The Proust Questionnaire - an old magazine format popular in the French writer's day - asks a series of personal, philosophical and prosaic questions that, in theory, show a side of a person not often seen. Here, Alex Masmej, founder of social media platform Showtime, reveals some of his "true nature" and the crypto industry. Masmej is a speaker at CoinDesk's Consensus Festival.
Do you own bitcoin?
No
Do you own dogecoin?
No
What about SHIB?
No
Where are you from?
Paris
Biggest fear?
Stagnation
Alex Masmej is one of the speakers at Consensus 2022, CoinDesk's festival of the year, June 9-12 in Austin, Texas. Learn more.
Biggest joy?
Seeing the success of Showtime.
What is the trait you value most in a man/woman/person?
Curiosity
What do you think is the most overrated virtue?
Independent thinking
Do you often remember your dreams?
No
Do you like lemons?
Yes
Is the crypto economy still thriving?
Yes
Is crypto an ugly duck?
Yes
Should Elon Musk be running Twitter?
Yes
Should countries be run as businesses?
No
Will there be more or less money in 100 years?
More
Is the U.S. dollar a Ponzi scheme?
Partly
Is everything [a Ponzi scheme]?
Possibility 1
Who is your favorite politician? And why?
Andrew Yang - tech-savvy.
Is bitcoin forever?
Yes
Which living person do you admire the most?
Elon Musk
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
To have a positive impact on billions of people
Ću vi parolas esperanton?
No
Doing what you want or doing what you have to?
Ideally both
Would you choose a green thumb or an absolute guarantee that you'll never get gangrene?
Absolute guarantee you'll never get gangrene
What is your best quality?
Positivity
What trait do you complain about most in yourself?
Lack of process oriented skills
Do you use a hardware wallet?
Yes
Biggest extravagance?
Colorful clothes
Your biggest regret?
That I didn't get out of school sooner
Favorite TV show? (What are you watching right now?)
I don't watch any TV shows
Any words of wisdom?
Everything around you that you call "life" was invented by people no smarter than you. And you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use.
You can invite a historical figure for coffee, who do you choose?
Steve Jobs
Jack Dorsey wanted a "blue sky" for Twitter. Should the web be built on open protocols only?
Yes
Approximate size - depth and width - of the largest hole you dug?
Probably 1 cubic foot
What is your biggest accomplishment?
Showtime
AI. Being tracked?
Yes
What is your current state of mind?
Focused
Would you want to live forever? Why or why not?
Yes, to try more things and enjoy people more
Do cars look like faces to you?
Yes
Dogs or cats?
Both
Can dogs smile?
Yes
Who is your favorite singer?
Dua Lipa
Napkins: for or against them?
Against
Do you have a library card?
Yes
What's the weather like today?
Sunny
On what occasion do you lie?
As rarely as possible
What bothers you most about your appearance?
Nothing in particular
Which living person do you despise the most?
[Vladimir] Putin
Do you write a list before you go shopping?
No
If you could be catapulted somewhere safely, would you rather walk?
If I'm not in a hurry, I would walk.
Do you own an item of clothing that could be considered indigo?
Yes
Bees see ultraviolet. Do you see the same world (or most of it)?
I see life in pink.
Bagels from New York or San Francisco?
San Francisco
How many glasses of water do you drink a day?
5
Are birds real?
Yes
What drives you?
Influencing people, making history
Would you regularly drive a red convertible?
Yes
What or who is the greatest love in your life?
Technology for social progress
What words or phrases do you use most often?
Changing the world
What is your strongest belief that would make you "cancel"?
People who can afford and want to work very hard should work very hard.
What is the funniest/smartest tweet you've seen that you can recall off the top of your head?
Elon Musk's tweet about cocaine in coke.
Single favorite meme?
IQ bell curve
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
To know everything
How would you like to die?
Never
In three words or less, what is the greatest harm currently being done to society?
Lack of internet
In three words or less: What is the greatest hope for society right now?
Finances for all