I'm guessing you're either from the midwest US, or not from the US. Am I right?

Different experiences. Few people are friendly for frienliness' sake. The first step is to get your guard down.

Good point, maybe things would be more friendly if the prevailing reasoning were not as isolating.

I think the default is sociability too, but for reasons it does seem to be on the retreat.

> Would you be bothered

>basically anywhere there are other people,

Seems like a perfectly legitimate prerogative to me anyway. Actually more "popular" than ever from some of the comments.

>They just can't understand that people wouldn't want to talk to them.

This however does not follow completely logically.

More like "They just can't realize that of all the people who would want to talk to them, you aren't one of them."

No harm done regardless.