--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is supposed to be a touch-feely…" description: "\"“This is supposed to be a touch-feely conversation where we tell you, ‘Don’t worry, you’ll always have a family here with us.’ And then we may or may n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/debra-anastasia-319_communication_this-is-supposed-to-be-a-touch-feely-con_658605.jpg" --- # This is supposed to be a touch-feely conversation where we… ![“This is supposed to be a touch-feely conversation where we tell you, ‘Don’t worry, you’ll always have a family here with us.’ And then we may or may not have sappy music piped in.” Ted rolled his eyes. “That was tactful, Eve. Wonderful.” quote by Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/debra-anastasia-319_communication_this-is-supposed-to-be-a-touch-feely-con_658605.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/debra-anastasia-319_communication_this-is-supposed-to-be-a-touch-feely-con_658605.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/debra-anastasia-319_communication_this-is-supposed-to-be-a-touch-feely-con_658605.jpg) > ““This is supposed to be a touch-feely conversation where we tell you, ‘Don’t worry, you’ll always have a family here with us.’ And then we may or may not have sappy music piped in.” Ted rolled his eyes. “That was tactful, Eve. Wonderful.”” [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A scripted, overly sentimental conversation is mocked for its insincerity, highlighting the gap between words and genuine care. **In simple terms:** Fake empathy feels hollow. Key Takeaway Seek authentic communication over scripted reassurance. Themes authenticity communication trust Mood skeptical ironic Type satire critical When to use this quote - customer support - therapy - political speech - family gatherings Key Concepts media critique social satire emotional labor Questions to Reflect On - What makes a conversation feel genuine? - How can we avoid empty platitudes? A Different Perspective Sincerity may be hard to achieve under pressure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Eve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eve/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ## Related quotes > [“I took his hand and shook it. Even with all the training I’ve had to desensitize me to the necessity of occasional contact with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/i-took-his-hand-and-shook-it-even-with-all-the-training-i-ve-had-to/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [“Disapproval flashed across John's face. I wondered whether no one was supposed to touch me while he was in uniform, either.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-echols/disapproval-flashed-across-john-s-face-i-wondered-whether-no-one-was/) [Jennifer Echols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-echols/) > [“Don't tie your success to anything other than what's inside you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/don-t-tie-your-success-to-anything-other-than-what-s-inside-you/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Beckett started the Hummer and texted Eve: Tak4e Ur Cloth3s OFF Im on my qway Her reply came back quick as lightning: Take ur…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/beckett-started-the-hummer-and-texted-eve-tak4e-ur-cloth3s-off-im-on/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“This is it, Beck. This is the hardest part of loving someone: not being with them when you want to be. It's so bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/this-is-it-beck-this-is-the-hardest-part-of-loving-someone-not-being/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [The worst of having so much tact was that you never quite knew whether other people were acting naturally or being tactful too. \[The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/the-worst-of-having-so-much-tact-was-that-you-never-quite-knew/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [I hate the way, once you start to know someone, care about them, their behavior can distress you, even when it's unreasonable and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/i-hate-the-way-once-you-start-to-know-someone-care-about-them-their/) [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) > [“you were. OK, I’ll admit, I had a hard time not laughing. But it isn’t actually a bad idea, once we water it down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-james/you-were-ok-i-ll-admit-i-had-a-hard-time-not-laughing-but-it-isn-t/) [Rosalind James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-james/) > [I'm honest. I say what I feel. I try to be tactful, but I can't not say what I feel. I have a really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/i-m-honest-i-say-what-i-feel-i-try-to-be-tactful-but-i-can-t-not-say/) [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) > [I'm quite tactful, actually. I worry about whether people are all right. With my friends, obviously, conversations are quite free and uncensored, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-davis/i-m-quite-tactful-actually-i-worry-about-whether-people-are-all-right/) [Julia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-davis/) > [“thinking to be tactful and adroit, the woman stood”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasunari-kawabata/thinking-to-be-tactful-and-adroit-the-woman-stood/) [Yasunari Kawabata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasunari-kawabata/) > [Sometimes I can be tactful and sometimes not. It all depends on the mood I'm in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-brown/sometimes-i-can-be-tactful-and-sometimes-not-it-all-depends-on-the/) [Melanie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-brown/) > [Growing up, I didn't feel tactful or classy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chappell-roan/growing-up-i-didn-t-feel-tactful-or-classy/) [Chappell Roan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chappell-roan/) > [Whenever your well-being feels at risk around certain people, make a tactful and swift exit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-orloff/whenever-your-well-being-feels-at-risk-around-certain-people-make-a/) [Judith Orloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-orloff/) > [Talk about tactful - she's got a tongue like a Kalashnikov!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-fowler/talk-about-tactful-she-s-got-a-tongue-like-a-kalashnikov/) [Steve Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-fowler/) ## More by Debra Anastasia > [“When they stumbled together into a clearing, even in their panic the blue moonlight made it ethereal, like a fairy ring. But in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/when-they-stumbled-together-into-a-clearing-even-in-their-panic-the/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Beckett wrapped a huge arm around Kyle's waist and slammed her body into his. "Sometimes when girls advertise, they get what they're asking for."