Please for the love of god no one follow this advice. My dog would rip your arm off and so will most personal protection trained, police trained,SCHh and guard dogs.
I think it depends actually. Dogs are supposed to receive eye contact as a sign of aggression, which obviously would be a bad thing. BUT, you can train your dog a little on that front when they are young by rewarding docile behaviour while making eye contact.
I certainly wouldn't try staring down someone other person's dog though...