I don't know about the UK. In the US people can look at others for a lot of reasons. I think for the most part in the US people are more honest. It is not acceptable to stare at somebody in the US who is in some way not normal or challenged. Many people here do watch other people though. I also am more award of people watching me, and I sometimes not to them, and they will not back. It is king of like acknowledgement.

So, if somebody has looked at you, and you see them back, maybe it is admiration. That's my take. You have a very nice beard. Keep growing. Tom