The idea that the handshake is not really necessary and is an effective way to spread the coronavirus and germs, in general, is something I wrote about several weeks ago. As a germaphobe - I an witnessing many of my rituals becoming more acceptable to the masses. There is not doubt that this coronavirus pandemic will have a profound effect on American society.
In an article on cleveland.com - Marc Bona writes about taking a cruise a few years ago after a flu bug had spread to passengers on the previous cruise. Bona laments that the staffers on the ship were constantly disinfecting every surface, and the buffets were turned into serving lines for the first part of the cruise. There were signs throughout the ship asking passengers to use a paper towel to touch the door handles of the restrooms - which is something I have always done.
The article goes on to predict things that will disappear from our culture as a result of lessons learned during the COVID Crisis of 2020.
Here are the things mentioned that will be gone - but not forgotten:
Buffets and salad bars:
Will the sneeze guards really satisfy us that everyone’s germs will not end up on the food - even through talking while in line? And will the sharing of the spoons, forks and tongs used to get the food on our plates no longer be acceptable?
Handshakes:
Earlier this month - Disease Infectious Expert Dr. Anthony Fauci suggested that the handshake may be a thing of the past because of what we have learned about the spread of COVID.
The handshake is historically traced back to 5th century Greece and was seen as a gesture of peace; the moving up and down of the hands was designed to shake any weapons the other person may have hidden in his sleeve.
Japanese culture has long been concerned about the spread of diseases and wearing masks throughout the Asian world is common. The Japanese also bow as a greeting the replaces the handshake. In modern Japan, handshaking is common, but that was the adoption of a Western cultural gesture. Maybe we should adopt the Asian culture of bowing instead of shaking hands?
High fives/slapped hands:
“Hands touching hands” - as Neil Diamond sang - is one way diseases spread and the high fives and slapping hands can spread diseases just like the handshake.
High fives are believed to date back to 1977 when two L.A. Dodgers slapped their hands together after an important home run. After an emotional victory - in sports or in business - the high five has become and effective way to physically express the emotion of the moment. Will you be quick to start high fiving people again?
Food-store samples:
On any (normal) given Saturday afternoon - you can walk about Costco or Sam’s and enjoy an entire meal. Food samples are diverse and plentiful. Trader Joe’s and other grocery stores also regularly offer food samples for customers. Will this be another tradition that is gone - but not forgotten?
Rolling someone’s house with toilet paper:
This adolescent prank may be a thing of the past because of the new reverence our culture now has for toilet paper.
Sharing drinks in a bar:
How many times have you turned to someone in a bar and said, “Hey, taste this drink?” Or haven’t you asked someone, “What are you drinking - could you have a sip?” Will you be doing that when bars open again?
Lines:
Even during this pandemic - I see long lines of people standing right next to each other with no regard for social distancing. There are grocery stores, like Trader Joe’s, that are spacing people waiting in line to enter the store 6 ft. apart.
As of Friday - 40 coronavirus cases have been directly linked to people standing in line to vote in the recent Wisconsin primary.
Will long lines get longer because we are all social distancing?
Tapping the bottom of someone’s beer:
Since I am not a beer-drinker - I didn’t even know this was a thing - but apparently beer-drinkers are known to tap the bottom of someone’s beer bottle with the lip of their beer.
Will this continue?
Toll booth attendants:
Considering the massive exchange of money at a toll booth and the possibility that an attendant could be exposed to the coronavirus and then spread the disease to countless motorists driving through the booth - is a toll booth with no attendant going to be part of our future?
Mosh pits/GA floor crowds:
Many concert-goers love to be part of the packed general admission crowd on the floor or the venue. During the grunge era - mosh pits - including crowd surfing and slam dancing were popular. Will this youth-inspired activity - or the desire to replicate it at your favorite 90s music concert today - be a thing of the past?
Physical officers:
It took adjusting to the new reality of working from home - but think about how technology - video chats and Zoom meetings - had made it possible for most businesses to conduct group meetings and function without anyone in the office. Will many employees start working from home meaning that companies could cut expenses by leasing smaller office space?
Other things mentioned that may be gone - but not forgotten include: Holy water in churches, rugby, wrestling and boxing, close seating on airplanes, key-chain store discount tabs and kissing. Will the kiss-cam at sporting events become taboo - or will there be an assumption that the person you kiss is someone you live with or know very well?
Considering the new reality we are facing and the possibility that coronavirus will not just disappear and the threat of future pandemic looms - I do believe many things will change forever. I’m not sure about sports. The suggestion that rugby, wrestling and boxing will be eliminated fails to consider that most sports involve some form of contact, and I live with the belief that sports will return - even if in the beginning there are not fans in the stands. How great would it be if we are still dealing with this pandemic but can watch the Saints, Pelicans or your favorite team playing in a televised event? I’d watch - wouldn’t you?
As you notice the drastic measures we have taken as a society toward easing the current threat of a deadly disease - think about the things we are doing - or not doing - that will become part of our new reality.