Some questions...
So, I'm reading this book at the mo' called "Snoop" and it's about the things you can tell about people by checking out their stuff. It's about snooping, really, which is a guilty pleasure of mine. Don't let me near your medicine cabinets, that's all I'm saying.
Anyway, in this book is a mention of a guy named Arthur Aron who came up with these thirty-six questions which are designed to get people talking, getting them to know more about one another. The book supplies one with a sample of said questions and they happen to be rather interesting, as do the answers to them.
Unfortunately I have not been able to find the rest of the questions either online or anywhere else and I would like to. They're genuinely interesting. Anywho, I answered the ones in the book, and thought I would post them. If you want to, flist, you can answer them yourselves :)
1. Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?
That’s a tough question and a long list. I’m going to go with the “dead or alive” thing. I’d choose Ghandi, both Fry and Laurie (because I’m greedy and they’re like bookends), Michael Jackson (because he was gorgeous and a genius), Nick Macdonell (sp?), Bryce Courtney and The Bard himself, Will Shakespeare. Also, Jo Rowling (so I could learn more about the HP characters). Oh, and Danny Bonaduce...Because I want him dead.
2. Before making a phone call, do you ever rehearse what you’re going to say? Why?
I do indeed do a vague rehearsal if I’m ordering food, calling the bank or doing something equally irritating (I also partially rehearse arguments and speeches). I think this is because I dislike using the phone to talk to anyone I don’t know (actually, at all), and because I’m afraid of looking like a schmuck. Also, I don’t like the sound of my own voice - the quicker and more verbally economical I can be, the better and easier it is for me.
3. What would constitute as a “perfect” day to you?
To be honest, something that involves me being alone. I know a lot of people would choose to be with their friends or something, but give me a nice place to sit that’s not too hot, on a day I don’t have to be anywhere in particular and let me be. I’d probably wind up sitting in a park reading, looking at things I like to look at (and/or buy), or going to see a movie. Exploring a library or museum rate highly too.
4. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?
I sing and hum to myself all the time; at work, in the shower, alone, in the car. I actually have a terrible voice, to be brutally honest - couldn’t carry a tune in a wheelbarrow. But it keeps the silence out. I don’t sing to other people, again, the terrible voice, but the last time I sang near someone was when I was at Dr. K’s and we were watching Once More With Feeling.
5. If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30 year old for the last 60 years, which would you want?
The body would be convenient, sure, but what is it without a strong mind? I would take mind over body every time in this life and the next (and the one before). Losing my faculties is one of my biggest fears - I’m deathly afraid of strokes, Alzheimer’s and dementia.
6. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?
I’ve never thought that I would live particularly long and I think that’s for a myriad reasons. I mean, people in my family don’t tend to live into their nineties, really, not even their mid to late eighties. We’re a short lived people. But on top of that, I know the way my mind works and I know that I have to deal with deep bouts of depression where each time I don’t jump in front of a train brings me closer to the time I do. I’m not terribly worried, I’m just trying to meet aims and goals until my time is up. However that might be.
7. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?
I would ensure that I would be more self-reliant, be able to take care of myself better domestically speaking, I suppose. And I would want to be alone and in charge less, I think. I mean, of course I get that my parents were divorced and my mother had to work all the time to support us - I don’t lame either of my parents - but I was a kid who had to look out for my brother all the time everywhere we went...Before school care, school, after school care, home for dinner and bed. It got to a point that I was the person he listened to because I was the one who was around him the most.
8. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained one quality or ability, what would it be?
I’d have to be greedy and go for the talents I don’t have: Drawing, playing the piano or violin, actor. Or virtues: Patience, gratitude. I don’t really know, but I’d probably choose something artistic...All of the above?
9. Is there something you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven’t you done it yet?
Traveling. Because I’m afraid of a lot of things that pertain to travel; flying, missing flights/trains/buses, being robbed, losing important things like passports and tickets, getting lost, etc etc etc.
10. What is your most treasured memory?
It’s a weird question. I look back on spending nights at my dad’s house and staying up to midnight, counting down the seconds on his backlit watch until 12AM rolled around - I feel fond of those memories. Also Christmas at dad’s was always quite the thing because my father has always been thoroughly excited by that particular holiday...But generally any of the weirdness my dad and I got into when I was a kid.
11. If you knew that you were going to die suddenly in one year, would you change anything about the way you are living now? Why?
I would make amends with everyone. I know that I’m not the easiest person to love. And after doing that I’d leave the country and not come back until the week before my due date (provided that it would be a year to the day, lol).
12. What roles do love and affection play in your life?
I don’t know. I love my family and adore my true friends, but the love that we feel and have isn’t that mushy over-the-top business. In my world, you pick on someone you like. I guess that’s weird proof that it’s easier to be cruel to be kind. I’m sure that says volumes.
13. Mention an embarrassing moment in your life.
My life seems to be a collection of embarrassing moments. I’m just an awfully clumsy person; I’m always bashing my elbows on something or walking into something or tripping over things (not usually actually falling over, though). And I get hiccups a lot, so that’s always fun.
14. When did you last cry in front for another person? By yourself?
Um, probably in front of my mother a couple of weeks back in the midst of the lasted depression. At those times tears come fairly spontaneously, which is hard to deal with. Any by myself? I’m not sure. Oh, listening to Starry, Starry Night by Don McLean.
15. What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?
I don’t think serious racism/bigotry/sexism is funny, even when people try to disguise it as joking. I don’t think jokes or offhandedness about mental illness is humourous either. And the Holocaust is just not funny no matter which way you look at it.
