I completely agree! There is so much you can learn about a person (and their verbal responses) when you look them straight in the eye. Much harder to truly understand a persons intentions by mere texting. On the other hand peering non stop into ones eyes can border on ‘creepy’.

Aww your hashtags lead me to believe there was a link to cat videos on youtube

Most of my life I avoided eye contact because of social anxiety. Often I'd just wear sunglasses. Now I'm some better about it, but I do have a tendency to let my gaze wander around when I talk to someone. Old habits are hard to break.

your eyes say so much more than your mouth

Psych games come in handy for certain types of acting.
Interactive ( guerilla ) theater is fun.

Lots of ways to unnerv or manage people if you need to. As well ways to counter those tactics.

I love my stare too... I've used it on others trying to use it on me...

I make powerful eye contact because it was beat into me as a child. Personally I'd rather not look in eyes. I dislike it. Not because I'm submissive or anything but because it forces me to socialize on some level

The no eye contact can be devistating. I have used it before and still do. ?

I hate eye contact. Humans are the only species on the entire planet that think it's anything other than the threat it is. Humans are crazy.

Yes. And I’m still learning… One reason I’ll admit to a (bit of) phone phobia is likely due to the fact I can’t see the person’s eyes.. Not looking for a ‘window to their soul,’ but at least to determine whether they’re listening or understand.

Was in DC a couple years ago for around 3 months. It took me nearly that long to determine, it wasn’t that the people were cold, rarely looking you in the eyes, they were actually giving you what little privacy or ‘space’ there was to be had. After concluding that, then confirming it with a long-time friend & resident, I really ‘warmed to them.’

Literally heading South.. back down into Virginia, where people acknowledge your presence with eye contact and a smile ..I fell in love ...and now it’s home. Damn, they wave, too! But there are times I’ll find myself staring ten-thousand yards off … but that’s just me.. And if I trip, folks are smiling

I think refraining from making eye contact conveys passivity and social avoidance. At least that’s how I typically feel when others refrain from making eye contact.

Well ya, positive vs negative reinforcements ?

Sometimes culture influences eye contact. In some cultures direct eye contact is avoided.