Timothy Hutton: What is the trait you most deplore in others?

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.

Recorded Timothy Hutton said elsewhere, not written here

An arbitrary contrarian.

Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, March 2015 source ↗

Others on this question

Anthony Hopkins Welsh actor

Freeloaders with a sense of entitlement.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, February 2010 source ↗

Being untruthful.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 October 2025 source ↗

Adam Kay British comedy writer, author, youtuber, comedian and former physician

People who barge into a lift instead of standing aside for anyone exiting should be dipped in kerosene and fired into the sun.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 June 2023 source ↗

Pettiness, arrogance, boorishness.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, June 2013 source ↗

Making trails and building a tree house.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 11 March 2015 source ↗

Playing catch with my son Noah at Fenway Park.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, March 2015 source ↗

Chuck Feeney (the James Bond of philanthropy).

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, March 2015 source ↗

Lack of purpose.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, March 2015 source ↗

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