> It's called being a decent person.
Engaging in small talk can be inconsiderate, as the post upstairs demonstrates. Maybe the guy doesn't have time for the ceremony and the chitchat. A lack of small talk doesn't mean you're automatically rude or an asshole. Small talkers can be huge assholes, too, by doing things like wasting everybody's time with BS and worthless blather.
Moderation in anger, reasonable patience, and appropriate friendliness are good, subject to judgement within the given circumstances, but the idea that being "nice" is some kind of virtue and a defining feature of decent human beings is preposterous. Many evils in the world are fostered by nice people terrified of speaking the truth and causing displeasure.
Q: What if all people are assholes, but some are at least honest about it?