Daps Elapse

In most cultures, humans exchange salutations upon arrival and departure. But how much time must pass in order for a ‘Hello’ and a ‘Goodbye’ to be bundled into one handshake? (Or in this case: dap)

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term 'Daps', it can be defined as a lazy and informal version of a handshake often utilized in social settings.

Back to DAPS ELAPSE

I’ve come up with a term to use when not enough time has passed between salutations.

For Example: If you pass someone that you know in the halls of your school and you have a brief interaction (one to two minutes) that is initiated with a handshake of sorts, giving daps again at the end of the conversation seems silly doesn’t it?

The chart below is an illustration of a crucial factor to consider when to give daps: 

Time Between Salutations vs. Appropriateness

Aside from time, you also have to factor in the next time you’re going to see this person and how long it has been since you’ve seen them.

Let’s Say: You’re at the mall and you come across someone from middle school that you haven’t seen in at least 5 years. You both are surprised and excited to see each other. You exchange pleasantries for a couple moments and then you both continue your individual journeys through the mall.

It’s okay to give this person daps.

For three reasons: 

• You haven’t seen this person in a long time.
• You’ve known them for quite some time.
• You might not see them in a while.

Another Example:

You and a friend are hanging out before you both go to a party. It’s time to head out, so you both walk down to your cars. The destination is not too far, but you each take your own car. You don’t need to give them ‘good bye’ daps because: you’re both going to the same place and will see each other in a matter of minutes.  

I hope you may now have some insight on when to give daps and when to let it go.

But if you’re feeling hesitant about the second salutation, my motto is:

When in doubt, Fist-Bump it out.

In addition to the chart above, there is also a song in the Soundclick widget at the top of the page that goes along with the topic at hand (Pun Intended)

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Here are the lyrics:

Here’s the situation/you’re hangin wit friends

Something comes up to bring the Day to an end

You’re young and hip: so handshakes are never fun

Before you leave/you give daps to everyone

Next thing you know/you’re almost home

And Then you realize “I forgot your phone”

So five minutes after you left//you’re back

Grab you’re phone/and leave/but what about daps?

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How much time must go by before

You can skip the daps and slide out the door

Twice in a short time/Can’t Stand that Stuff

C’mon man/Our hands just touched

There’s a certain grace period/if you breach it

I’ma just leave and say “Peace kid”

If not enough times Happens to pass

Between hand shakes/call it ‘Daps Elapse’

 

Curb Your Enthusiasm Clip:

Larry: “Okay, we’re gonna take off. Goodbye”

Crowd: “Nice to meet you. Nice meeting you. Bye”

Larry: “Nice to meet YOU”

Cheryl (Larry’s Wife): Well, go back there and get it

Larry: “Oh no, c’mon. Don’t send me back there, please.

Now you want me to go in and do the double goodbye?”

Cheryl: “Just go back in, it’ll take three minutes”

Larry: “It’s so AWKWARD”

Cheryl: “This is stupid. Just GO!”

That’s a clip from one of my favorite shows: Curb your Enthusiasm

See, Larry David knows how awkward it is to do the double good bye

Now, Daps Elapse is just a term I say to people when I feel that not enough time has gone by between our salutations

You should try it out with your friends