[Ghoulish Delight]

I can relate, Helen. I've known myself to have very similar reaction, especially the "I have to walk away part." I have some gut negative reaction to a stranger's uninvited social "intrusion", and then I immediately realize, at least on some subconscious level, that it was a pretty lousy way to act to someone who's just trying to be nice/conversational. Then, not seeing any exit strategy that doesn't involve having to admit (explicitly or implicitly) that I acted like a jerk, I just get uncomfortable and want to just walk away and not have to deal with it. Ugh, I'm feeling uncomfortable just thinking about being in one of those situations.