What is it with eye contact with strangers? Is it rude to look someone in the eyes in passing? I can't help myself...I just look at people (maybe just to see if they are going to look back). When they do look back it is almost shocking.

I'm not talking about flirty eye contact, where two people are searching for mutual recognition of their attractiveness. I think most people are afraid to look others in the eyes. They are afraid that people will figure out that they aren't thinking much of anything at all. When your eyes meet with someone else's, a connection is made. Not only in a figurative sense, but I believe that your respective psyches are linked somehow. Both of us undoubtedly feel this, as I usually observe that one has to quickly look away or stare at something inanimate and comfortable. Something that they know can't see or think or feel anything about them. True it is uncomfortable sometimes, but only because most people are afraid of accepting that feeling of fear and looking back at themselves.