I'm glad to find I'm not the only one that finds this phrase purely condescending, as a sort of "noblesse oblige," "we are so important and you're so far below our lofty perch that it requires us a real effort to "reach" you, which we almost never do but in your case we will make this one exception. You should be grateful we stooped to your level." It makes me cringe whenever someone says this to me.

This phrase "reaching out" always sounds slightly, quirky, insulting, smug and superior. "Out?" Out from where? Why is it such a "reach?" Are you locked in a basement somewhere? Or are you so important you need to reach down from your lofty perch out of a sense of noblesse oblige. I should be so grateful that you "reached out" to a poor supplicant such as my lowly self. Get the picture?