Letter: Why the bells don't ring

HESTER LACEY'S article on why men are nervous and tense on the phone ('The heart of the natter', 8 May) misses an essential point which may account for a lot of male - and some female - telephone apprehension. It's simply that you can't have a real conversation on the phone. You can only exchange words. There's no quizzical expression, no eye contact, no body language - whether starkers or not.

Tim Owen

London SW19