfortable with it.

3. Hmm not Aussie blokes. A lot of my European friends do this but it is normal for them.

4. Man hug is good!

5. In the office always hand shake, out of the office at a dinner or event, kiss on the cheek is all good.

Mmm…can’t go wrong with a good hug…Unless of course you hug some who doesn’t want to be hugged!

Cheers Damo.

Back on the subject…. go the hugs I say, and shake everyones hand

Damo

it’s rare that I laugh at someone’s comment but you made me laugh out loud..

I have no answers for you… if I knew, I wouldn’t have asked the questions… maybe someone smarter than both of us will write in and enlighten us!

Cheers.

I tried to solve the whole handshake with woman ordeal in a blog i wrote not to long ago. Hope it helps, but most likely will just leave more unanswered questions

What is the handshake etiqutte when meeting a woman for the first time?

I came across this today at lunch when i was introduced to a lady at work for the first time, but didn’t know wether to shake her hand or not?. Its automatic for me and i think for most guys to shake another males hand when being introduced, it pretty much comes out of holster. But what are the rules with chicks?.

I usually wait for the them to initiate the handshake gesture, and am happy to shake there hand. But then today i felt like maybe i should of shook her hand, as she gave me a look like she was waiting for it. So then i had to go through that 2-3 seconds of awkwardness where my brain was trying 2 figure out what the hell to do and my right hand was waiting. So in the end i think my hand took over and did this kind of half assed wave hello, id say somewhere between a normal wave and a Mr Hanky the Christmas Poo “howwwwdy howwwww” wave.

And i think i do this somewhat retarded wave on most occasions, and if the woman sticks her hand out in the mean time, i play it cool and go straight into the shake from the wave. Its all about timing and i think i have it down to a fine art, im not sure if it can be taught, its all about feeling the situation.

But anyway what are the rules? So many variables like if its someone at work, your girlfriend’s mum or sister, a girl you meet out??? Do the same rules apply for each?. I will always shake the hand of the girlfriend’s dad, but i dont know about mumsie, she’s getting my wave.

I think for now I’m going to stick with my wave that can transform into a handshake when called upon. But I’m starting to lean towards maybe always shaking the hand of a female at work, seems like the professional thing to do, its a big call to make. I don’t wan’t to be known as the weirdo thats shakes everyones hand.

I think a no brainer in the whole handshake etiquette is the grip involved, if you are being put on the spot. Its gotta be pretty panzy like really, like its more of coming together of hands then a shake. Unless she has a vice like grip or man hands then you simply adjust your tension to suit the situation.

Feedback on this conundrum would be greatly appreciated as im pretty much useless in reading the opposite sex.

I don’t wanna get too predictable… then you’ll say I’m boring!

cheers.

You’re lucky you live a zillion miles away or I’d come over there a hug you…

* The bald man is Johnnie; my very dysfunctional web designer, engineer, tech man, manager…. and lunch partner.