The Proust Questionnaire

[los angeles]

The Proust Questionnaire For Bollywhat.  Thought it would be fun? They ask this in the back of an American magazine and also on some interview TV programs, I think. Feel free to skip any questions you don't like 

What is your most marked characteristic?

I don't know.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Hasn't happen yet.

When and where were you happiest?

I think when dancing.

What is your greatest regret?

Not too many regrets yet I suppose.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Being with loved ones, taking care of loved ones.

What is your most treasured possession?

My Krishna and Shiva necklaces (one was present from my mom.)

Where would you like to live?

Here in Los Angeles, where I was born and raised.

What is your greatest fear?

Earthquake and Tsunami.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

Very lazy and sleepy at times.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Maybe when they are unkind to others.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Not sure? What are the rated virtues?

What is your greatest extravagance?

Beautiful Dance costumes from India.

What is your favorite journey?

The journey to a vegan desserts shop 

What is it that you most dislike?

I actually don't dislike too much.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

Integrity and sincerity, being genuine.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

The same.

What do you most value in your friends?

Their kindness and goodness of their heart.

If you were to come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?

A gentle herbivore animal.

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?

A gentle herbivore animal.

How would you like to die?

Quickly.

[navras]

Oooh. I think I've filled one of these before. And I'm pretty sure my answers have changed since then  

What is your most marked characteristic?
That I am very restless. I always have to do something physically.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Hasn't happen yet.

Same

When and where were you happiest?
When I'm doing something creative.


What is your greatest regret?
Quite too many to list here.


What is your idea of perfect happiness?
This is going to sound extremely cheesy, but finding love  


What is your most treasured possession?
I don't think I have any as such. I'm just kinda too spacy to even notice things out of my head lol.

Where would you like to live?
Somewhere remote. I'm averse to crowds and noises. So, no big urban city for me.

What is your greatest fear?
That 30 years from now I have achieved none of what I wanted to achieve.


What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
That I'm not more assertive.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
When people aren't sensitive to other's feelings and are ready to judge them.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Hm... I don't know... obedience?

What is your greatest extravagance?
Although, I have purchased things more expensive than that, I remember  making the splurge to buy The X-Files Collector's Edition at a time when I really could not afford it.

What is your favorite journey?
I love train journeys. I just love sitting by the window, listening to the rattle on the tracks, and daydream to the scenery passing by.

What is it that you most dislike?
Hmm... I don't think there's anything I dislike that much.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Fairness, sensitivity, and kindness.

What do you most value in your friends?
That they put up with me during my most drama queen moments.

If you were to come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
The daughter of someone connected to the film industry  

How would you like to die?
Heroically.

[Deewani_Aurat]

What is your most marked characteristic?
My totally random wealth of trivial/useless information...i seem to know something about everything.  I swear tv has taught me most of anything i have learnt.
 

That I am very restless. I always have to do something physically.

Ha! Yeah I definitely don't have that problem lol

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
My son...hahaha only kidding - i always feel like u have to mention children with a question like this.  Umm greatest personal achievement - moving countries when i'm typically so prone to want to stay in my comfort zone.

When and where were you happiest?
My childhood...playing with my siblings, being looked after by my grandparents and being close to my parents.  When everyone is so distant in adulthood, when u crave comfort and stability in life again its good to remember these times when you were younger.


What is your greatest regret?
Not taking myself enough out of my comfort zone, sometimes chosing the safer route cause it is easier and thinking i'm being so smart by doing it.  Sometimes i wish in some choices that i just let myself go and just went for it more, because usually the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.


What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Contentment


What is your most treasured possession?
An old arnotts biscuit tin carrying all my grandfathers possessions such as love postcards that were sent to his mum from his dad, family photos and other nicknacks.

Where would you like to live?
Although I travel around alot and like to live in different places, i guess home is always home. I couldn't imagine raising a family and retiring in anywhere but back home in Australia.

What is your greatest fear?

That 30 years from now I have achieved none of what I wanted to achieve.

Mmm yeah good one. I would say mine is the same - waking up one day and seeing just how little you have done with your life.  How many opportunities you missed out on.

....that and mice
 
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
My initial inertia to change

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Unwillingness to try new things/accept others and sticking stubbornly to what they know with no room to have their mind changed.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Morals...it wouldn't be so overrated if i didn't find that most people who go on about their own personal morals turn out to be hypocrites.  Its those that can stick to their personal morals that i applaud.

What is your greatest extravagance?

Although, I have purchased things more expensive than that, I remember  making the splurge to buy The X-Files Collector's Edition at a time when I really could not afford it.

Haha i would say that about Buffy...when it came out it was $70-80 for half a season and i bought up to season 5 that way.  Looking back i have no idea where i got that money.

Other then that i would say my extravagance is my enormous bollywood collection where i haven't seen a 1/3 of the movies i've bought.  So its more of a useless collectible then something i watch.

What is your favorite journey?
Going home from school as a child/going home from work now.  Your nights always seem to have a wealth of possibility on those journeys home.  You plan all the things your going to do that night and it seems so fun at the time but i guess I rarely do anything i plan on the journeys home.

What is it that you most dislike?
Mice scampering and mosquitos buzzing in your ear.

That and selfish people.

What is the quality you most like in a man?
Character.  If they have character you will respect them, they will challenge you, there is a connection usually and there is so much to love in a person with character.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Self-respect.  I think alot of women do not respect themselves and as a result causes a lot of other personal problems. So i think when i find a woman who respects themselves, they are usually a better person as a result.

What do you most value in your friends?
The D&M (deep & meaningful) moments.  I love sharing things with friends.

If you were to come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
What do i think it would be? A dung beetle....what do i want it to be? The queen - or a princess of something, i'm not fussy.

How would you like to die?
With dignity.

[sunrise]

I love doing stuff like this! I love reading what I've written afterwards, it's always interesting to see how much I've changed and what still remains the same. And I love reading others' views -- please keep them coming!

What is your most marked characteristic?
My emotional-romantic-sappy-love-obsessed-ness.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Retaining my sanity and passionate-ness despite some of the most painful, lonely and testing times of my life; the fact that I have survived them to tell the tale and joke about it.

When and where were you happiest?
Hmm.. happiness in my subconscious-wise, when I was a child back home in India. That sort of childlike innocence will never come again, and even though I never thought of happiness consciously back then, I knew I was happy. Conscious-wise... with my previous love. lol.

What is your greatest regret?
None whatsoever... it's all a learning curve, part of life. 


What is your idea of perfect happiness?
In a lover's arms (.... yes you may blame Bollywood for that one.  )


What is your most treasured possession?
Over two year's worth of saved MSN conversations with said Previous Love Guy.

Where would you like to live?
I would like to travel, and bring my kids up at least until they are 7 or 8 in India.

What is your greatest fear?
Anger (of others, I am not an angry person lol). Animals - yes animals, of all kinds - especially cats. I am convinced they want to kill me. Snakes (blame old Telugu movies I used to watch when younger).

Philosophical-wise: of being trapped - be it society-/ self-/ life-imposed.
 
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
My laziness.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
When they are narrow-minded, I guess? Never really thought about this one... 

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Morals...it wouldn't be so overrated if i didn't find that most people who go on about their own personal morals turn out to be hypocrites.  Its those that can stick to their personal morals that i applaud.

Hmm.. I've never really thought about this either, but I agree with Deewani Aurat!

What is your greatest extravagance?
Chocolate/junk food. I kid you not - a huge dent in my purse is actually thanks to my 32 stupid sweet teeth.  haha 

What is your favorite journey?
I love journeys, I really do. In all modes of transport except for aeroplanes (they are cold and save for sunrise/sunset times, there is not an awful lot you can see... and what little is beautiful of the clouds gets tiring once that's all you see for the next several freaking hours!) - cars, trains, walking, cycling... I'm often lost in thoughts and in my own bubble while travelling - give me an iPod and a mode of transport and I could happily think and daydream for hours! Love them. But other than that, I really think the journey of/towards love is so, so beautiful - the innocence, the questions, the slow steps, the sleepless nights, the sweetness of it all... it's beautiful. (Yes, Bollywood again... and also my own experiences and those I've seen of others. )

What is it that you most dislike?
Caramel. Ewww, horrible and yucky.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

Character.  If they have character you will respect them, they will challenge you, there is a connection usually and there is so much to love in a person with character.

I agree with Deewani Aurat -- only, I would have said passion, being passionate. But I guess that's just semantics. 

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Again, having passion, being passionate - whatever it may be about.

What do you most value in your friends?

