912 - Contact

What kind of contact? Are you trying to start an old airplane? Have aliens arrived? (No not that kind! The real outer space kind.) ... Back to contact, eye contact. The old saying you tell a lot about a person by looking them in the eye may not be true. As a matter of fact, you may really be pissing somebody off by looking them in the eye. A lot depends on the culture your in.

Here's some pieces from articles that are from a site to be named later.
***********
People of European descent (tend)to interpret lack of direct eye contact as indicating evasiveness... direct eye contact among the Cree and Ojibway of northwestern Ontario was a sign of disrespect as 'you only look inferiors straight in the eye.'
Ross Green

Looking straight into someone's eyes is like taking a peak into their thoughts, and I just don't feel comfortable with it.
Ivan Pope

In many Native American cultures the eyes are believed to be the window to the soul. If you look someone directly in the eye, you could steal their soul. Or they could steal yours. In order to avoid inadvertent soul loss/theft, eye contact may be avoided.
Geri-Ann Galanti

Among Hispanics, avoidance of direct eye contact is sometimes seen as a sign of attentiveness and respect, while sustained direct eye contact may be interpreted as a challenge to authority.

When you are dealing with Japanese and they seemingly avoid looking you in the eye, far from being rude or untrustworthy, they are being polite and non-confrontational.
****************

Of course every culture has its exceptions. What? Look me in the eye and say that! No don't! WAIT..... Here's LATER.