STUDY: PEOPLE LIKE HEARING FROM OLD FRIENDS

A new study finds people often underestimate how much their old friends will appreciate receiving a call from them out of the blue. Researchers the University of Pittsburgh found that study participants who called, texted, or emailed someone in their social circle just to say hello consistently underrated how much their friend would value hearing from them. Meanwhile, the friend receiving the message placed a much higher value on the surprise social interaction. The researchers say people often worry about how someone with perceive the gesture of reaching out after a long period of silence. However, the new study finds saying hello “just because” is a much more welcome surprise than many may think.
* Just as long as the conversation doesn’t start with, “Look, they only give me one phone call.”
* Aw, connecting with a call, or a text, or an email. Sounds sweet. So they don’t have Facebook in Pittsburgh?
* You contact an old friend and they appreciate it. So far, so good. Then they spend the rest of the day feeling sorry for you ’cause you’re so lonely.
* Here’s just what you want to hear in a phone call with an old friend: “Hey, you know that genetic testing thing? Long story short – you’re the father!”