Reminds me of "information interviewing" from "What Color is your Parachute" (job-hunting guide). Part of the aim there is to just get comfortable with talking to strangers.

I love those two old guys. It's also like you've given them something, like a freebie sample of a new product.

> People are a bit kinder if they think you're a student rather than an nosy salesperson

Isn't that lying?