The Double Handshake
An observation after sxsw: when you shake hands with someone, there are potentially two handshakes. The first is the polite one. Allow me to repeat the conversation from the last post:
“Hi, I’m Kevin”
“Hi, I’m (so and so). So what’s your blog/website/job?” (handshake)
“I work on a webcomic on interaction design called OK/Cancel?”
“Oh YEAH! I know that, yeah. Cool!”
“(blink blink)”
At the “Oh YEAH!” part, the new acquaintance proceeds to shake my hand _again_, more sincerely this time. In fact, “more” sincerely would suggest the first had any at all. No, not more sincerely but _with sincerity_.
I’m guilty of the same throughout the conference. Not because I’m too important but because I’m genuinely excited to meet the people I have read before (many of whom I mentioned). Still, it’s pretty sad that we display such obvious signs of, “oh _now_ I care about you.”
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