Help My Future Self ask better questions!

By Canton on September 29, 2012 in Etcetera

My Future Self has a database of about 200 questions it uses to prompt journal entries from participants, but it could use more. Lucky for me, the folks over at Cornell University who run Pensieve — a project not completely unlike this one — were kind enough to share the prompts they use to elicit responses from their own users. Special thanks to Dan Cosley!

If you have a few moments, please go through the list below and indicate which of the new questions (if any) are ones you figure would inspire you to write back. If you are a My Future Self participant keeping a journal for your kid, these questions may not be so relevant, but I’d still love your feedback.

Thanks for helping me decide which of these questions to fold into My Future Self! And if you have an idea for a great question, feel free to leave it in the comments at the very bottom of this page.

Which of these questions inspire you?

Check as many as you like.
- Recall the meals that your mother made the most often or that you remember most as part of her repertoire? Did you have a particular meal of hers that you loved or hated?
- What is your father's favorite pastime?
- What story about your parent's childhood impressed you the most? How did this story help you understand why they are who they are?
- Name the games you played most often with your siblings as a child. Did any of these get you in trouble with your parents?
- Recall the biggest fight you have had with a sibling or cousin and how you recovered from it.
- Recall the birth of a sibling or their leaving home. Did the arrival of a younger sibling or the departure of an older one bring nervousness or joy?
- What was your favorite room in the house you grew up in? What about this room made it your favorite?
- Recall play dates with friends as a child. Describe your first or most memorable sleepover.
- Recall meeting your best friend. How, when, and where did you meet him or her?
- When was the last time your talked to a good friend? What did you talk about? How did you feel afterwards?
- Describe the moment you met your first love. What was your initial impression of them? What was the first thing they said to you?
- Who were your biggest crushes in middle school and high school? Did you ever succeed at winning their love?
- Recall the last time you saw or talked to an ex.
- What was the most boring and intolerable class you were forced to take in middle school or high school?
- Recall the hallways in your school. Did you ever get lost? Was there a certain hallway that was painfully loud? Was there a spot that had an annoying amount of congestion?
- Recall your first job. How did you get it? Who were your coworkers?
- Describe your commute to work. What were the landmarks that you were particularly fond of?
- Where did you usually eat lunch at school or work? Where did you usually get lunch, and what did you get?
- What was your favorite book as a child? Did your parents read it to you, or did you read it on your own?
- What song or album defines your teenage years?
- Is there a TV show that you have watched religiously? Who was your favorite character? What was your favorite episode?
- What was the best concert you ever attended? Who did you go to see? Who came with you?
- Recall something embarrassing that has happened to you. How did you recover from it?
- Describe the worst day you ever had at school.
- What is the biggest pet-peeve you have about your parents or family?
- Describe your typical vacation spot. Did you have a summer home? Did you always go to visit your grandparents? Do you have a special spot on the beach or a particular camp site?
- Recall your first trip on an airplane. Recall your most recent flight. Do you like or dislike flying?
- Recall the time when you learned how to drive. Did your parents teach you? Did you take driver's ed at school? What gave you the most trouble (i.e. backing up, parallel parking)?
- What is your favorite kind of weather. Recall the last time you saw it.
- What was the prettiest landscape you have ever seen? Where was it? Were you there alone or were you with someone else?
- What is the biggest travel-related disaster you've encountered? When was it and where were you?
- Recall a news anchor you remember watching. What channel were they on? How did their voice sound?
- Describe the ugliest wallpaper you've ever encountered? Who's house was it in? What room was it in?
- What candy bars do you particularly enjoy? Do your friends and family like the same kind of candy as you?
- Recall what winter feels like in your house. Does the decor change? Is the heat cranked up?
- Recall the moment that you knew you grew up.
- Recall going to the dentist. What flavor toothpaste do they use to clean your teeth? Do you recall the taste of the little mirror? Has your opinion of the dentist changed over time?
- Recall the smell of your parent's house. Was there a distinct smell for different rooms in the house?
- Recall the experience of learning to cook. What were the first few things you mastered cooking? Did you ever experience a cooking disaster?
- Recall the way the first how day in spring feels? Are you excited for summer to come? Disappointed that spring is coming to an end?
- Recall your high school graduation. Who came? What kind of gown did you have to wear? Did you attend any graduation parties or have one of your own?
- What is the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?
- Think about a time that you were really lost. Where were you? How did you find your way?
- When was the last time you played dress-up?
- What is the most ridiculous costume you've seen?
- What are some of the nicknames that you've had? Did you like or dislike these nicknames?
- Recall the last time you went shoe shopping.
- Recall a technology-related disaster. Have you ever had a computer shut down just as you finish a paper, a printer spit out twelve pieces of blank paper, or a cell phone ring when no one is calling?
- Recall old commercials (i.e. JELL-O commercials with Bill Cosby, the jingle to the old Campbell's Soup ads). Which did you enjoy? Which annoyed you?