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/beckett-wrapped-a-huge-arm-around-kyle-s-waist-and-slammed-her-body/) [debra anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Livia covered the phone until Kyle looked at her. “You’re simply the best lady I know. I promise not to be oblivious anymore.” Kyle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/livia-covered-the-phone-until-kyle-looked-at-her-you-re-simply-the/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Remember two eighty-six. Livia now counted on the same sort of feverish, rain-soaked determination that had driven Blake to the train station for smile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/remember-two-eighty-six-livia-now-counted-on-the-same-sort-of/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Livia looked puzzled and whispered, “I have no idea why these are special.” Blake dared to touch her face. “They’re the exact color of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/livia-looked-puzzled-and-whispered-i-have-no-idea-why-these-are/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Livia used her mouth to warm any part of his body that felt cold. As she sucked his fingers, she heard a decision in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/livia-used-her-mouth-to-warm-any-part-of-his-body-that-felt-cold-as/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“They do the twenty-one-gun salute for the good guys, right? So I brought this.” Beckett pointed the gun in the sky. “For Mouse.” One,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/they-do-the-twenty-one-gun-salute-for-the-good-guys-right-so-i/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“He was serious. He didn’t want her to hold him close. He didn’t want to pretend she was his mother. He didn’t want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/he-was-serious-he-didn-t-want-her-to-hold-him-close-he-didn-t-want-to/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Don't put off happiness you can have today. Tomorrow is a hope, not a promise”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/don-t-put-off-happiness-you-can-have-today-tomorrow-is-a-hope-not-a/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“He seemed to be drinking in her face, looking at her instead of into her. “Stop. Stop that. This isn’t goodbye.” Blake pulled her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/he-seemed-to-be-drinking-in-her-face-looking-at-her-instead-of-into/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“She waved, and he smiled like she was the eighth wonder of the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/she-waved-and-he-smiled-like-she-was-the-eighth-wonder-of-the-world/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“There isn’t a single spot I’ll miss tonight, my wife.” Blake pulled her against him, tilting her head until he could kiss her again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/there-isn-t-a-single-spot-i-ll-miss-tonight-my-wife-blake-pulled-her/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“So, are you moving in?” Dove tried to look like she was casually leaning against a lamppost. But there was no lamppost, so it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/so-are-you-moving-in-dove-tried-to-look-like-she-was-casually-leaning/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“That pew became a confessional. There, with a fully clothed, fully present Kyle, he left his plans for lifelong commitment to only the Church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/that-pew-became-a-confessional-there-with-a-fully-clothed-fully/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“As they stepped away, Beckett nodded toward Blake’s bandaged arm. “What’d ya get?” “It says ‘Sorry,’” Blake said as he went out the door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/as-they-stepped-away-beckett-nodded-toward-blake-s-bandaged-arm-what/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) [Explore all 684 Debra Anastasia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) ## More Communication quotes > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/) [John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/) > [We should have a conversation when we hang up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/we-should-have-a-conversation-when-we-hang-up/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/) [Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/) > [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [In dialogue, there is opposition, yes, but no head-on collision. Smashing heads does not open minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/in-dialogue-there-is-opposition-yes-but-no-head-on-collision-smashing/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I've been in a serious conversation with one of my children, and a fan has come up. I've been in a public bathroom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-reddy/i-ve-been-in-a-serious-conversation-with-one-of-my-children-and-a-fan/) [Helen Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-reddy/) > [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [Disability, in general, hasn't been included in the conversation about inclusivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-winston-george/disability-in-general-hasn-t-been-included-in-the-conversation-about/) [Jason Winston George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-winston-george/) > [“Women will be at least 50 percent of the communications community workforce … from executive suite to interns. Why? The “integrated” agency will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoram-wind/women-will-be-at-least-50-percent-of-the-communications-community/) Yoram Wind > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) [Browse all 21,506 Communication quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This is supposed to be a touch-feely conversation where we tell you, ‘Don’t worry, you’ll always have a family here with us.’ And then we may or may not have sappy music piped in.” Ted rolled his eyes. “That was tactful, Eve. Wonderful.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Debra Anastasia" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/this-is-supposed-to-be-a-touch-feely-conversation-where-we-tell-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Communication" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/this-is-supposed-to-be-a-touch-feely-conversation-where-we-tell-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/debra-anastasia-319_communication_this-is-supposed-to-be-a-touch-feely-con_658605.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/debra-anastasia-319_communication_this-is-supposed-to-be-a-touch-feely-con_658605.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/debra-anastasia-319_communication_this-is-supposed-to-be-a-touch-feely-con_658605.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This is supposed to be a touch-feely conversation where we tell you, ‘Don’t worry, you’ll always have a…” — Debra Anastasia", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Debra Anastasia", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“This is supposed to be a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/this-is-supposed-to-be-a-touch-feely-conversation-where-we-tell-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/this-is-supposed-to-be-a-touch-feely-conversation-where-we-tell-you/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```