Feelgood factor of human interaction | Brief letters

Re your report (‘Pull the plug’: protesters resort to direct action against AI firms, 6 October), the US neuroscientist Ben Rein has shown that there is a fundamental difference in our cognitive response according to the type of interaction we have. In-person meetings and conversations show a dramatic increase in serotonin, oxytocin and dopamine – “feelgood” hormones – compared with online interactions. I have been encouraged to speak to people at bus stops.Judith FurnerEastbourne, East Sussex Re easing winter fuel costs (Report, 6 October), it would benefit everyone if the outrageous daily standing charges were reduced or on a sliding scale based on usage. I can’t be the only person whose standing charges each month are half or more than the energy used.Judith Pearson Sheffield To your tautology anthology (Letters, 5 October) should be added this sign at a farm shop in the Vale of Evesham: “Large drive-in car park.”Paul GellingPrenton, Merseyside Far worse than being called “young lady” (Letters, 7 October) is the ubiquitous use of “guys” in the hospitality industry. Stop it.Megan ParryWallingford, Oxfordshire At 91, I object to being addressed as “young man”, remembering that when I was actually a young man I was often called “old man”.Beverley Charles RoweLondon Irony corner: air pollution impairs F1 motor racing in Singapore (Report, 6 October).Martin DattaLincoln