199 answers answered between 1974 and 2026 one of 25 in The Q&A
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.
Public figures who have answered a question like this elsewhere. Quoted from the source shown, not written for FLAPSS.
I would like to add something that’s not essential to the science, but something I kind of believe, which is that you should not fool the layman when you’re talking as a scientist.
Greed and stupidity.
Rudeness and racism.
The thing actually that I most dislike is cruelty. I can't stand cruel people. And if I see people doing something mean to somebody else, just to make themselves feel important it really gets me mad.
Lack of empathy.
Lack of self-doubt.
Ghosting, where you are mid-conversation with someone and they disappear off the face of the planet.
Other people’s decorating, if I feel they’ve missed an opportunity and just decorated in that wet-cardboard, modern-grey thing. That’s a life not properly lived.
Being judgmental – how dare they!
Arrogance, bullying, meanness – just try to be kind, it’s not difficult.
Interrupting or talking over people. As a stammerer, I am particularly alert to this.
People having really loud conversations on their phones in public places.
Looking down at other people. I was brought up to treat people as you treat yourself, with respect. The people you meet on the way up are the people you meet on the way down.
People who abuse their power to subjugate others.
Schemes. I hate schemers.
I have a hard time with people who are manipulative.
Gossip and backstabbing.
Unfriendliness.
Manipulative greed and hate.
Lack of empathy.
Nobody has answered this one yet.