[Redway]

The forced small-talk thing is a real pet-peeve though (wherever it happens). What’s really awkward in social contexts is forcing empty conversation with people who aren’t interested (unless they’ve signalled to you in some intuitive way that they don’t mind having a bit of chit-chat with you) but generally when you’re out-and-about it’s best not to go up to people wearing headphones (it’s just as-much an introvert’s non-verbal cue that they don’t want to be disturbed as it is a sign of someone just listening to music) and talk to them unnecessarily (by all-means, grab their attention if it’s something you really do actually-need to communicate with them). I still expect people to be polite but that can be done non-verbally or with a simple cordial greeting that doesn’t force them to reply on-the-spot. Silence really isn’t awkward unless you make it like-so.