The D&M (deep & meaningful) moments.  I love sharing things with friends.

Hehe... ditto. D&M moments, love it!

If you were to come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
I think I would have come back as my soulmate.

How would you like to die?
"Tere baahon mein mar jaayein hum.." (I.e. in a lover's arms) lol sigh yes... damn you Bollywood!! 

[los angeles]

Hadn't checked this thread in a while, interesting to read the replies

give me an iPod and a mode of transport and I could happily think and daydream for hours!

Me too Sunrise. I happily daydream while listening to the radio as I'm coasting around on Los Angeles freeways. This is part of why I'm actually the worst driver in the world, I believe. Hehe.

[sunrise]

^^ I know. I love reading what I once wrote too. My answers are pretty much the same as now, only I'm over said Love now. lol.

Re: what you wrote about staying in LA, LA () - I can soo imagine! Bored whilst doing work, I decided to leave the Flickr slideshow for Los Angeles on (I have now moved on to Philippines...) and WOW. It seems like a heaven for photography. You are not curious to leave LA at all? Just curious.

[victoria]

Oh these are fun 

What is your most marked characteristic?
I think that I live inside my head. I'm definitely a dreamer and very introspective.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Getting myself to college, surviving my first year away from home...it was a pretty big deal for me.

When and where were you happiest?
This will sound silly but I think my favorite part of any day is right before you're about to go to sleep and you're done worrying for the day and you can just let your mind sort of run wild for awhile.

What is your greatest regret?
Not acting like a teenager in high school and being too responsible.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Being completely secure that the relationships you have with people are strong and that you're actually loved.

What is your most treasured possession?
I'd hate to call anything living a possession but...I guess my dog.

Where would you like to live?
New York, but I want the option of being able to travel and live in a bunch of different places on a temporary basis.

What is your greatest fear?
Not really amounting to anything. And public speaking.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
That I lack self-confidence sometimes.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
I think just insensitivity.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Patience.

What is your greatest extravagance?
I buy movies and CDs and books that I definitely cannot afford

What is your favorite journey?
The plane ride from college back home because I know my family will be waiting for me at the other end.

What is it that you most dislike?
Out of everything? I guess being sad.

What is the quality you most like in a man?
Integrity.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
I guess it's pretty much the same.

What do you most value in your friends?
That they'll be there for me when I need them.

If you were to come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
I don't know. Whoever I come back as, I hope they're rich 

How would you like to die?
Heroically.

[sunrise]

When and where were you happiest?
This will sound silly but I think my favorite part of any day is right before you're about to go to sleep and you're done worrying for the day and you can just let your mind sort of run wild for awhile.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Being completely secure that the relationships you have with people are strong and that you're actually loved.

I love these answers, Victoria.

Though I hate it when you're too stressed to let your mind wander at nights.

[los angeles]

and WOW. It seems like a heaven for photography.

Yea, my hometown is pretty cool (not that I'm biased or anything!]

You are not curious to leave LA at all? Just curious.

Not too much, I really don't want to leave. I'm hoping I end up in a relationship with a guy who lives here too, so I don't have to move later []

[Vijay_UK]

What is your most marked characteristic?

Probably my love for Bollywood and Amitabh Bachchan.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Don't think I've achieved anything worthy yet.

When and where were you happiest?

I can't say a specific time, but it's everytime I'm out with my friends. Priceless moments that I will forever treasure.

What is your greatest regret?

I don't regret anything myself but I do wish I was born in a family that allowed me to pursue my interests. I reckon I could have gone into a career that I would have loved. Not that I won't but I'll always be wondering 'What if?'

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Being able to wake up looking forward to the day, every day. Well most days if we're talking realistically, we all have off days!

What is your most treasured possession?

Probably photos of my childhood, we don't have many so love them a lot.

Where would you like to live?

London. Can't imagine leaving this place for too long. Would love to live in Mumbai for a while too. London will always have my heart though.

What is your greatest fear?

Loneliness.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

My laziness.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Looking down on others for whatever reason whether it's serious or not.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Not too sure. Someone said obedience which is I like.

What is your greatest extravagance?

Tickets to shows and concerts.

What is your favorite journey?

Do like my trip to Uni by bus. Me, my music and the world.

What is it that you most dislike?

Humans.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

In a man? I'm straight!

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Caring. If you care, everything else follows.

