[analbumcover]

It's interesting to read her experience but I can't get past a few things.

> Because I was leading the expedition, I couldn’t have any physical contact with anyone else—zero. There were no handshakes, no flirting, and no hugs.

No handshakes? This behavior is so far outside the norm it's hard to believe her experience is in any way relevant to the general populace when it likely reflects her bizarrely anti-social approach to leadership. Apparently she gives lectures on leadership now? That is terrifying.

Also, as an avid alpinist, this is absolutely not the kind of person you want to be in a dangerous environment with, let alone be subordinate to. She refused to touch people and had apparently only seen the snow once before arriving in Antarctica.

[irrational]

Maybe she didn’t shake hands for the same reason we no longer shake hands, to avoid catching or spreading disease. I often forget that shaking hands is no longer socially acceptable, but fortunately with two people, one of us always remembers in time.

[jedberg]

The very next sentences:

"I couldn’t afford for a simple gesture of empathy, such as a hug or a placed hand on the shoulder, to be misinterpreted as a sign of romantic interest. It went against my natural desire not to comfort someone who was distraught with a big hug, but it’s what I had to do to maintain professional boundaries."

[analbumcover]

I read that. Restrictions on sexual relationships given an uneven power dynamic are common, but an inability to shake someone's hand or put a hand on a shoulder? That's not maintaining professional boundaries, it's paranoia.

It is also a standard that she is clearly imposing on herself, which is what makes it so bizarre. She wasn't just conforming to some overbearing rule of the organization, she thought this was a necessary component of effective leadership. Which makes me question her judgement in general.

[jedberg]

Ask some women in leadership positions what they think about this. You’ll probably be surprised at how many agree with her.

[analbumcover]

I wouldn't be surprised. But who is going to put up with that kind of aloof and standoffish behavior? You're probably going to come across like a monarch that doesn't want to come into contact with the common folk.

[nicthesailor]

As a female seafarer (26 years at sea), I know exactly where she's coming from. Never mind touching, the times I've sat and talked about anything other than work (non-sexual, just friendly) have invariably resulted in at least one or two crew members either taking it as an invitation to harass me or assault me, or caused friction with the rest of the crew.

In my experience, I can be friendly, but I have to stay distant for safety (mine) and discipline (the whole crew).

[analbumcover]

This is interesting, were you the captain for many of those years? I could totally understand a crew member being antisocial, but it seems like the crew would resent a leader who acted this aloof even if they were doing it for the reasons you mention. It just seems very different than the usual distance that hierarchy creates.

I've only done a few casual sailing trips where everyone got nude as soon as we were out of sight of land and it was so cramped you'd have to be a contortionist not to touch anyone. A tanker ship or something would be vastly different, but it still seems like there would be plenty of situations, e,g, rough weather, where you need you need to be willing to touch other people. I doubt you'd get on a crab fishing vessel if other crew members refused to touch you.

[kharak]

Thanks for sharing, I can easily believe that. On a side note, how does a seafarer end up on hackernews? (I know nothing about your profession).

[bluntfang]

Just curious, what do you do for a living? Have you ever done professional work where your life is on the line constantly?

[analbumcover]

I'm an academic who has never been to Antarctica.

But I've done at least one mountaineering expedition (recreational not professional) every year for the past 30 years, where our lives would have been on the line if we had incompetent people with us, even taking precautions there have still been a handful of questionable moments over the years. I've only done 3 long-haul type expeditions that were 4+ months. I also worked as a guide for 2 years back in my 20s on much less technical trips, but those were always the most dangerous because you have people you don't know who have varying skill levels and experience.

In my experience (other than the guide work) we never had a de facto leader unless one member was vastly more experienced in general or had more previous experience with a given region or specific route.

That's obviously different than being in a research station with a large group of people for a year. But I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable leading an expedition to Antarctica if I had only seen snow once before as was apparently the case with the author of this article. Also, on real expeditions (not just living in a research station) you are constantly touching other members of your group, it's absolutely necessary and there's no way around it.

I realize there are going to be differences between a research station gig and even a moderately technical alpine route, but this woman's approach just seems unreasonable.

[watwut]

I dont shake hands with colleges and have literally zero physical contact with them and they have zero physical contact with each other. I found the one person who did various physical contacts uncomfortable to be around.

[carapace]

(Your username parses ambiguously: An Album Cover or Anal Bum Cover. I swear I'm not trying to be a jerk, but I can't unsee it now. I'm sorry.)

[analbumcover]

Yeah, that's intentional. It's a reference to an old comedy sketch.

[carapace]

oooooooh riiiiiiight, "Suck it Trebek!" :-)

Sorry for the noise.

[emiliobumachar]

The handshake, in particular, is something I would now like to be permanently removed from our culture, even though the transition would be painful.

When the next pandemic comes - and it shall come - we must be better prepared.

[paulcole]

> This behavior is so far outside the norm

Bud, it’s an isolated team in Antarctica. That’s pretty far outside the norm. It is extremely likely that no touching was a requirement of her employer.