Handling/Troubleshooting

This might sound a little ridiculous—honestly, maybe it actually is—but I’d really appreciate getting some outside perspective on something that’s been bugging me. I know this guy—we aren't exactly friends, more like casual acquaintances—and he has this relentless, almost aggressive need to shake hands with everyone he encounters. It isn't just a one-off thing either; it’s been going on for a long time. Now, look, I get shaking hands with a buddy or someone you haven't seen in a while, but with people you just pass by in a hallway where a quick "hey" or a nod would suffice? To me, that feels like way too much. He honestly looks like he's in a race just to get to someone's hand. I don't know if this is trivial, but I find myself wondering about the psychological profile of someone like that. Since my own understanding of human behavior is pretty limited, I was hoping someone might take a moment to shed some light on this—admittedly odd, but genuinely curious—behavioral quirk.
Thanks in advance.

I mean, if you ask me, that kind of behavior is right up there with those people who just can't seem to stop touching others without asking, I guess.🙄

Perhaps he works in an environment where handling such things is constant, making it second nature when he runs into someone he knows. 🤷

Benjamin Wilson4 said:Perhaps he works in an environment where handling such things is constant, making it second nature when he runs into someone he knows. 🤷

Actually, no. His environment is pretty much just like everyone else's...

Honestly, I’m not even sure if we’re looking at deep-seated loneliness here—or maybe just this desperate urge to feel some kind of connection, however superficial it might be—or perhaps it’s insecurity, or... I don't know, some tenth other thing entirely?

I actually know someone just like that—well, I had the misfortune of meeting them once. If you were to draw up a psychological profile, you’d probably label them a total drama queen (or, let's be real, a complete hysteric). They’re obsessed with being center stage. They’ll flash you this huge, beaming smile right to your face, acting like you’re their absolute best friend or some long-lost pal, but then, literally five minutes later, they’re viciously gossiping about you as if you were their mortal enemy or the lowest form of life on Earth. They carry themselves like they’re this ultimate pillar of morality, intellect, and talent—someone everyone else just can't seem to "reach"—only to immediately tear that whole persona down by spilling disgusting details about people's private lives. They constantly mix up names, too, and they have this infuriating habit of flipping between formal and overly familiar language mid-sentence.

It seems to me that the handshake is just a way for them to perform their manufactured importance—you know, like how in those big Hollywood movies, important VIPs always exchange handshakes during encounters.
In this guy's case, I bet he’d even offer a firm handshake to a twelve-year-old child—just so he could grace them with the "honor" of his presence and self-importance.

Oh yeah, that moderator was always rambling on about his cousin—where she works, what she does, all the little favors she does for him. Honestly, you could write a whole novel just about "The Cousin"...
but I won't, because that same > told me I should probably watch what I say on this forum, implying some random people might actually come after me.
And I'm just sitting here thinking: What did I even do 😕 🤔 ??
Anyway, whatever that threat was supposed to mean, only Bog knows... or maybe the entire forum 🤣 🤣

Who knows, maybe that’s how all those handshake enthusiasts talk and think 🤔

God, I am so incredibly relieved I don't have to look at that guy anymore 😍 🙏 😍

And let's not forget, he was constantly bragging about having aristocratic roots—or at least being descended from some old-money estates 🤣 🤣

Right, I didn’t mean to single him out personally—not that he isn't a decent enough guy at first glance. He comes across as perfectly polite, easy to talk to, and generally quite affable. But—and this is where things get a little tricky—once you peel back that initial layer, you start to notice this persistent need to toot his own horn. He has this habit of constantly highlighting his own virtues, sometimes even stretching the truth just a bit to make himself look better. To be perfectly honest, it’s not an everyday occurrence, but he definitely has a certain... appetite for ensuring his positive traits—or at least his version of them—get all the spotlight. It's a bit much, if I'm being candid.
I suppose none of this is particularly vital to the broader conversation, but I can't help wishing someone with actual training in psychology might weigh in on this behavior and offer a professional perspective...

It’s quite simple, really—you just love the feel of it, and there isn't much else to say about it.🤷

Larry Lewis said:It’s quite simple, really—you just love the feel of it, and there isn't much else to say about it.🤷

So, I guess your ideal scenario is someone having to hit the bathroom fifteen times a day? Just because they say, "Oh, he doesn't have Chronov, he just likes emptying his gut," is that how you see it?🤣 🤣

crimsoncanyon2 said:So, I guess your ideal scenario is someone having to hit the bathroom fifteen times a day? Just because they say, "Oh, he doesn't have Chronov, he just likes emptying his gut," is that how you see it?🤣 🤣

Honestly, I don't see the point in hunting for flaws in people where none exist.🤷

cosmicdrifter37 said:This might sound a little ridiculous—honestly, maybe it actually is—but I’d really appreciate getting some outside perspective on something that’s been bugging me. I know this guy—we aren't exactly friends, more like casual acquaintances—and he has this relentless, almost aggressive need to shake hands with everyone he encounters. It isn't just a one-off thing either; it’s been going on for a long time. Now, look, I get shaking hands with a buddy or someone you haven't seen in a while, but with people you just pass by in a hallway where a quick "hey" or a nod would suffice? To me, that feels like way too much. He honestly looks like he's in a race just to get to someone's hand. I don't know if this is trivial, but I find myself wondering about the psychological profile of someone like that. Since my own understanding of human behavior is pretty limited, I was hoping someone might take a moment to shed some light on this—admittedly odd, but genuinely curious—behavioral quirk.
Thanks in advance.

