Not initiating conversation could be down to disinterest, yes. But I think consistently refusing eye contact does constitute a lack of respect, if the person r

Not initiating conversation could be down to disinterest, yes. But I think consistently refusing eye contact does constitute a lack of respect, if the person refusing to return eye contact has no problem returning it to the upper echelons of staff. And, having attended one of those grammar schools, I know that some of the teachers who refused to return eye contact had no issue with faux friendliness.