Why??

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I hate when random strangers greet me or make idle chit chat, especially if we are just passing by each other and not standing/sitting somewhere waiting. Then I either have to ignore them and have them either think I'm a ***** or potentially get verbally abusive or answer them and then feel resentful for having to answer them out of fear.

I can understand someone wanting to chat if they are waiting for a bus for example but if I walk by them on the street and we happen to be hear each other for a few seconds they don't need to say anything. I usually wear sunglasses so I can avoid eye contact and discourage these people. Maybe I should wear headphones too so they'll think I'm listening to music and can't hear them.

It's a social expectation to talk to whoever you are in the room with. It's one of those NT things that is all about producing "good feelings" between two people and comfort between them more than anything else.

Doing things like this can be hard for people on the spectrum though since they either don't see the point of "breaking the ice" and can't pick up on this underlying feeling or perhaps they don't have the mental energy for socializing at every single opportunity that arises. I'm in the latter category...I want the person to be comfortable around me but want to save my social energy for when it is needed. I end up talking to the person anyway because if I make someone uncomfortable, even if they are a stranger, it bothers me.

I totally agree. I hate it when people feel the need to chatter all the time without any depth to it. I had a roomie like that last summer and she drove me absolutely insane. I was so glad to find another place. I think my current house mates are NT but introverts, so that's much, much more comfortable. They seem to accept that I'm in my own little world.

I'm glad someone can relate, and not say ''what's wrong with being friendly?''
Like I said, not all NTs that I know try to speak to every stranger that passes, so it isn't one of those social obligations. I feel comfortable walking with others that don't greet strangers, because then I don't feel compelled to make eye contact and speak either. But when I'm with people that do have to speak to every stranger that passes, I start getting panic attacks inwardly, while the annoying people I am with literally gawp at the strangers looking so desperate to get a hello like it's a must do thing. I thought that would frighten people off.

Speaking to people whom I know does come naturally, I immediately make eye contact and smile and speak without no anxieties. But making eye contact with strangers really makes me anxious and I just can't do it. I think it stems from bad experiences I've had in the past, where I have said hello to strangers and they looked at me like I was a freak, and it happened a few times, which got me thinking ''OK maybe it's not part of the social instinct with people to speak to people they don't know, which was fair enough.'' But then I walk along with people like my aunt (who isn't even confident, in fact we all think she may have some AS traits) and she socially attracts everyone that passes and they speak, whether she knows them or not. Where do I go wrong?

Reminds me of a Star Trek Voyager episode in which Seven and Tuvok, both aliens with very aspie human traits, were having a conversation regarding silence when they were on a mission together.
Seven of Nine: Two hours, thirty seven minutes, thirteen seconds.
Tuvok: [puzzled look]
Seven of Nine: That's how long we've gone without verbal communication.
Tuvok: Why is that remarkable?
Seven of Nine: The doctor encourages me to engage in conversation during awkward silences.
Tuvok: Did you find the silence awkward?
Seven of Nine: No.
Tuvok: Nor did I.

One of my favourite scenes; it epitomizes the way I feel about conversation and small talk, wish I could find more people like those two!