Yep, I think you're dead on. Its interesting that the OP didn't want to have small talk with strangers because they're afraid of looking like a creep. The poi

Yep, I think you're dead on. Its interesting that the OP didn't want to have small talk with strangers because they're afraid of looking like a creep. The point of small talk with strangers in public is very much just to signal, "not a creep, just a regular person like you" and increase comfort levels. Unwillingness to engage or over-sharing usually send off the wrong signals, but simple quick, "Hey, crazy weather, huh?" conversations put people at ease.