I'm not attempting to beat a dead horse here, and I probably can't be induced to modify my opinion, but I was always taught that the proper response to a compliment was "Thank you". It needn't be more than that, and you can then go on your way, but seriously, by this point Dylan is attracting fans I can only imagine are not out-or-their-minds screaming loonies. At any rate, I met Pete Seeger long ago (admittedly a whole different ball of wax, but still an icon in his own right) and he could not have been more gracious to me, a perfect stranger. He spent a deal of time explaining something to do with economics to me (which rather went past me, partially because I was so in awe that he was making a special effort to communicate) and clearly he did not need to. I can quite understand a performer avoiding a fan who is making a scene, but I seem to recall, Mr Duncan, you were a little off-put by Sam Neill being a cramp somewhere you had occasion to run into him. Being super-famous doesn't absolve you of civility.
And twm, good point. I had not taken eyesight, or the lack of it, into account. You could be on to something. However, at point-blank range as they were on the stairwell, surely he could see well enough to know fellow musicians - unless he's never gotten more than a squint at them from across the room. If I hadn't heard my own share of stories about Mr Dylan, I might be inclined to give him a bye. And really, I have no personal interest in him anyway, aside from a handful of songs I happen to like. I do admit being impressed by his voluability on the "No Direction Home" video - which unfortunately I only have on VHS. I thought it an excellent history of music of that era. I do think it would be a very nice gesture on his part, at least, to meet with musicians in his tour. THEY'RE certianly not going to jump all over him.