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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA Scientific Argument For Why We Should Ditch Handshakes And Go For Fist Bumps
The world, though, had for years been calling this a fist bump. (Or, Wikipedia offers: "dap, pound, fist pound, bro fist, spudding, fo' knucks, box, bust, pound dogg, props, bones, or respect knuckles."
The origin of the fist bump is a subject of concentrated but heated disagreement. Many narratives center on athletics, with historians of various sports claiming the fist bump as their creation. Athletes wanted to minimize the risk of dislocating a finger in a passing or celebratory handshake. The more aggressive, less formal fist bump was better suited to the cause, and it continues to evoke machismo and bro-ness.
It is being re-appropriated gradually.
Rejecting the patriarchy aside, the fist bump has science behind itreason to hasten its integration as a formal gesture of gender-neutral respect. The handshake, its alternative, is unsanitary. The handshake is outdated in most places, born of a time when we might all be expected to be concealing sabers. It would make more sense for us to casually intertwine almost any other part of our bodies with those of strangers, lips and genitals the notable exceptions.
In research published recently by The Journal of Hospital Infection, surgeons at the West Virginia University set out to see if they can reduce the spread of infection by fist bumping instead of shaking hands.
...
"We surmise that the fist bump is an effective alternative to the handshake in the hospital setting," McClellan et al. wrote in the journal. "[Bumping] may lead to decreased transmission of bacteria and improved health and safety of patients and healthcare workers alike."
Read more: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/11/the-fist-bump-manifesto/280175/
It would be even better to avoid being within arms length of other people.
BlueJazz
(25,348 posts)Logical
(22,457 posts)BlueJazz
(25,348 posts)Logical
(22,457 posts)GReedDiamond
(5,313 posts)...can be a good thing.
Especially during the "cold & flu season."
Logical
(22,457 posts)NightWatcher
(39,343 posts)Bonobo
(29,257 posts)A fist bump could potentially conceal a weapon, thus rendering ineffective the most important subtext of the gesture.
Shankapotomus
(4,840 posts)the first weapon, I would agree.
ConcernedCanuk
(13,509 posts).
.
.
" It would make more sense for us to casually intertwine almost any other part of our bodies with those of strangers, lips and genitals the notable exceptions."
Well Goooooooooooolllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
That just takes all the fun out of life!
I shoulda died long ago . . .
CC
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)FarCenter
(19,429 posts)Buns_of_Fire
(17,181 posts)Okay, so it'll take some getting used to...
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)fist-bumping sounds extremely painful.
laundry_queen
(8,646 posts)I have a tendency to pick up every little bug going around and if it's a respiratory illness, I suffer for months (I have asthma and something as small as a cold can send my lungs into a 3 month long asthma attack).
Once, in a marketing class I took, our prof wanted us to learn the art of a handshake. We had to shake hands with everyone in the class. Multiple times. As soon as it was over, we all RAN for the purell, LMAO. I think most people dislike the handshake, but feel obligated.