Comment on Miss Manners: Should the practice of shaking hands with strangers be abandoned forever?

2025 starts a new generation, literally. Generation Beta, which began on Jan. 1, goes through 2039. Many Gen Betas will live to see the 22nd century before they’ve even retired — and experience a new world of technology that hasn’t been invented yet. They follow the aging and hard-working Boomers, middle-age Generation X that prides itself on resiliency and grew up riding bicycles till dark, Generation Y (more commonly known as Millennials), Generation Z, which is the first generation never to know the world without the internet, and Generation Alpha, the first generation to be born entirely in the 21st century, where many are still schoolchildren. Here’s what the experts say are the predictions for this newest generation when it comes to health, friendships and technology and more. Artificial intelligence The evolution of artificial intelligence can change every aspect of life, said Arie Greenleaf, an NSU professor in the College of Psychology.

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DEAR MISS MANNERS: Is there a polite way to avoid shaking hands with strangers? I was in a car dealership, and every employee I encountered extended a hand to me, expecting me to shake it. I know that they were just trying to appear friendly and open. But I also know that this is a good way to transmit diseases and pathogenic microorganisms. Many people do not have good hand-washing practices, especially after using the restroom, and it grosses me out to have to touch their hands. An infectious-disease specialist has even stated that the practice of shaking hands should be abandoned. Related Articles Advice | Asking Eric: My (now former) bestie is consumed by his bad relationships Advice | Miss Manners: It is rude to open an umbrella in a crowd of unprepared people? Advice | Asking Eric: I took a quiet friend to a loud Thanksgiving and got snarky blowback Advice | Ask a real estate pro: Why do I need two types of title insurance? Advice | Miss Manners: A family arrives late to a pizza party, so the kids get no slices GENTLE READER: Miss Manners generally agrees with you, but worries that the social disease of being unwilling to participate in formalities is also dangerous. If you can gracefully finesse another gesture — waving, or, in less formal situations, a fist bump — Miss Manners will allow it. Adding “I’m healthy, but don’t want you to risk it” will perhaps take away some of the sting.