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 Fiona Allen said elsewhere, not written here
Coldness, selfishness.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 August 2026 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 197 →
Seann Walsh
Certainty. I also can’t stand it when someone calls you and then says, “Wait, I need to put my headphones in.”
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 31 January 2026 source ↗
Seth Meyers American comedian and TV host
Taking fucking forever. Can’t you see I’m waiting?
Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, January 2015 source ↗

More from Fiona Allen

View profile →
Question How close have you come to death? Death & what remains
I think I had a close shave with the taxi driver John Worboys. I was in Soho and going back to Chiswick where I lived, and I got a black cab. This guy wouldn’t stop talking and he offered me champagne, and I said: “I don’t like champagne.” It went a bit quiet and I thought I’d offended him. Then I remember going: “Hang on a minute, you shouldn’t be drinking champagne if you’re driving.” And he said: “I’ve just won the lottery and I’m finished after this.” I had a lucky escape.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 August 2026 source ↗

More on values & belief

Also answered this

Michael Flatley, Mike Skinner, John Malkovich, Bear Grylls, Ed Harris, Meghann Fahy

Search the directory for somebody in particular.

Explore further

Report this answer