Americans are known throughout the world as being determined to crush your carpals and yank your arm out of its socket when they shake hands with you. I don't know about all other cultures, but among Latins, one quick and gentle shake and a quick release are all that is really needed to satisfy good manners. A prolonged grip is creepy. Americans are taught since children that a strong, manly grip comes off as masculine and genuine, and that anything else is wimpy and effeminate. But Latins feel it is an attempt to intimidate, always unsuccessful, but still off-putting. Those who are familiar with Americans get used to it and are not offended, but for those meeting one for the first time, it borders on impertinence and over-familiarity.

Culture is filled with little gotchas like this. For example, Latins prefer a distance of about two feet when speaking to another man, even a stranger, while Americans prefer two to three times as far. When seated at a cafe, two Latins will share a small table by sitting next to each other. Americans always sit across from each other. On the other hand, a Latin man will always sit across from a lady, even a close friend or relative, as a sign of respect. It's not a question of good or bad, its just custom. But since Americans live in a culturally homogeneous country, unlike Europeans who are used to cultural differences, they feel very uncomfortable when people break "rules" that they are not even aware exist.