I think you're right. Often times people in the Tenderloin will ask me for the time. When I give it to them they say "Thank you" and move on, with no followup r

I think you're right. Often times people in the Tenderloin will ask me for the time. When I give it to them they say "Thank you" and move on, with no followup request for money or food. It's possible they genuinely need to know the time. It's also possible they are trying to get me to take out my cell phone. But I think the most likely answer is that they want to have a normal human interaction.