How do I introduce myself to someone with a small hand?

[Ringo]

This may sound wierd, but bear with me..

At a magic convention a few years ago, I saw "Jeremy Beadle", an infamous UK prankster/celebrity having a drink at the bar. He is hated by much of the UK somehow, but I think he's actually a really cool an interesting guy. Anyway..

I wanted to just go up and briefly introduce myself to him, say hello, and then let him get on with with whatever he was doing. The problem was that he has a small/withered hand, and after I noticed it was his right hand (the hand he would shake hands with), I chickened out. Not in any "urgh" way, because that's not a big deal - but purely due to my social ineptitude. Do I go to shake that hand? Does he shake with that hand? What if I go to shake his left hand? That seems worse..

After much thought, I've thought f*ck it - he's a seasoned entertainer, and has shaken hands with more people than I'm ever likely to. I just shake his hand as normal, and no doubt he's got many lines/pieces of patter to smooth over any awkwardness. However, in the event I ever see him again, I'd just like to know OOTs thoughts and collective expert opinion on this matter.. (and please, no "nh" jokes")

Ringo

[diebitter]

You say, 'Wow! Nice wanking claw!'

[Pocketducks]

It's my STRONG hand

[Ringo]

[ QUOTE ]
You say, 'Wow! Nice wanking claw!'

[/ QUOTE ]

Haha, I wasn't going to say it, but now a precident has been set, and you're a mod and all. Apparently Jeremy Beadle has a small c*ck - "but on the other hand, it's huge".

Ringo

[threeonefour]

like any respectable human being, i am left handed.[img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] so i try to force as many handshakes with my left hand as possible.

i certainly vote for offering the left here. that or nothing. this does seem like a weird spot. of course its not weird for him at all. just for you. so i really doubt he would take offense at whatever you do. something to keep in mind...

[Aces McGee]

Anecdote, not really a solution:

As co-captain of my high school basketball team, part of my job was to meet with game officials, my co-captains and the other team's captains at half court. At the end of this little meeting, as many of you surely know, its customary for handshakes/fist bumps to be exchanged all around.

One game we had a ref I'd never seen before. He went over the usual stuff, then we started the usual handshaking. When I reached out my right hand and grasped his, I was startled to notice that my hand completely engulfed his. Regrettably, I'm sure my face registered this surprise. At any rate, it turn out he was missing the fourth and fifth fingers of his right hand.

He proffered his right hand for a shake, so he obviously was comfortable shaking hands with it. If you find yourself seeing this fellow again, I suggest going up to greet him and seeing what he does by way of greeting you. If he extends his hand, shake it.

-McGee

[tdarko]

"i never wave at people cause what if they don't have a hand? then they will think you are just cocky...hey look what i got [censored], this thing is useful, excuse me while i pick this up."

[pryor15]

i think the proper play is to approach the situation as if you don't care/know about his hand.

[_TKO_]

[ QUOTE ]
Haha, I wasn't going to say it, but now a precident has been set, and you're a mod and all. Apparently Jeremy Beadle has a small c*ck - "but on the other hand, it's huge".

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the ab workout.

[z28dreams]

[ QUOTE ]
i think the proper play is to approach the situation as if you don't care/know about his hand.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed. He's shaken thousands of hands in his lifetime just like this.