“So” questions

I started this post a year ago, then lost interest after I couldn’t come up with more than five.  This is a list of questions to ask someone you don’t know that well, but have to spend some time with.  (Say a date, collegiate dinner, stuff like that.)  The list is based on the assumption that most conversations between people that don’t know each other will devolve into a series of irrelevant questions that stay well within the ‘safe’ zone.  Rather than talk about the weather, I made a list and hope to use it soon.

I call this em “So” Questions because you can ask them at any time just by adding the word “So” in front of them.

  1. Do you like your life right now?
  2. If you could change any relationship you have with anyone, would you? Why?
  3. Do you have a favorite moment, day, week, or year of your life?
  4. What is your favorite mystery?
  5. What is one question you wish you knew the answer to?
  6. What would your perfect day be?
  7. Given what you’ve lived so far in life, what, realistically, is your ideal life?  Your ‘best-case scenario’?
  8. What is your worst-case scenario?
  9. How well does the person that knows you best actually know you?
  10. How well does your average friend know you or know about you?

I tried coming up with more questions, but I found myself unable to come up with something suitable. A good question should allow for an open response, probe for conclusions that the person has never thought about, and yet seem non-invasive.

One comment

  1. I much prefer asking funny sounding questions.

    So:

    1. So, is that your real hair?
    2. So, does the carpet match the plaques on the wall?
    3. So, what would you be willing to take off for 5/10/20/(insert amount in your wallet) bucks?
    4. So, would you be relieved if I said I didn’t have the clap?
    5. So, how do you respond to disappointment? (best used following 4)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *