Fist Bump Making Inroads In Business World

The handshake may always have a firm grip on business, but the fist bump is making inroads -- albeit in the face of some resistance.

"I have not encountered a fist bump and would judge anyone who tried it as a total redneck," says Dr. Grace Keenan, medical director of Nova Medical and Urgent Care Center in Ashburn, Va. "I hope that it never is seen as a replacement for a handshake in the business community."

But Scott Jones, CEO of ChaCha, a search engine company in Carmel, Ind., says he now has a business fist-bump encounter about monthly. David Lingafelter, president of faucet-maker Moen in North Olmsted, Ohio, says he is fist-bumped about twice monthly, where it was non-existent a couple of years ago.

So far, executives say, it is exchanged almost exclusively among male business associates who are otherwise friends, or in informal settings such as the end of a golf round. Fist bumping, or two people tapping fists lightly, has a long way to go to unseat the handshake, a gesture that goes back to medieval times when opponents used it to indicate that they were friendly and unarmed.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Sumocat]

"'I have not encountered a fist bump and would judge anyone who tried it as a total redneck,' says Dr. Grace Keenan, medical director of Nova Medical and Urgent Care Center in Ashburn, Va." -- Yes, when I think of the fist bump, first thing that pops into my head are white folks greeting each other.

[Peteyman]

We can thank Fox News for this one.

[neesy08]

Exactly! Black Power! This just goes to show how ignorant white society knows about black culture. As for it being a "redneck" symbol, that professional showed her stupidity, and possible racial bias. Nobody ever said the fistbump came from white, working class americans

[Zhonni]

Your second sentence was absolutely unnecessary.

[ginogreat]

This has been a part of the African American community forever. This is a symbol of agreement, support, energize, proud of you, or got your back and you will be great, I appreciate that the heritage of the African American culture is being accepted as the American Culture. Our God is awesome. A time to bring people together and rejoice in the actual growth that Americans have fought and demonstrated to be just this...
Equal and One

[ndnndpendent]

The fist bumps are too corny, please Obamas, no more fist bumps.

[uheardme]

The latest Taco Bell commercial is a nod to the "terrorists", I guess.

[econdr]

I don't do this with my friends. But back when I had a corporate job at Countrywide, everyone would do the "terrorist fist jab".

its the only way to stop the spread of nasty office germs

[Eric8869]

The fist bump is kinda sad. It's another "gay panic" thing among straight men. now they don't even want to shake hands!

This goes with the hug where you put your fist handshake in the middle so you can't actually touch the other guy.

so ridiculous.

[neesy08]

the fist bump has nothing to do with gay people. it comes from the black community. you just showed your ignorance!

[johnnygoodwud]

if bush and bus. leaders are doing the fist bump, than it is 'way OUT". want to see what has replaced it, check out the series 'californication', and watch what those two guys do..

[Dane1911]

ITs amazing...we been doing this for years...now its HIP..lol...

[londonrainbow]

I prefer, the Obamas fist jab as a trendsetter, instead of McStrains "my friends".

[4wehttam]

",,,,,,,,,who are otherwise friends, or in informal settings...."

That's the point. It's not intended for business deals. It's merely a gesture between two people who are on friendly terms.

[granamica]

Great. sigh. It will go the way of high fiving and saying "What's up?"

Why do white people have to ruin everything, look what they did to the Macarena.

LOL

[Coinyer101]

it's a good way of avoiding the transfer of contagious diseases and ailments,due to the fact that not everyone washes their hands,and who knows what they were handling between washes.i would never shake a baseball player's hand ,because they grab themselves,so much.there is a tribe on a pacific island,that greets each other by groping each other's genitals,and i think handshakes are not far off from the same thing.

[4wehttam]

ROFLMAO!!!

[larry278]

Has anyone tried to find out if fist bump has something to do with mutual fisting? Some GOP types are said to us the fist bump as a prelude to mutual fisting.

[bascombe]

please stay out of airport bathrooms.