How to politely refuse to shake hands?

[isawasnake]

I think the best solution here is to just concentrate on washing your own hands more often: if you are this worried.

[BaldPlumber]

I think the best solution here is to just concentrate on washing your own hands more often: if you are this worried.

How about just become a complete recluse and shun all human contact? Alternatively, seek professional help from a mental health specialist.

[lostmebike]

I think the best solution here is to just concentrate on washing your own hands more often: if you are this worried.

The best solution's got to be to grow a pair and just shake hands or grow a pair and just refuse to shake hands whilst inferring that person is somewhat grimy.

Good luck with the second option by the way.

[connda]

Get over your typical farang phobia regarding bacteria. Well, unless the person just flew in from sub-Saharan Africa at which point I'd just give them a wai and tell them waiing is Thai tradition.

[Eliot Rosewater]

As anyone who has been around Thailand knows it is fairly rare to find hot water and soap for hand washing in most toilets much less a clean towel for drying.

Add to this that a lot of farangs ,especially in bars, seem to always want to shake hands when meeting new people or even seeing familiar faces.

It's not hard to imagine that their hands are not very likely to be even remotely clean and who knows what kind of germs a hand shake can spread to YOU .

Sometimes a fist bump will work but frankly i prefer to give them a wai with no contact at all....unfortunately some don't seem to take the hint and still stick the hand out for a shake.

I always get way more colds etc in thailand than anywhere else and i suspect that dirty hand shakes may well be at least partially at fault....and yes I know that I can carry a bottle of hand sanitizer with me everywhere I go but don't really want to do that.

So what is a polite way to refuse to shake hands?

Is it rude to just flat out say sorry i don't shake hands?

Sure there are bigger things to worry about but I really don't much enjoy getting sick if it can be prevented.

Just explain nicely that you are a wierdo; perhaps you could pre-empt this by wearing a surgical mask and latex glaves.

[h90]

As anyone who has been around Thailand knows it is fairly rare to find hot water and soap for hand washing in most toilets much less a clean towel for drying.

Add to this that a lot of farangs ,especially in bars, seem to always want to shake hands when meeting new people or even seeing familiar faces.

It's not hard to imagine that their hands are not very likely to be even remotely clean and who knows what kind of germs a hand shake can spread to YOU .

Sometimes a fist bump will work but frankly i prefer to give them a wai with no contact at all....unfortunately some don't seem to take the hint and still stick the hand out for a shake.

I always get way more colds etc in thailand than anywhere else and i suspect that dirty hand shakes may well be at least partially at fault....and yes I know that I can carry a bottle of hand sanitizer with me everywhere I go but don't really want to do that.

So what is a polite way to refuse to shake hands?

Is it rude to just flat out say sorry i don't shake hands?

Sure there are bigger things to worry about but I really don't much enjoy getting sick if it can be prevented.

Just explain nicely that you are a wierdo; perhaps you could pre-empt this by wearing a surgical mask and latex glaves.

Or these Army Gas masks...they are a lot safer.

[A1Str8]

What's the issue? If i don't want to shake hands i will just refuse to do it and say hi instead.

[isawasnake]

I don't know, I am not the most normal guy but there comes a time when you have to tell yourself enough is enough. I mean there are people that fought wars and went through the most abominable conditions imaginable, and you are worried about the cooties you may get shaking someone's hand. As Walter Sobchak might say "I did not watch my buddies die face down in the muck so this ......"

Edited August 18, 2014 by isawasnake

[infinity11]

no time to read the thread

i usually wai them and/or gently touch them on the shoulder

some still insist i shake their hands or get upset or take it personally

maybe it's best to explain it politely?

if it's a stranger, it doesn't really matter

if it's someone you know, they should understand

if it's about business or i am grateful, i shake

i also think of all the money coins and other things that get passed back and forth and still not get sick

but i no longer eat in groups of thais sharing everything after coming down with something

[onionluke]

The OP could try this method of refusing to shake hands with others .

When the hand of another is offered you start to offer yours

but just before you grasp each other you pull away your hand with a large sweeping jesture

and say something like " Lovely bar this , could do with a bit of a paint job though "

and turn away to highlight the the noble profile of your immaculate chin.

No hand sanitiser required .

[mumbojumbo]

Tell them, "I'm not sure, but the docs say i might have ebola, and should not engage in this kind of interaction" And by the way, I am not sure of you.