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About two years ago the NY Times ran a story where one of their writers took part in an experiment which is supposed to make you fall in love with a stranger during the course of an evening.
Since then The Guardian, The Daily Mail, Jezebel, Yahoo!, myself, and a plethora of others have reported on the topic; and many have shared the 36 “magic” questions.
I am revisiting it now.
How it works
It’s based on a study that you can read all about here which boils down to two participants asking each other 36 questions that start off rather innocuously and become more and more probing and personal as you go on.
At the end of the questionnaire the participants have to look into each other’s eyes for a full four minutes. And presto! Love.
So obviously, when I read the original story back then this happened in my head:
What nonsense.
Would be pretty cool though.
I want to try it!
God no.
Who must I ask to do it with me?
Have you lost your marbles dear?
But it will be fun.
Ja right.
Be honest, it’s just an excuse to ask a cute stranger intimate questions.
But what if it works?
This sounds dangerous.
Don’t be ridiculous.
Run, Lili run.
Okay let’s do it.
Of course I didn't try it. Not then anyway. Because you see, for a skeptic, I have a pretty active superstitious side. And this article triggered it.
You know when you watch a horror movie and the character does something that’s obviously going to get them killed? Like investigate a strange noise, or summon a demon, or say: “I’ll be right back” and you don’t understand how they can be so stupid?
Well, for someone who is twice shy when it comes to romantic love, doing this questionnaire would fall in the same realm as saying “Candyman” or “Beetlejuice”, or whatever, three times in front of the mirror. What if it works? And why would anyone chance it?
Jokes aside, I actually thought the whole experiment just illustrated the obvious, but often overlooked ingredient needed for love – emotional intimacy.
