The effort should be mutual

because apparently small talk is the big shit. Which I disagree with.

If the bus stop conversation about the local weather has gone on for more than two responses and has not veered off into climate change, cosmological superstructures that ALSO look kind of like clouds, or that guy who not only has a Trump bumper sticker but appears to be emulating his hair, then you're doing it wrong.

Or you could try to start an intellectually stimulating conversation lol

Then just stay home. If you pulled out your phone, you aren't adding anything entertaining or intellectually stimulating. People aren't a television, its a two way thing.