What do you most value in your friends?

Being there in the good times and bad.

If you were to come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?

A very successful movie director.

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?

A very successful movie director.

How would you like to die?

Smiling.

[AmiJeTomar]

What is your most marked characteristic?

My obsession with Classic Hollywood and Bollywood. My love for cheesy romance and action,
My art and/or writing, which most people know me for.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Hasn't happened yet. although passing my driving test after about 3 years of lessons
is pretty high up there.

When and where were you happiest?

In my second primary school, which was a strict christian kilt wearing place and i loved every second 

What is your greatest Regret?

i don't generally regret things

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

i know its a thing you shouldn't say but MONEY, lots and lots of it.
I'm sick of being a poor student

What is your most treasured possession?

my laptop

Where would you like to live?

a house in the scottish highlands, overlooking the sea and far away from
towns/cities etc

What is your greatest fear?

my hair falling out. getting old.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

can be quite lazy and have an incredible bitchy side that
i am aware of and struggle to control

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

people questioning others beliefs and thinking they are better
than others.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Patience...cos i have none

What is your greatest extravagance?

i don't know but i buy a LOt of films

What is your favorite journey?

the bus journey from edinburgh to glasgow and vice versa, gives me time to
scribble in my notebook/catch up on reading/listen to Pirates of Penzance on the ipod

What is it that you most dislike?

i dislike people who think getting drunk off their face is cool, people who think they
need alcohol to have a good time. I dislike slutty girls and guys who only ever think about sex.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

a man who is not too posessive, who is tolerant of my faults,
who is not condescending

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

same

What do you most value in your friends?

their friendship, honesty.

If you were to come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?

a cat

[Kajolownsyou]

What is your most marked characteristic?

Not sure. Maybe others could answer that better for me.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Yet to come

When and where were you happiest?

Too many moments. A top one would be when I got the phone call that my baby niece was born

What is your greatest regret?

Nothing, honestly. I may regret something in the short term, but then I gotta let go

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Being perfectly happy with yourself.

What is your most treasured possession?

My collection of Ganesh statues.

Where would you like to live?

California

What is your greatest fear?

Being caught in a tornado or crazy damaging storm....and....birds!  

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

I get jealous easily.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

When people are prejudiced or judgmental when they shouldn't be.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Patience

What is your greatest extravagance?

My fancy clothes from India; my diamond nose ring

What is your favorite journey?

Going to San Francisco or the train ride into NYC

What is it that you most dislike?

Fake people

What is the quality you most like in a man?

Thoughtfulness, humor, honesty

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

The same.

What do you most value in your friends?

Always being there--physically, emotionally, etc.

If you were to come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?

Not sure

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?

A pretty butterfly

How would you like to die?

Dreaming of something wonderful, or while eating amazing chocolate cake. At least i'll be happy

[Aishwarya4eva]

What is your most marked characteristic?

Physically? My eyes. Personality-wise? My willingness to do anything for my friends.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Being fortunate enough to begin my acting career at 15.

When and where were you happiest?

Definitely when I was on the beach not too long ago.

What is your greatest regret?

Trusting certain men that are CLEARLY not to be trusted.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Living without a care with the person you care about in some tropical place...full of Bollywood and dancing.

What is your most treasured possession?

My red lengha choli...my very first one! And the glass bangles that go with it. The first pieces of India I've ever obtained.

That...and my tattoo.

Where would you like to live?

Hmmmm, I'd hate to be cliche and say Mumbai, so I'll go with Bali.

What is your greatest fear?

Never finding the person that was made for me (you are now excused to your respective sickness bags )

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

Not being myself in certain situations, when I think that being myself yields better results anyway.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Self-absorption and pity-seekers

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Can virtues be overrated?

What is your greatest extravagance?

My hair...or incorrigible lassi addiction. Both equally expensive.

What is your favorite journey?

Anything that involves flying on a plane. The most thrilling experience.

What is it that you most dislike?

Politics and plaid

What is the quality you most like in a man?

Genuineness/Humorous/Romantic

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Selfless

What do you most value in your friends?

Reliable, Fun, Tolerable of my volume and eccentrics

If you were to come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?

Aishwarya Rai's future daughter

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?

A car: A red Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, to be exact

How would you like to die?