But making fun of Hitler is always OK.
Anyway, in this book is a mention of a guy named Arthur Aron who came up with these thirty-six questions which are designed to get people talking, getting them to know more about one another. The book supplies one with a sample of said questions and they happen to be rather interesting, as do the answers to them.
Unfortunately I have not been able to find the rest of the questions either online or anywhere else and I would like to. They're genuinely interesting. Anywho, I answered the ones in the book, and thought I would post them. If you want to, flist, you can answer them yourselves :)
1. Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?
That’s a tough question and a long list. I’m going to go with the “dead or alive” thing. I’d choose Ghandi, both Fry and Laurie (because I’m greedy and they’re like bookends), Michael Jackson (because he was gorgeous and a genius), Nick Macdonell (sp?), Bryce Courtney and The Bard himself, Will Shakespeare. Also, Jo Rowling (so I could learn more about the HP characters). Oh, and Danny Bonaduce...Because I want him dead.
2. Before making a phone call, do you ever rehearse what you’re going to say? Why?
I do indeed do a vague rehearsal if I’m ordering food, calling the bank or doing something equally irritating (I also partially rehearse arguments and speeches). I think this is because I dislike using the phone to talk to anyone I don’t know (actually, at all), and because I’m afraid of looking like a schmuck. Also, I don’t like the sound of my own voice - the quicker and more verbally economical I can be, the better and easier it is for me.
3. What would constitute as a “perfect” day to you?
To be honest, something that involves me being alone. I know a lot of people would choose to be with their friends or something, but give me a nice place to sit that’s not too hot, on a day I don’t have to be anywhere in particular and let me be. I’d probably wind up sitting in a park reading, looking at things I like to look at (and/or buy), or going to see a movie. Exploring a library or museum rate highly too.
4. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?
I sing and hum to myself all the time; at work, in the shower, alone, in the car. I actually have a terrible voice, to be brutally honest - couldn’t carry a tune in a wheelbarrow. But it keeps the silence out. I don’t sing to other people, again, the terrible voice, but the last time I sang near someone was when I was at Dr. K’s and we were watching Once More With Feeling.
5. If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30 year old for the last 60 years, which would you want?
The body would be convenient, sure, but what is it without a strong mind? I would take mind over body every time in this life and the next (and the one before). Losing my faculties is one of my biggest fears - I’m deathly afraid of strokes, Alzheimer’s and dementia.
6. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?
I’ve never thought that I would live particularly long and I think that’s for a myriad reasons. I mean, people in my family don’t tend to live into their nineties, really, not even their mid to late eighties. We’re a short lived people. But on top of that, I know the way my mind works and I know that I have to deal with deep bouts of depression where each time I don’t jump in front of a train brings me closer to the time I do. I’m not terribly worried, I’m just trying to meet aims and goals until my time is up. However that might be.
7. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?
I would ensure that I would be more self-reliant, be able to take care of myself better domestically speaking, I suppose. And I would want to be alone and in charge less, I think. I mean, of course I get that my parents were divorced and my mother had to work all the time to support us - I don’t lame either of my parents - but I was a kid who had to look out for my brother all the time everywhere we went...Before school care, school, after school care, home for dinner and bed. It got to a point that I was the person he listened to because I was the one who was around him the most.
8. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained one quality or ability, what would it be?
I’d have to be greedy and go for the talents I don’t have: Drawing, playing the piano or violin, actor. Or virtues: Patience, gratitude. I don’t really know, but I’d probably choose something artistic...All of the above?
9. Is there something you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven’t you done it yet?
Traveling. Because I’m afraid of a lot of things that pertain to travel; flying, missing flights/trains/buses, being robbed, losing important things like passports and tickets, getting lost, etc etc etc.
10. What is your most treasured memory?
It’s a weird question. I look back on spending nights at my dad’s house and staying up to midnight, counting down the seconds on his backlit watch until 12AM rolled around - I feel fond of those memories. Also Christmas at dad’s was always quite the thing because my father has always been thoroughly excited by that particular holiday...But generally any of the weirdness my dad and I got into when I was a kid.
11. If you knew that you were going to die suddenly in one year, would you change anything about the way you are living now? Why?
I would make amends with everyone. I know that I’m not the easiest person to love. And after doing that I’d leave the country and not come back until the week before my due date (provided that it would be a year to the day, lol).
12. What roles do love and affection play in your life?
I don’t know. I love my family and adore my true friends, but the love that we feel and have isn’t that mushy over-the-top business. In my world, you pick on someone you like. I guess that’s weird proof that it’s easier to be cruel to be kind. I’m sure that says volumes.
13. Mention an embarrassing moment in your life.
My life seems to be a collection of embarrassing moments. I’m just an awfully clumsy person; I’m always bashing my elbows on something or walking into something or tripping over things (not usually actually falling over, though). And I get hiccups a lot, so that’s always fun.
14. When did you last cry in front for another person? By yourself?
Um, probably in front of my mother a couple of weeks back in the midst of the lasted depression. At those times tears come fairly spontaneously, which is hard to deal with. Any by myself? I’m not sure. Oh, listening to Starry, Starry Night by Don McLean.
15. What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?
I don’t think serious racism/bigotry/sexism is funny, even when people try to disguise it as joking. I don’t think jokes or offhandedness about mental illness is humourous either. And the Holocaust is just not funny no matter which way you look at it.
But making fun of Hitler is always OK.