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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