- Describe your family's Thanksgiving traditions. What do you eat? Is there a separate kid's table?
- What is the last sporting event you attended? What sport was it? What teams were playing? Who were you rooting for? Did you eat any junk food?
- Recall the nicest bathroom you've used. Where was it? What about it made it so nice?
- Do you have any rituals around getting ready for bed. What are they? Where did they come from?
- Recall the last time you had to dress up in a suit or party dress. What was the occasion? What did you wear?
- As a child, did you have an item of clothing or an outfit that you particularly adored? Did your parents like it too, or was there a fight over what you were to wear?
- Recall something that you do every Tuesday.
- Are there any habits that you perform throughout your daily life? Where did you pick them up from?
- Recall the most recent wedding you went to. Who was getting married? Did you enjoy yourself at the wedding?
- Recall the last prank that you pulled or that was pulled on you. What was the prank? Was it funny or just embarrassing?
- Recall the smell of someone you care for.
- Recall the experience of getting a shot. Do they scare you? If so, do you have a strategy for getting through them?
- Recall your favorite pair of sunglasses. What do they look like? Where did you get them? What happened to them?
- What is your favorite breakfast cereal?
- Recall your first experience in a culture different from your own. Were you uncomfortable?
- What was the first ethnic food that you ate? Did you like it? What type of food was it?
- What is your favorite fast food? Do you eat it often?
- What is your favorite board game? When did you play it last? Who did you play it with?
- Is there a certain storm that had an impact on you? Where were you when the storm hit? What kind of storm was it?
- Is there a movie that has had a strong impact on you? What movie? How did it impact you?
- What craft did you enjoy the most during your childhood?
- What's the worst haircut that you've ever gotten or that you've ever seen? Where did you get it or see it?
- Recall the last time your attended a carnival or amusement park. Do you like rollercoasters? What is your favorite ride? What is your favorite carnival food?
- What is your favorite drink? Recall the last time you had it.
- What words do you have trouble spelling? When was the last time you misspelled them? Were there any consequences?
- Recall the last time you were really bored. What did you do to pass the time?
- What is your favorite rainy day activity? When is the last time you did it?
- What was the best and most fun project that you did in elementary school? What subject was it for?
- Describe some of the most vivid dreams that you can remember.
- When is the last time you got a good night's sleep? Were you in your own bed?
- Were you ever reprimanded for something that you did not do? Who actually did it?
- How did you decorate your childhood room? Did you hang posters? Did you use Christmas lights?
- Are there any books that make you think about people in your life? What books Who do they make you think of?
- Are there any songs that make you think about people in your life? What songs? Who do they make you think of?
- Recall receiving your first paycheck. Where did you work? How much were you getting paid? How did it make you feel?
- Recall a particular spiritual experience.
- Are there any songs that hold a special significance in your life?
- What was your favorite vacation? Where did you go? Who did you go with?
- Did you have a special place as a child that nobody else knew about?
- What was your favorite snack in kindergarten?
- Recall your very first day of school. Did you enjoy it? Do remember any of the kids from your class?
- Have you ever met someone famous? Who did you meet? Where were you when you met him or her?
- Who was your best friend in high school? Describe him or her and why he or she was so close to you.
- Recall a flower that reminds you a loved one. What type of flower it is? Who does it remind you of?
- Have you had a teacher that has influenced change in your or your thinking? Who was this teacher and why were they so influential?
- Recall a special person that you met while travelling.
- Recall any quotes that have really inspired you or made you think.
- Describe a recurring dream or the most recent vivid dream you can remember.
- Picture yourself in paradise. Where would you be? What would you spend your time doing?
- Recall a recent time you were tempted to do something you knew you shouldn't do. Did you succumb to the temptation?
- Recall your most recent pet. What is the pet's name? What type of animal is it?
- What was your favorite after-school activity?
- Think about a person who you are very close to. Recall the first time you met this person.
- What was your favorite cartoon during childhood? What was your favorite cartoon character?
- When school was in session what did you do on a typical Sunday?
- Recall something exciting that happened in [YEAR].
- Recall a bad memory that you've managed to suppress. How does it feel to remember it again?
- What is your favorite city you have ever visited?
- Think about the smell of your favorite restaurant or coffeeshop
- Who do you hang out with now that you still hope to hang out with 5 years from now?
- Was there a favorite saying that your mother or father used in order to encourage you?

2 Responses to Help My Future Self ask better questions!

dr j October 1, 2012 at 11:51 am #

Check the grammar of some. And I think 1 is repeated.

- Canton October 4, 2012 at 11:15 pm #
  
  I sure will check grammar, etc. More to the point, when I find questions like these from other sources, I usually re-write them substantially to fit a certain style…
  
  Thanks for the feedback! Also thanks to everyone who filled out this survey so far. Really a great response.

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Help My Future Self ask better questions!

Which of these questions inspire you?

2 Responses to Help My Future Self ask better questions!

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