Old age...hopefully with a husband by my side and a good Bolly melodrama playing in the background

[namastemia]

What is your most marked characteristic?

i am random and loyal as hell.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
? im still sane. sort of.

When and where were you happiest?

whenever i have hope.

What is your greatest regret?

i love to marry men who hate me.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

peace with God and the peace of God

What is your most treasured possession?

my ipod

Where would you like to live?

some place warm.

What is your greatest fear?

being alone.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

i struggle to be nice sometimes

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

unself-aware

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

??

What is your greatest extravagance?

im a single mom, so yeah not many, cept STARBUCKS every morning.

What is your favorite journey?

train trips to Seattle Washington

What is it that you most dislike?

i have to pick just one thing??

What is the quality you most like in a man?

someone who loves God

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

someone who loves God

What do you most value in your friends?

someone who loves God

If you were to come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?

oh if i believed in reincarnation i know id come back as like a towel rack or something.

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?

a BW star. OK!

How would you like to die?

not alone.

[Sanyogita]

What is your most marked characteristic?

My determination, I would like to think.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Yet to come

When and where were you happiest?

Cooking. Especially experimenting with unusual flavour/ cuisine combinations and coming up with eccentric dishes that my friends rave about. It sounds silly, but cooking is so therapeutic and its nice to be appreciated. I'm happiest throwing elaborate, quirkily themed dinner parties in my apartment.  

What is your greatest regret?

Wasting my high school years being a sulky rebel.  

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Is there such a thing? Probably something really simple. Like sitting at home in comfy PJs, watching an amazing movie while eating a great snack, with no pressing deadlines or commitments to be concerned about.

What is your most treasured possession?

I'm the worst kind of person- I love aquiring things, but I never appreciate/ care for them that much.   So, nothing.

Where would you like to live?

The same city as I do now, but in the best neighborhood, in a crazily awesome, luxurious penthouse apartment.

What is your greatest fear?

Physical pain of any kind- I have a pathetically low pain tolerance threshold

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

Procrastination and pessimism.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Hypocrisy, dishonesty, narrow-mindedness and unadulterated bitchiness.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Selflessness

What is your greatest extravagance?

Travel! Jewelry, exotic food ingredients, coffee table books, art, constantly throwing parties...a lot of things actually  

What is your favorite journey?

I love travelling, so just going to any new country

What is it that you most dislike?

Dirty loos, rainy monday mornings, being ravenous while working late at night and having nothing to eat in the house

What is the quality you most like in a man?

Sense of humour, charisma, intelligence

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Sense of humour, non-bitchiness about other women

What do you most value in your friends?

Spontaneity, broadmindedness and loyalty

If you were to come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?

Asparagus   Or a wedge of Camembert cheese

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?

A creative genius of some kind, with an excellent sense of humour. Or a pampered, adorable, cuddly golden retriever with extremely indulgent, devoted owners.

How would you like to die?

As painlessly as possible!

[acooluserrname]

I'll try this but since I don't think I can see myself clearly I'm asking my son for his answers on some of the questions. His veiws are, in many cases, much more objective than mine...though I do try.

What is your most marked characteristic?

I say contrariness, my son says a kind of old movie star glamour.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

My son says he doesn't want to leave me.

When and where were you happiest?

When I was a small child with my grandpa.

What is your greatest regret?

That I don't have any birth family left or that I grew up, take your pick.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Going back to that house in Oakland, running up the stairs and having everyone...EVERYONE be there, alive and waiting for me.

What is your most treasured possession?

My boxes of things saved from when my son was born (hospital menus, baby hats, etc.)

Where would you like to live?

London...want the address? I could give it to you 

What is your greatest fear?

Never getting what I most want.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

Pride which manifests in a real difficulty with taking correction from anyone. Too damned pig headed.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

When they won't do what I ask! What's up with THAT?

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Religiosity or is that a virtue? In many people it's anything but!

What is your greatest extravagance?

Perfumes

What is your favorite journey?

With me it's not about the journey it's all about the destination, or I wouldn't bother taking the journey in the first place.

What is it that you most dislike?

Self delusion.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

Once the looks have captured me then I want him to like me. If he can't adore me all bets are off.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Patience with me

What do you most value in your friends?

Free time and they like me.

If you were to come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?

Eccentric billionaire.

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?

Me again, only taller.

How would you like to die?

In my sleep in bed beside the person I most want on earth.