You're confusing "asking people for something" with "talking to people."

Nobody wants randos coming up to them and asking for something.

Most people would be less lonely if everyone had more practice at making non-transactional conversation.

Actively avoiding conversation still qualifies as "weirdo" behavior to most people.

"Someday - and that day may never come" - they will be asking for something. Now you are on talking terms and it will be harder to refuse the ask, compared to the request of a complete stranger.

On public transit or a street, maybe. But only maybe.

Are you willfully ignoring people at bars, night clubs, supermarkets, etc?

It's obvious 99% of the time whether or not the conversation is in the wrong place and wrong time.

bars and clubs are specific venues for social interactions.

Supermarkets are a toss up. Most people are there to get their food and get out.

This is sad but not inconsistent with my experience. Though I think 10% is actually the people who genuinely want to have a nice conversation. and I think that worth putting up witrh the rest 90% for.

In my experience that's not true at all, but I think a lot of people have that perception, which is sad.

I understand what both of you are saying, I lived in areas where if someone is talking to you on the street theres a high chance theyre asking you for something, so you learn to just kinda block all of it out. Now that I moved to a smaller town, I find myself talking to strangers much more frequently.

If they cone accross as mwntally ill, they dont have social skill. Per definition.

Scamming crools frequently do have good social skills, but of course there is that risk of being scammed if you talk to them.