Personally, I’m more than happy shaking hands with people. As a kid I used to spend all my time outside playing in the dirt, and getting a good amount of it all over myself and in my mouth, and I figure if I can survive that, I can survive pretty much anything (I have a tough immune system now, I’ve never had flu for example).

My one caveat on handshakes is those macho idiots who insist on squishing your hand as hard as possible in a vain attempt to state their dominance over you. If any of them are reading, mate, yes, I’m a woman and my hand is somewhat squishable, but to achieve any kind of dominance in a meeting with me, you’re going to need more than the ability to squish hands – get over yourself.

(In reality, anyone who doesn’t shake hands with me upon greeting is automatically relegated to the bottom of the heap. If anyone refuses without a real good explanation – swine flu does not suffice – they are ignored outright)