Charlie Higson: What trait do you most dislike in other people? — FLAPSS

The question

What trait do you most dislike in other people?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

A verbatim standing question in The Guardian's rotating Q&A questionnaire, documented across respondents and years.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

CH

Charlie Higson

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Aggression. Anger. Rudeness. Intolerance. Lack of understanding. Pretty much your average day on X.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 October 2025 source ↗

Others on this question

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Chaka Khan American singer

I guess lack of patience as well.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 May 2024 source ↗

Alison Steadman British actress

Lack of understanding and tolerance.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 January 2009 source ↗

Sharleen Spiteri

Schemes. I hate schemers.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 May 2024 source ↗

Racism and bigotry.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, October 2016 source ↗

More from Charlie Higson

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Question When were you most embarrassed? Failure & regret

I’ve shat myself in public three times. It’s never quite as bad as you fear.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 October 2025 source ↗

Question Which trait in yourself do you like least? Identity & self

I can be horribly smug and conceited, and yet always in the back of my mind is the thought that things could go terribly wrong at any moment.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 October 2025 source ↗

Question Excluding property, what is the most expensive thing you have ever bought? Money & investment

Three mature palm trees. We restored a property in Italy that had been derelict and I needed to make it look established as quickly as I could.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 October 2025 source ↗

Question How would you sum yourself up in three words? Identity & self

Middle-class wanker.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 October 2025 source ↗

Question Who deserves an apology from you, and for what? Failure & regret

All the kids I didn’t reply to who’ve written lovely letters about my books.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 October 2025 source ↗

Question What disappointment has stayed with you longest? Failure & regret

I’m a classic remoaner.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 October 2025 source ↗

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