To be irritated by the term "reaching out"?

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When what is meant is "contacting"?

I recently left a comment on a company's FB page with some suggestions as to how they could improve their service. A company rep has now replied and their response starts "Hi Page, thanks for reaching out to us..."

I didn't reach out to you! I contacted you. The only time I "reach out" is to grab something that's arm's length away. I'm not a needy supplicant approaching you with my arms stretched out.

It's not the first time I've seen this used, so AIBU to dislike the creeping replacement of a perfectly serviceable, no-nonsense word like "contacting" with this wank?

(And yes, before anyone wonders, obviously this is all I have to worry about; all wars are over, famine has been eradicated, we're all wonderfully equal and tolerant, free unicorns all round and so now I can get onto worrying about the really important stuff )

I also work in a US-based firm. Reaching out is par for the course. It comes naturally when speaking to US colleagues. Agree with WingsofNylon's friend's description of reaching out. Not sure what is wrong with 'piece'. Piece just means a smaller distinct part of a bigger project or issue. Lots of circling back going on too.

DH works for an American firm, and they all seem to use it a lot. Every so often it will slip out of DH's mouth at home, even though he Knows My Views on the subject.

If it doesn't require the use of your arms, it's not 'reaching out', its contacting/getting in touch/emailing/whatever other method of communication is being deployed.

Yes, exactly. No actual reaching involved. It mostly sounds overly emotive to me, like you're all on the verge of bonding-induced tears over an order of paper-clips or something. Sometimes I hear it on the news after a local tragedy and then it annoys me as it comes across as "I've used the words 'reached kit', now I don't need to do anything that's actually helpful. But I used the words, give me a medal for compassion." People will say "we're reaching out to the family", etc. What on earth is that supposed to mean? If you mean trying to help, then say so. Take them a home-cooked meal, don't "reach out" & pat yourself on the back then wonder why "the family is not ready yet".

Damn, "reached out" above, not "reached kit". Stupid phone + my laziness in not checking.

We need to get this over the line What does that mean?

Leverage. Are you using a lever? Or blackmail? No? Use 'use' then ffs.
Going forward. As opposed to...?
Deep dive
Granularity
Reach out
Take it offline
Skin in the game
Actioning

Urg. Grim

Granularity?!?! Jesus, haven't heard that one yet. Actioning. Blurgh. It's like the whole world's gone David Brent.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen

I saw that film on a plane and bloody loved it - it's had a slating from some critics for being too lightweight but I thought it was fantastic.

To add to shit sayings - I genuinely had to send an email to ask what a "drains up" meeting was exactly. For the avoidance of doubt, my work has nothing to do with actual drains of any kind, it was just another shitheaded piece of mangementspeak bollocks.

Ugh yes, "granularity". What's wrong with "detail"?

We need to get this over the line
What does that mean?

"Finish it", IME.

Project managers don't half talk some shit.

And the horror of using any words perceived as negative

All problems are challenges

I once told my manager that it's the pessimists who remember the lifeboats.

She hates me. Challenging

was I loved it too ,it was hardly weight! I love Lily Tomlin.

I blame HR depts for 100% of this bullshit. They are mad bastards, divorced from reality & with zero conception of how the majority of humans operate. I believe them to be the source of all ridiculous language-molesting.

I once told my manager that it's the pessimists who remember the lifeboats.

She hates me. Challenging

Love it.

All new lovely business shit buzzwords.

We had tons in my last workplace (and yes it is a company that would have thanked you for "reaching out").

The one that sticks out though was feedforward - we couldn't give feedBACK as it has negative connotations

roll out

OH yes. Hello all you lovely people. I feel totally at home.

AIBU to want to throttle my DH when he responds to my offer of a hot drink "I'll TAKE a coffee". TAKE! What fresh corner of hell is that from? I can only imagine that he's mimicking US colleagues. Please be gentle and don't tell me to LTB as he's actually really lovely.

Bloody hate "going forward" what kind of fuckery is this? My grandkids in Scotland say "can I get", so wrong on all counts.

Cascade this quietly to stakeholders them we'll run it up the flagpole and see who salutes.

Lizzie - the very name 'Human resources' is rather nasty IMO.

IMO it's laziness, yet I'm guilty of it myself. However much I hate it I use it myself occasionally in certain sorts of report because I assume the other person will understand. Or "get alongside it", if you will.

It's probably how evil movements start, and I'm not really joking.

Lizzie - the very name 'Human resources' is rather nasty IMO.

Totally agree with this - a colleague and I fought a running battle against people saying shit like "we'll need to get 3 more resources for this" and ""how many development resources will you need?" twats.

My ex talks Like this all the time.he recently met by best friend at a mutual friends wedding and asked her 'what page are you on with the situation?' (The situation being that he has acted absolutely disgracefully). She replied 'I think I'm on the page that reads 'you're an absolute twat' in big bold letters'.
See also
'We need to find a work round'
Knobhead.

'work around' does have legitimate uses in the context of software problems. I can't think of another phrase which concisely conveys the same meaning ('we will fix this bug in the next release, but meanwhile a workaround is to edit file xxxx ....).

Probably not in the context of how we are going to organise various children getting to various activities over a weekend though without him having to actually change his plans at all to accommodate them. When used on that sort of context it's rage inducing.
And he doesn't work in IT.

Watching a film atm and thought of this thread as someone said to Lily Tomlin ' I'm going to have to ask you to leave' and she replied ' when are you going to ask me?

YES!

I also hate "go ahead" in the context of "I'm going to have to go ahead and..." or "Why don't you go ahead and..." They used to say it all the time on Scrubs. It's an utterly redundant phrase.

Another one I am hearing a lot is "talking to" instead of "talking about", for example in a meeting "Sue has been talking to the challenges faced in Project X". Just fucking WHY?!