Reach out?

Why do people today use the phrase

If you’ve made a phone call or written an e-mail to a business in the US, there’s a chance that someone will thank you for “reaching out” to them. This is a relatively new use of that phrasal verb. Call me old — I’m speaking rhetorically, so don’t actually call me old unless you’re well insured — but this usage sounds stupid to me.

When someone says, “Thank you for reaching out,” I think, why? Are you a cereal box on a high shelf? Am I sinking in the North Atlantic and you’re a lifeboat? Why not say, “Thank you for getting in touch” or “We appreciate you contacting us”? I’m big on expecting people to say what they mean.

Many years ago, “Reach out and touch someone” was the popular slogan of an American telecom company. It was brilliant in TV commercials, but in direct contact with a business partner, I don’t want any reaching out and touching. Keep your hands and arms to yourself!

One of my pet hates is the misuse of nouns. In Spotlight 2/20, I wrote about how using nouns rather than adjectives can be hurtful and racist. But making nouns out of verbs or adjectives also misses the mark.

Today, there are social media Why not say “expert”? An “expert” doesn’t pass judgment on the people taking his or her advice the way an “influencer” does. Also, the whole concept begs the obvious questions: Do their not object to being influenced? Do they not mind that being a “follower” makes them sound like they can’t think for themselves and need to be told what to do?