In the post-pandemic world, what will we do instead of shaking hands?

In the post-pandemic world to come, some are saying that we should no longer practice shaking hands as the standard and traditional way of meeting or greeting someone formally.

Obviously because of the germ-spreading potential it carries.

Well, if we do that, and the traditional handshake is no more, what shall we do in its place, when we meet someone and must do something to acknowledge the other person?

There are a number of alternative forms of formal greeting being tossed about and discussed on the web now as possible future substitutes, some seriously, some humorously, such as

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbk3zqv464y

Or maybe there won't be a global standard, and regional preferences will dominate.

But it seems to me that in choosing a new way of acknowledging a formal meeting with someone, some general rules should come into play, which a number of the proposed new ways in the above video would fail to satisfy.

For example:

While something like the “namaste” (hands in prayer position, slight bow forward) has a certain gracefulness to it, it, and anything like it requiring two hands, is out, because businessmen carrying briefcases would need to put them down first to do it. Too much trouble.

So called “foot shaking” and “elbow bumping” (see video) are just silly, and possibly even dangerous, as one might wind up tripping the person one is "greeting" in this manner.

Using the Vulcan salute (it has actually been proposed) would be a difficult maneuver for some to master, and likely culturally unfamiliar to non-Western peoples.

Hand over heart? Dunno, open to misinterpretation maybe. Raising hand like asking a question in school? Possibly.

And I can’t imagine we’d want to go with something like a Prussian salute, either (clicking heels together while bowing briskly towards a person).

How about just a simple nod, possibly with a slight bowing from the shoulders, and maybe a smile and quick “How do you do?” Wouldn’t that be enough?

It may well be that the traditional handshake really is on its way out, but what we put in its place is certainly open to question at this point.

Any ideas as to what the new way should be, seriously or otherwise? Describe below what you think might be good. Who knows, maybe you’ll be on to something, and it will catch on as the new way to say “Hi! Nice to meet you!”

I suppose one could bow, but that might sometimes result in flatulence.

maybe not a handshake...but something...how else can we touch the tip our finger with the tip of that same finger...Sistine Chapel??...reflect logo...reflect....I realize their is a tiny gap twixt the finger tips...umm...how to fill...how to fill...umm...of course...the dreaded F word..." take a chance on me...take a chance on me "...Abba....Abba>>> wow it's all embedded...see with ears...hear with eyes...sense...scents...Helen and Annie know...and to end this post with " a frown...upside down"...ok ok....I think I live upside....I mean..."my nose runs and my feet smell"....BOINK

I wouldn't bet the house that handshaking is dead and buried.

Namaste and wai-ing (similar Thai custom) are too non-Western to catch on here. And they have different connotations than a handshake.

Touching with our hands is such an essential part of our social interactions in the West, I don't see it disappearing altogether, regardless of how irrational it is from the perspective of hygiene.

Say Yo, and come up with a special hand sign.

So we're going to get close enough to shake hands?

My guess is that a couple years from now people will go back to shaking hands. Some won't and will just go with a verbal greeting and that's fine as well. Might be a generational thing, who knows.

After reading these I'm going to start using a combo of the Gear and Mumbo suggestions, i.e. saying "Yo, Steve" and giving him a thumbs up while moving the fist slightly forward while making eye contact..

Jim

Not sure what might replace the handshake, but I do suspect that it will be quite a while before we might go back to the handshake. Most of my doctors greet me with a handshake followed by hand washing and sanitizer (and I do the same as soon as I leave).

The abbreviated yet pronounced bow might become popular... more like a nod, rather than bending at the waist. When making eye contact with strangers in public I instinctively nod my head, perhaps raise the eyebrows and/or smile. A slight gesture with the hand, sort of a half wave but without actually raising the arm.

A more formal acknowledgement which is more practical than namaste taken from the movie Valerian is to touch one's own forehead with the fingertips, with a slight nod, then lower the hand outward while saying the word M'loy-ne'... which is not as well known as the Vulcan salute, but just might catch on, with many not even being aware of its origin.

Regardless, the next year or so is going to be very awkward, to say the least.

OK, I tried the "YO with thumbs up" move on several folks during my morning walk with the dog. As predicted by my wife people looked at me like I was nuts. Guess I'll go back to the pleasant hello and nod...from a safe distance...

Jim

Greeting will be: "State your business."

Seriously, fist bump is a very easy, natural solution.

Nod