Lack of empathy and compassion.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Question
What would you like to leave your children?
Death & what remains
Question
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Identity & self
Question
What keeps you awake at night?
Daily life
Question
When were you happiest?
Time & hindsight
Question
Which trait do you most dislike in yourself?
Identity & self
Question
How would you describe yourself in three words?
Identity & self
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.
When they ruin my story because they think theirs is better, so butt in before I’ve finished mine.
The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 August 2026 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 209 →
Hugh Grant
Actor
Telling me the menu is only accessible through the QR code.
Entitlement or a lack of manners. Though I find they often flock together.
People not remembering who I am.
More from Dawn O’Porter
View profile →My Siamese cat, which I had freeze-dried after she died. I really think their future partners will like it.
A drunk woman who threw epic dinner parties.
Perimenopausal anxiety, the terrible feeling of impending doom, something awful happening to my children, writing deadlines. Apart from that, I’m quite chilled.
The early days of motherhood. We lived in a sweet little bungalow in LA that had a pool. We threw lots of parties. We had a cute dog and a mad Siamese. Trump had never been president, we’d never heard of coronavirus, Claire’s Accessories was still going strong. Good times.
When I ruin someone else’s story because I think mine is better, so butt in before they’ve finished theirs.
Hungry, hard-working, cats.
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