Interesting stuff, but come on, Destiny, did you really need to fist-bump the old codger?

I fail to see the problem, it's like pat on the back, really. I'd rather be fist-bumped than fisted.

Warlock!
"Science" IS black magic.
BURN HIM WITH FIRE!

That seems to me a very inconsiderate way of interacting with someone else "I'm comfortable with this behavior and despite that you almost definitely have never done this in your life, I'm going to make you do it as if it's normal because I don't give a shit what you are comfortable with."

That's not a pat on the back. A pat on the back is a pat on the back.

But maybe that's just cantankerous old me.

Pffft.

That is actually a good point, @lucky760. Wouldn't have thought of this that way.

What if it's done as a health issue? Shaking hands is a major disease vector, and if altering that social behavior just slightly can help us all stay safer, isn't that worth it?
I only fist bump these days. I'm not quite at Howie Mandel level, but I understand him. I always feel that if I'm going to shake your hand, I might as well go ahead and just give you a hug (and probably a pat on the back too), no?
But maybe that's just weird old me. ;-)

If that's a problem for him, he shouldn't be initiating physical skin-to-skin contact with other people. Or, he *could* give him a pat on the back.

I'm not a fan of the fist bump. I feel it's too ghetto and impersonal. I haven't taught my kids to do that. Every time someone tries to give them a fist-bump I explain they don't do that and to please shake their hand instead if they must do something.

I wouldn't want my boys entering a board room and greeting the CEO with a fist-bump. [Feel free to exchange "board room" with "operating room" or "courtroom" and "CEO" with "patient" or "judge."]

OK, you're dead on about a back pat being LESS dangerous contact.
I do agree, at this point, a fist bump seems less 'professional'. That said, I hope that feeling changes, because it is a better alternative if you MUST touch hands.
I really usually just give a quick wave, or shot with my finger-gun, unless the other person persists. Honestly, those look just as bad in the board room though....good thing I'm never in one!

Ghetto? What makes it ghetto? That seems weird.

Also i dont think people use fist bumps instead of handshakes. More like instead of high fives.

You sound old

I use that as a euphemism for unprofessional or immature and extremely casual or unconcerned with society and civility and lacking consideration or respect for your elders or everyone in general.

It's very often used in place of a handshake, and in my boys' case, it's exclusively attempted to be used that way.

I guess im the one who's old and out of touch. My bad.

I wouldn't say that. I think it's just the absence of witnessing that particular usage, which I wouldn't relate to your age.

I don't tend to see anyone fist-bumping anyone in real life.

Funny story (that my wife and I often chuckle about): I was fist-bumped exactly once that I can remember, but it's the why that's so funny. Employee at an oil change shop was talking to me and asked about my kids. I told him I have two boys. He then told me he had two boys. Then he, with all of his Hispanic machismo glory, nodded with a knowing grin and said these exact words: "That's right. Real men know how to make boys." Then he reached his fist out to me and as I guffawed with laughter inside and was perplexed by his infant-like nonsensical logic hesitantly reached up to allow the fist-bump to happen so as not to leave him hanging.

Now every time we discuss the fact that we have two boys either I or my wife will say with a straight face "That's right. Real men know how to make boys." and we'll give one another a deadpan fist-bump before we simultaneously bust up with laughter.

Wow.

I know, right?

Some people...

So ghetto, amirite?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGBikSDv4nM

Glad you concur.

Thanks for all your support.

Just to be clear because I'm sure there are folks who won't infer my actual feelings, I don't feel any and every fist-bump is a ghetto move, but that it will give the impression that my boys are unprofessional and uncouth if that's their primary method of salutation, particularly upon meeting a new acquaintance (especially if professionally).

Obviously that's much classier.

Classy as fuck.

Some interesting arrow science.
Predicting that wobble = warlock.

0.38% of the video yields 95% of comments.

Hadn't considered the fist bump as a potential health measure.

During greeting processes I've fist bumped a billionaire (he shook his head after, with a smile), refrained from physical contact (sick) and have been told "i killed your family" (many times by a friend, joke deliberately focused on inappropriate things to say), in all cases i knew the person well.

I think the difference in appropriateness is how well you know the individual, and what they're tolerant of. A first bump as a first meeting is a bit off imo as no bond has been built and best left to a generic handshake.
These guys however, had obviously met multiple times, so not a bad idea to freshen things up with some alternatives. Seems the older fella was too quick for this to be their first fist bump.

Also i agree fist bumping is not professional, it's casual.. with or with out a classy explosion.

I don't see fist bumps much, but when I do, it's like @eric3579 said, they're usually between friends, after accomplishing something to express how awesome it was and a high-five just won't cut it. I've never personally seen anyone substitute a fist bump for a hand shake, but I have heard that people that have a fear of hand shakes and/or germs do substitute fist bumps for hand shakes.

As for your story, if the guy had been changing oil on cars all day, he may have offered the fist bump as an alternative to a high-five or hand shake out of courtesy because his hands were dirty.

Nice theory, but not the case at all. It was simply his way of congratulating himself and me on being "real" men who "knew how" to impregnate women with male sperm.

Boy, am I glad this discussion evolved into one about fist-bumping and not the other one.

And for the record, I'd like to be fist-bumped professionally any place, any time, by anyone.
But on the other hand, I like to hug male co-workers for a minute or more. I'm that kind of person.