Candidate Files Criminal Complaint Over Firm Handshake

NBC Miami. com ^ | 10/29/2010 | Puppage

[Puppage]

A firm handshake is usually seen as a good thing in business and even in politics.

Not so much in South Florida. A candidate for the Broward County School Board wants the cops to lock up her opponent after what she claims was akin to battery after a recent debate.

Jaemi Levine filed a complaint with the Broward Sheriff's Office claiming David Thomas squeezed her hand so hard during a post-debate handshake Tuesday that it now hurts.

Instead of getting a grip on education issues, Thomas decided to get a grip on his opponent for the Disctrict 4 seat.

Levine alleges Thomas was upset that she outclassed him during the debate in Tamarac, which led to the Kung Fu-grip handshake and a few mumbled harsh words to get his point across.

"Don't ever question my integrity again," Thomas allegedly told Levine as he delivered the crunching handshake.

Thomas, a social science teacher at J.P. Taravella High School and a retired U.S. Navy Lt. Commander, told the Sun-Sentinel the story is non-sense and he didn't purposely injure Levine.

BSO has not decided what to do with the criminal complaint yet, but don't be surprised if Levine shows up in a hand cast at the next debate with armed body guards to get her point across.

But as the saying goes in South Florida, sticks and stones may break some bones, but it's the handshake that will really hurt you.

[Larry Lucido]

Man hands! lol!

[Puppage]

I’m speaking of intentional infliction of pain

Define: pain

[decimon]

Right on! I have what could be described as a “firm” handshake. It is not my intent to intimidate anyone. What I’m saying is that I’m a confident and direct person. In my 67 years of life experience I’ve found, for the most part, that people with weak handshakes are................weak. I’ve also observed that people with weak handshakes tend to be leery of people with firm handshakes. One could make the argument that the weak hand shaker is intimidated by the firm hand shaker. But in my experience weak hand shakers who, generally rely on deceit to get ahead, know the firm hand shaker will be a threat to their deceit.

I've been less-than-firm hand shaker and not from any timidity or deceitful character. I disagree with everything you wrote as it all goes against my 65 years of experience.

[dools0007world]

Yo, decimon—Please note the caveat in my post “in general”. There are always exceptions to almost everything. There are real reasons for a “weak” handshake. They include medical issues like arthritus or whatever.

I am curious though, why would one choose to shake hands weakly if it was not necessary due to some malady?

[econjack]

Good point!

[decimon]

I am curious though, why would one choose to shake hands weakly if it was not necessary due to some malady?

I grew sick of going through such rituals to satisfy the needs of insecure men.