If he’s doing this consciously, he’s likely trying to force his way into a larger social circle. It looks like a power play—trying to establish himself as a dominant figure by imposing his presence on others while simultaneously attempting to embed himself with the masses.

The root cause could be anything. He might be unhappy with his current social standing, or perhaps he’s dealing with local friction or enemies in his immediate circle. There’s even a chance it stems from dissatisfaction in his personal life, leading him to mimic (poorly) certain behaviors he thinks will guarantee him success.

If you want to pin down exactly why he acts this way, try testing him next time you have to shake his hand.
Offer your hand with the palm slightly upturned and give him a grip that’s just a bit firmer than his. The next time, do the same thing, but go a step further: grab his hand with your other hand or give him a pat on the shoulder.
Regardless, make sure you maintain direct eye contact during the handshake.
Watch his reaction during and immediately after the interaction. Pay close attention to how he handles every subsequent handshake.
If his behavior doesn't make sense to you, post your observations here.
As a last resort, just ask him straight out why he does it and tell him how odd it seems.
Just watch closely how he reacts and what he says.

shadowpanther10 said:If he’s doing this consciously, he’s likely trying to force his way into a larger social circle. It looks like a power play—trying to establish himself as a dominant figure by imposing his presence on others while simultaneously attempting to embed himself with the masses.

The root cause could be anything. He might be unhappy with his current social standing, or perhaps he’s dealing with local friction or enemies in his immediate circle. There’s even a chance it stems from dissatisfaction in his personal life, leading him to mimic (poorly) certain behaviors he thinks will guarantee him success.

If you want to pin down exactly why he acts this way, try testing him next time you have to shake his hand.
Offer your hand with the palm slightly upturned and give him a grip that’s just a bit firmer than his. The next time, do the same thing, but go a step further: grab his hand with your other hand or give him a pat on the shoulder.
Regardless, make sure you maintain direct eye contact during the handshake.
Watch his reaction during and immediately after the interaction. Pay close attention to how he handles every subsequent handshake.
If his behavior doesn't make sense to you, post your observations here.
As a last resort, just ask him straight out why he does it and tell him how odd it seems.
Just watch closely how he reacts and what he says.

Meadow the elite 🤣 🤣 🤣

shadowpanther10 said:If he’s doing this consciously, he’s likely trying to force his way into a larger social circle. It looks like a power play—trying to establish himself as a dominant figure by imposing his presence on others while simultaneously attempting to embed himself with the masses.

The root cause could be anything. He might be unhappy with his current social standing, or perhaps he’s dealing with local friction or enemies in his immediate circle. There’s even a chance it stems from dissatisfaction in his personal life, leading him to mimic (poorly) certain behaviors he thinks will guarantee him success.

If you want to pin down exactly why he acts this way, try testing him next time you have to shake his hand.
Offer your hand with the palm slightly upturned and give him a grip that’s just a bit firmer than his. The next time, do the same thing, but go a step further: grab his hand with your other hand or give him a pat on the shoulder.
Regardless, make sure you maintain direct eye contact during the handshake.
Watch his reaction during and immediately after the interaction. Pay close attention to how he handles every subsequent handshake.
If his behavior doesn't make sense to you, post your observations here.
As a last resort, just ask him straight out why he does it and tell him how odd it seems.
Just watch closely how he reacts and what he says.

Someone with that kind of status wasting their breath among the nobodies. 🤣 🤣

shadowpanther10 said:If he’s doing this consciously, he’s likely trying to force his way into a larger social circle. It looks like a power play—trying to establish himself as a dominant figure by imposing his presence on others while simultaneously attempting to embed himself with the masses.

The root cause could be anything. He might be unhappy with his current social standing, or perhaps he’s dealing with local friction or enemies in his immediate circle. There’s even a chance it stems from dissatisfaction in his personal life, leading him to mimic (poorly) certain behaviors he thinks will guarantee him success.

If you want to pin down exactly why he acts this way, try testing him next time you have to shake his hand.
Offer your hand with the palm slightly upturned and give him a grip that’s just a bit firmer than his. The next time, do the same thing, but go a step further: grab his hand with your other hand or give him a pat on the shoulder.
Regardless, make sure you maintain direct eye contact during the handshake.
Watch his reaction during and immediately after the interaction. Pay close attention to how he handles every subsequent handshake.
If his behavior doesn't make sense to you, post your observations here.
As a last resort, just ask him straight out why he does it and tell him how odd it seems.
Just watch closely how he reacts and what he says.

You're clearly quite the psychologist—you nailed the description of the person I was starting to vent about 👍
I couldn't have put it better myself 🙂

If you ask me, it just feels like they're projecting some deep-seated insecurity they’re trying way too hard to mask, which honestly seems to be the case with most of those people who act aggressively "nice" all the time... as for what's actually going on under the surface, it's pretty tough to pin down because it could be anything at all...

If you want to solve the mystery, my advice is to just ask him why he enjoys shaking hands...

It might be worth reviewing the forum guidelines before starting a new thread. 🙂

5) The following types of threads are subject to automatic locking:

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- Threads centered around speculative psychoanalysis regarding individuals currently under investigation by law enforcement, or topics designed to provoke discussion about active criminal cases.