I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "rote manner of interaction that I don't know, and don't want to learn."

If you mean the talking about the weather thing, that's what talking people in bars should teach you to get beyond.

No, it isn't small talk. It's people expecting me to act in a certain way and not liking it when I don't.

Maybe I'm just wanting two conflicting goals. The expected way of acting is natural for most people, but not for me, and I wish I could interact in a way that is natural for me too.

I think I'll give the bar thing a shot. Any types of people I should watch out for?

I think people have fewer expectations than you might assume. Most people spend too much time judging themselves when interacting to bother doing it to others. But the way you judge yourself makes you assume others are judging you, but they're not, they're focusing on themselves. If that makes any sense, which it may not.

I'd say work your way up to attractive women. They're the hardest for a number of reasons (you're afraid of them due to approach anxiety, they're used to approaches and are more on their guard, etc.) Start off talking to guys and less attractive females. People are always most receptive toward people who appear to be in their own demographic and social status level, so start there and work your way out.

One more note. I don't think people are consciously judging me, it's just their natural reaction. I realize most people are much less aware than I am.

But, it isn't my natural reaction, which is why I have to learn how their system of interaction works, which seems like too much trouble.