Introducing a new interrogation series, in which we approach awesome humans and attempt to decipher their dating MO via the famed Proust Questionnaire, tweaked to our personal interest. First up: talented writer, Parisian expat, editor-in-chief of Peacock Magazine and seasoned Dbag Dating contributor, Jordan Nadler!
Your favorite qualities in yourself: I am incredibly loyal to the people I love. And for better or worse, I am a creative person and can never really shut that button off.
Your favorite qualities in a man / woman: Equal parts wit and intelligence.
Deal-breaker in a man / woman: A lack of any of the above stated qualities. Also, there are certain…skills…that are not negotiable.
Your favorite date activity: I like good old fashioned dinner and drinks.
Your favorite date outfit: Variations of the LBD and a good red lip.
Your favorite date food: Oysters and champagne.
Your favorite date experience: I don’t think I have a favorite. When I like who I’m with I could be anywhere with him and I’d be happy.
Your least favorite date experience: I went out on a first date with a guy in NYC a couple of years ago – he was relatively successful, in his 30s – and he legitimately just talked shit about all the other men in the bar for an hour; to the point where he was making fun of strangers’ shoes.
Your main dating fault: Trying to find refuge in other people. Also, I’m cool until I realize I have feelings for someone, and then I sort of just melt into a self-conscious puddle of my former self.
(Marina: ME TOO!)
Your idea of relationship happiness: When you are adored and respected by someone you adore and respect.
Your idea of relationship misery: Feeling trapped; feeling like you’ve relinquished your power to someone else.
What natural talent you would like your partner to be gifted with? Sing to me. That or telekinesis would be cool.
What fault do you have most tolerance for? If I’m going off my exes – it would seem “astonishing inner turmoil” works here.
What is your greatest relationship regret? I let someone mistreat me repeatedly over the course of five months last year. I excused his behavior for various reasons. It fucked with my whole sense of self-worth. No one had ever made me feel that bad, and it took me months to shake off.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I’d be in the present more, and worry less. Well I guess that’s two things. I’d also be better at math.
If you could change one thing about your partner, what would it be? We’re still en route to finding each other.
What is your favorite journey? I’m not sure what kind of journey we’re talking about. I love walking home from Shakespeare & Co along the Seine to my home in the 7eme. I stop and look through the old books in the Bouquinistes or pause and sit by the river and decompress. I do some of my best writing when I’m not writing.
What is your present state of mind? Grad school.
What is your favorite dating motto? Try to do everything you can with dignity and you won’t have many regrets.
Follow Jordan on Twitter here!
