I'd never heard of a spork until a couple years ago. I thought people were sharing an inside joke, till I saw one in a store. It seems a handily evolved utensil though, maybe designed by a clever Scandinavian. (Careful Brad. Step away from the Scandinavian spork jokes)
I'm not sure I'd want First Officer Spork on board; going where no man has gone before. Yes, he can do the debilitating neck pinch tickle, but he can also touch your temples and do the mind meld. I don't want someone sharing a fire with me, who can know everything I'm thinking. Do you?
Rob's description of a perfect companion came oh so close to describing my grandkids...wet nose, four paws, happy disposition, covered in dog hair...but no wagging tail. I'd still love to take them along. Maybe someday soon.
It might be easier to find likeable people, than unlikeable ones. If we consider ourselves as fair judge of characters, how wrong can friends, and friends of friends be? But, close and confining quarters can raise hackles, even amongst family and friends. Difficult situations can also bring opposites together; people dropping barriers in order to "all work together." I'd hate to have to face adversity, just to get along. I've spent time with near total strangers, and came away unscathed. Not sure about them though.
I'm not even sure how a screening process would work. Questionnaire? A final essay on the pros and cons of the spork? How do you break the news to someone, that they've failed the test? I do understand the gist of the thing, screening out totally incompatible companions. The right person can make a trip, while the wrong one can nearly ruin a trip.
I suppose my 2 must haves for suitability are : a measure of humility, and some sense of humour. If my travelling companions have a smidgen of those two attributes, then they'll be less likely to abandon me in the backwoods, with nothing but my wits...and a spork.