Everyone a failure.
I have never had a problem (before marriage) making my way over to someone, and in my drunken bravado, and saying "I'm a little busy/wasted/unwashed right now, but if you don't mind, could I get your number with a view to doing something together next week?".

Usually, I'd walk away with a number on a beer mat, or fag packet. I'd clutch it tightly in my palm, deep in my pocket till I got home proud and excited at what lay ahead. Then, after sleep, I'd wake up and throw it in the bin.

Why?

Because I can't talk to someone on the phone. Face to face is fantastic, but phones really freak me out. Email is great. Webcam is great - although I think I have only ever made 5 video calls.. Skype - aces, as long as the word is written.

On the phone I'm a bumbling buffoon. It's not just women.. it's any phone call I have to make. I don't have a mobile, because I feel exposed whilst talking in open waters.

Entry phone systems are ok. You don't really converse on those, you just say "It's me. I has drugs. Let me in".
( Piper Alpha is being a grumpy northerm bastard on:, Thu 10 Dec 2009, 15:10, 6 replies)

Skype
also does text messages. although replies could be troublesome.
(Not him., Thu 10 Dec 2009, 15:36, closed)

On
the plus side not having a mobile is good. I'm tempted to throw mine away after reading Cell by Stephen King
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Thu 10 Dec 2009, 15:59, closed)

It takes me a long time after starting dating a girl before I can have a "normal" conversation on the phone. I still hate them and will do anything to avoid calling people most of the time. It's the disembodied voice thing that I can't get used to. face to face it's fine
(bigjonnydynamite, Fri 11 Dec 2009, 11:20, closed)

Thank fuck, I thought I was the only person weird about phones.
(Emily Bruce-Dickinson http://jovialfellow.blogspot.com/, Sat 12 Dec 2009, 2:53, closed)

^^
Oh so much this. The relief is great :)

My mates think I'm weird for hating phone calls.
(Fleximus Rex briefly gave up lurking on, Sun 13 Dec 2009, 12:12, closed)

I have the same problem though not quite on the scale you have. The more that I get to know someone the less I want to speak to them on the phone because of the disembodied voice thing and the fact that I can't see the effect the conversation is having on their faces. Quite happy to chunter on to people I don't know- worked a treat on a telesales job I had once. Phones seem like trickery to me!
(Miss Terry toed the line on, Sat 12 Dec 2009, 19:31, closed)