My partner gets on my case because I refuse to do small talk to randoms. We were at a pub the other night, and our friend's friend is talking with us (five or six people not including me). I was on my phone most of the night, didnt really have anything to say (80 percent of the conversations were of magic the gathering, doctor who, nothing i knew about)
Then we are walking to the station couple of days later, she comes up. And the conversation between them is literally just "how are you, im good, nice weather" crap. He gets on my case and says im rude for not saying anything other than hello. Like...dude...you know me...i dont bother with that crap. He thinks the talk is polite, i think its a great reason to throw yourself into oncoming traffic.