actually, I do tend to look at people when they get in the tube, although it's more of a discreet glance (as your british friend says) than an out right stare... I also tend to find men often have a good old peer at me,
which is either nice or annoying, (depending on what the men look like
- usually annoying
) (but men are basically the same anywhere in the world - and much worse in Paris or Italy!!
)... in rush hour people are usually too preoccupied- reading or locked into their i-pods to take that much notice of others...