How can someone – like, say, a tech writer – mouth off in print and on the radio but be scared of using the phone? Richard Cobbett nails it.

Me, if I had to put a name to my biggest issue, I’d probably have to say ‘bipolar shyness’… it’s a strange mix of extrovert and introvert – almost to the point of reversal. I up on stage and do pretty much anything from Shakespeare to throwing crisps at people without any particular stage-fright, I can do debating, I’ve been on the radio. Taking crap is not my speciality; I can be very loud, and pretty fast.

…which doesn’t sit all that great with sometimes paralyzing shyness at entirely harmless day-to-day things.