Yep, I never liked hand shaking because of that. Where I am currently (PT) and where I lived mostly before (ES) kissing is almost mandatory, even often with people you meet for the first time and will never meet again. I think it is the same in Italy & Greece.

I think the future might be better with a polite nod instead. But that is because I do not like this contact with just anyone (I did a lot of business travel and it is scary to see how few people wash their hands after doing whatever on the toilet). Obviously with friends/people you know well things are different; I am referring to contact with just anyone you meet.

Is there any research about infectious diseases and greetings? Especially handshaking, hugging (another one I could do without unless close friends) and kissing.

This will be a very good silver lining. Bows, elbow bumps. Not sure what the standard greeting will be, but getting away from handshakes and cheek kissing will make all of us healthier.

Something strikes me as so cowardly about that line of thinking.

Handshaking came about because kissing on the cheek was what transmitted plagues in the past...

Some cultures bow.

It's time we start greeting everyone with a kiss on the cheek.

I don't think so; just speech is OK, or else bow is OK.

Demolition Man was prescient.

I’d be curious to see any research like that.

I really hope this helps kill the concept of handshaking entirely.

Unfortunately, there's still a large segment of dirty-handed people who think you can judge a person based on their handshake.

There's a lot of hidden value in physical contact. I don't think it should be disregarded so easily considering society as a whole became much more distant in recent years.

It's not even hidden value, it's very measurable -- when you touch someone else, your heart rates will trend towards each other and you'll gain a level of empathy that you wouldn't have had without physical touch.

Potentially. But I find there to be zero value in touching the hands of someone I only just learned the name of. Especially considering I don't even know whether they're the type to cough in their hands, or the type to not wash after using the toilet.

Bro hug with a friend I haven't seen in a while? Okay. Sweaty hand contact with a stranger? Never.

The danger is higher - that's exactly why we do it. It's an easy way to create intimacy with a stranger quickly. There's a reason politicians shake hands and kiss babies.

Handshakes far predate modern germ theory of disease. The "danger" doesn't really help with intimacy in any way. It's completely unnecessary danger. We'd find sharing tissues with strangers to be disgusting if it were introduced as a greeting today, but touching the hands of someone right after they've sneezed and coughed into them--after which we often unknowingly touch our own face--is regarded as a sign of intimacy or respect.

> We'd find sharing tissues with strangers to be disgusting if it were introduced as a greeting today

Sounds like you're unfamiliar with the practice of agreeing to a deal by both parties spitting into their hand and then clasping hands?

There's also the idea of making a pledge by both parties cutting their hands and then clasping hands, mixing blood with each other.

When was the last time you saw anyone do either of those things, other than in a movie?

I've never seen anyone bow in greeting outside a movie either. (Assuming we're considering books to be "movies".)

A handshake is symbolic and can be easily replaced with a different symbol.

Is there any evidence that people who prefer handshakes have dirtier hands on average? What a bizarre stereotype.

They touch other people's hands more often?