The Homeless Shake

[CapnAwesome]

Wow, what a bunch of Germaphobes. I've shared joints with homeless people. I pick up hitchhikers, some of whom have questionable hygiene. I probably get dirtier on your average day of rock climbing or hiking then a homeless person in the city does. I also never get sick. You need some exposure to germs to stay healthy. It also sounds stressful to be so worried about hygiene that you won't shake hands with a dirty person. That's crazy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygiene_hypothesis

[RetiredArmy]

So here's a tangent on the shake:

At the end of an encounter with a police officer, I offered my hand for a shake and said "thanks and stay safe." Now, I don't think I'm imposing or threatening. I'm 6' tall, 180 lbs., a runner, and in excellent condition. I am not heavy or a muscle-head. I have a clean cut, groomed face, and he'd already held my drivers' license, ran it, and held my DOD retired ID card. His response was "I don't shake with my gun hand."

Dork

[vorlon13]

I've hugged pretty much all comers at 12 Steppers, and we don't turn away anyone unless they're high or drunk or disruptive*.




* I don't associate with the level 3 sex offenders either, although group policy is to allow their presence unless someone underage is in attendance. And some meetings I go to or are aware of have some extra criteria such as women only, prostitutes only, men only, LGBT friendly, Spanish language, and there are some 12 Stepper groups less generically spiritual and affiliated with a specific denomination, so an attendees comfort level might be less if the denom isn't their own or compatible. I went to a church affiliated (MCC) LGBT 12 Step (all meeting topics are about individual steps sequentially) 12 Steppers meeting several years ago. That meeting had limited appeal and folded after their 3rd or 4th pass thru the steps.

[KUSA]

I generally only shake hands with professional people. They probably have a clean dick and everybody touches their dick. (Or cooter for the gals)

[vorlon13]

Some people let other people touch their dicks for them.

I don't know about the cooter stuff . . .

[account_inactive]

I probably would shake hands with them. Unless they had like open wounds on their hands or something like that. It wouldn't bother me if they were slightly dirty though.

I've hugged pretty much all comers at 12 Steppers, and we don't turn away anyone unless they're high or drunk or disruptive*.




* I don't associate with the level 3 sex offenders either, although group policy is to allow their presence unless someone underage is in attendance. And some meetings I go to or are aware of have some extra criteria such as women only, prostitutes only, men only, LGBT friendly, Spanish language, and there are some 12 Stepper groups less generically spiritual and affiliated with a specific denomination, so an attendees comfort level might be less if the denom isn't their own or compatible.  I went to a church affiliated (MCC) LGBT 12 Step (all meeting topics are about individual steps sequentially) 12 Steppers meeting several years ago. That meeting had limited appeal and folded after their 3rd or 4th pass thru the steps.

There are levels of sex offenders?

[KUSA]

Some people let other people touch their dicks for them.

Like you? No wonder you shake so many hands. You probably sniff their palm.

[vorlon13]

[reply is to #26]

In Nebraska there is. I dunno about Iowa.

Level 3 means the state of Nebraska has ascertained an individual has a high likelihood of re-offending. I'm aware of at least 1 (and I hope 2 by now*) cases of someone completing their prison sentence, being released, re-establishing their lives and then being incarcerated for only being designated Level 3 without a subsequent conviction for it.

*I was originally inclined to believe that person was miss-classified until I noted his deteriorating attitude about complying with ALL the terms of his parole. That there was a red flag you keep hearing about. He then noted my change in attitude towards him and got in my face about it. If I wasn't sure before that, I sure was afterwards.

[paulpablo]

Ahem. The title sounds like poetry, yes. Sorry to dissapoint but it's rather a simple question.

If a random homeless persom approached you in public started a  conversatoon with you, reached his/her hand out and wanted to shake hands, would you shake his/her hand?

It depends what they look/smell like.

[RozKek]

Yes, the fault was probably mine, I've never encountered a situation like that and I didn't know how to react. And I do not know if it posed any risks or not, I guess I took the safer way? :p But he was really shady, alright. Although I didn't shake hands I did continue the conversation, he asked me what music I liked, I responded and asked him etc etc. If I remember correctly he likes jazz or something.

 I don't want to judge, but I feel sorry for the homeless guy.

I understand, if I think about it from his perspective it probably isn't fun to get turned down like that, but I didn't know what to do, if it was safe and such. I guess I'm just paranoid.