Can love save humanity?
Not when some love rockets with nuclear warheads.
Philip Stigger, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
• Probably not ... but there will be pleasure en route.
David Turner, Bellevue Heights, South Australia
• Only in its purest form, applied liberally.
Charlie Bamforth, Davis, California, US
• As I see it, it’s the only human quality that can save us. The golden rule – do unto others as you would have them do unto you – is more necessary now than ever.
Diane Doles, Seattle, Washington, US
• Not even love can save what doesn’t want to be saved.
R De Braganza, Kilifi, Kenya
• It won’t be worth saving without it!
David Kettle, Northcote, Victoria, Australia
• Love will have far better odds than hate.
John Benseman, Auckland, New Zealand
• Without a doubt, but we need practice, and reminders when we’re falling behind.
Richard Orlando, Westmount, Quebec, Canada
• Doubtful. Maybe we only recognise love after experiencing its absence.
Mary Oates, Perth, Western Australia
• Somewhere along the line humanity was equated with caring, compassion, benevolence and, yes, love. There must have been a reason.
Margaret Wyeth, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
• It already has.
Sarah Klenbort, Bronte, NSW, Australia
Why did you bother to come?
What is a sensible, dependable topic with which to begin conversation with first-time dinner guests?
Themselves. You want to find out more about them, and most people like talking about themselves.
Avril Taylor, Dundas, Ontario, Canada
• Ask what led them to accept the invitation.
Michael Olin, Holt, UK
• Whether we can expect weather.
David Isaacs, Sydney, Australia
• Sex, religion and politics: you’ll know pretty soon whether they’ll be coming back for a second dinner.
Stuart Williams, Lilongwe, Malawi
• The effects of climate change on Arctic regions should break the ice.
Roger Morrell, Perth, Western Australia
• Ironing has always been a surprisingly hot topic.
David Tucker, Halle, Germany
• What drink would you like?
Louis Robertson, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia
• Food! Food is not left or right, red or blue, and both carnivores and vegans must eat.
John Geffroy, Las Vegas, New Mexico, US
• If the topic had to be sensible and dependable, I’d regret the invitation.
Lawrie Bradly, Surrey Hills, Victoria, Australia
Insecurity rules our airports
Is airport security safe?
No, that’s why I recently gave up travelling by air.
Jenefer Warwick James, Paddington, NSW, Australia
• Now that the bodyscanners act up when you have a pocket handkerchief, airport security is a safe place for running noses.
Christian Ensslin, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Only when their Argus-eyes are awake and focused, and not out to lunch.
RM Fransson, Wheat Ridge, Colorado US
• Generally speaking, yes. Although the sniffer dogs and fertiliser tests can be a bit alarming.
George Gatenby, Adelaide, South Australia
Any answers?
Why would you like to talk with a character from an impressive novel?
William Emigh, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
What are the perks of being a nobody?
R De Braganza, Kilifi, Kenya
Send answers to weekly.nandq@theguardian.com
