To still not like shaking hands ever since the pandemic

This is such a ridiculous post. Pre-Covid,would you have even thought twice about it?
I don't particularly like shaking hands because I find it socially awkward,so that bit I get. But to mention that it's only since the pandemic,is rubbish.
If you don't like shaking hands, then that's fine,but don't use Covid as an excuse. Just elbow bump instead ,as that's safe!
If you use an escalator,do you put your hand on the arm belt?
If you use a petrol pump,do you wear gloves?
If you have school age children,do you make them change clothes,and refuse any physical contact with them,until they've changed and had a shower?
If you interact with people every day,do you strip and jump in the shower once you're home?
If you have pets,do you wash your hands every single time you touch them?
If yes to all of the above,in the gentlest of terms,you need to speak to someone; if not,then you're overthinking this,and need to get a grip.

Never thought about it. Shaking hands is a cultural norm for most in the UK.

Unless there's an underlying serious healrh condition, most people will not be adversely affected.

Basic hygiene (hand washing after the lavatory, when coming in, before cooking and meals) and a healthy diet wirh a bit of exercise and lashings of fresh air will keep illness at bay.

I stopped getting colds when I stopped using public transport, but get a cold about every third time I travel by plane

Stuff like this doesn’t bother me. I’m not a germaphobe. I’m never ill either. Haven’t even had a cold in years.

I’ve never had the urge to dance with strangers.

I do think it's a bit weird to try to go through life with no general physical contact with others. Social dancing is a completely normal activity - it involves holding hands with others - this shouldn't be an issue if you wash your own hands.

Never think about it at all. Do you have a compromused immune system? If not it's fine

Why do people.feel the need to say please and thank you? Why do we ageee that its inappropriate for a woman to go topless at the supermarket? Why do we set tables with cutlery use expected from the outside in? These are all just things we, as society, have established as norms. Handshaking us a standard way to greet people in an open way.

But "why" do people feel the need to shake hands? What is the benefit to either?? I just don't get it.

I didn't like shaking hands even before the pandemic. Those two years of restrictions were actually a relief for me as people actually stopped doing it. Sadly, they've gone back to it now but I've developed strategies to avoid it, i.e. not getting close to visitors, staying sat down at my desk when a visitor comes into the office, keeping my hands in my pockets, etc which seems to give off a "sod off" vibe to those who try it. It's not just that I don't like it (though that's true), my DH is immunocompromised due to years of chemotherapy so we both try to stay away from close contact, confined spaces etc - obviously if I catch something, I'll pass it to DH. Sadly even doctors don't respect personal hygiene - DH's haematologist and more recently his orthopaedic surgeon (who knew he was immunocompromised) tried to shake his hand and he had to decline - likewise when he was in hospital last month, in a private side room with infection control signs all over the door, a physio came in and immediately tried to shake his hand. Some people really don't get the message!! The thing is it's completely unnecessary - there's no need nor benefit for strangers (or anyone) to shake hands.

I don’t think it’s about being terrified and it’s not about Covid. I think I’m very relaxed in summer. But in winter I would take a hand sanitizer with me when travelling and I definitely don’t touch loo handle doors. I put my sleeve over my hand.

Think that’s sensible to reduce points of transmission. Wouldn’t modify any other behaviour- just wash hands a bit more frequently in winter and use First Defence if going in to a busy contained space.

Other countries are better at all of this. We happily spread germs all over the place.

Being this uncomfortable with a basic level of acceptable behaviour in our society is really sad.

I mean it’s only a reasonable point of view if you are also refusing to touch all other things in public too, door handles, chairs, tables, hand rails… and besides, unless you are wearing a face mask, you are breathing in shared air.

We were very careful during COVID, particularly as I was caring for my frail mother. And I’m absolutely in favour of being careful. But some (my in-laws for example) came away from it terrified to the extent that they essentially remained self isolated for a very long time afterwards. Both healthy, both vaccinated. And they’d talk about how sad it was that they’d ‘never be able to go to the cinema again’ or on holiday or whatever. They eventually calmed down and resumed a normal life again, but it took quite a while.

I can’t say I have ever given it a seconds thought!

Nor they you

I think the issue is that people subconsciously touch their face near their nose after shaking hands as an unconscious way to sniff and sample
each other’s chemical signals.

So we have to really work hard and remember not to do this.

I am aware this sounds over the top but I picked up long Covid after a very mild infection a few years ago. Was very fit and healthy before so I have to try extra hard not to pick up illness.

I hate shaking hands. Not because of germs but it makes me feel really awkward for some reason. I avoid it whenever possible.

As long as you don’t lick your hands afterwards I think you’ll be fine. Just wash your own hands or use sanitizer before you eat or touch your face.

I don't shake hands with anyone. I give a big smile, say 'I don't shake hands' and continue with the conversation. As far as I can tell, nobody has minded. And I haven't had a cold in eight years, which is when I began doing this.

Today someone opened the fridge at the supermarket coughed and closed it again people have got WORSE since covid I hate shaking hands too but thats because im peri and sweaty palmed myself

This is paranoid behaviour from you all.

Shaking hands is fine. Wash your own hands after if you're squeamish, but it's pretty silly behaviour, frankly.

Not just Covid that we don’t want to get though is it? Norovirus, flu, colds all last on surfaces - especially warm hands.

I think initially we didn’t realise Covid had a reasonably short lifespan on surfaces and I was happy for the extra hygiene measures whilst they figured it out . Though I do remember thinking the washing down of shopping was a step too far.

Well, Covid was an airborne disease, so the whole thing about not shaking hands, wiping trolleys etc was - and still is - absolute bullshit.
I like the connection of shaking hands, and it's a sign of respect - and professionalism, in the workplace.

I’ve always hated touching other people. Not being allowed to was the highlight of lockdown for me.
However, I haven’t worked out a polite way of declining a hard shake yet. So if anyone has any ideas please tell.

I have arthritis in my hands and also have hyperhydrosis so shaking hands is horrible for me. I offer fist bumps instead which gets me weird looks!

I loved it in the pandemic when they would wipe down trolly handles (or was that just Waitrose?).

Basically constant handwashing is your best bet.