I didn’t realize “I got the digits” meant the other person stuck their fingers in your private area! :eek: if that is indeed what you are implying 
^ Yes, this, totally.
Store employees are obligated to be nice to you no matter how crazy or stalker you appear to be. Do not ask store employees out when they’re on duty. Actually, even when they’re off duty if still on store grounds.
You’re assuming that
- They want to get married, and
- If they are interested in marriage that they are interested in marrying men
For a certain type of militant lesbian feminist never having to deal with men ever would be their idea of paradise.
Fortunately, neither most feminists or even most lesbians are that whacko.
Why would you want to engage in 2-3 minutes of pleasant small talk with a random stranger if you are busy? Or tired of small talk? Or just hate people in general?
If I’m reading a book, and a stranger comes up for 2-3 minutes of pleasant small talk, am I a “jerk” or “stuck up” if I don’t want to talk the them?
Strange attitude.
No, common attitude.
That is, in fact, the attitude of a certain segment of the male population when spotting a lone woman in public. They feel perfectly free to interrupt whatever she’s doing and attempt to monopolize her time and attention. If they woman doesn’t want to “play” then she’s a stuck up bitch, a tease, and worse.
It’s OK to ask out a woman you encounter at the grocery store. Just don’t do anything suggestive with vegetables.
A classmate of Mrs. J. once ran into a male acquaintance in the produce section. He waved a cucumber at her.
Later on, she passed him in another section of the store and waved a jar of pickles at him. 
I often wear earbuds; listening to music, podcasts, or nothing at all.
Good plan. I try to consistently look annoyed and/or angry. That, paired with my T-shirt that has “Leave me alone” on the front and back works pretty well.
Until someone comes up and says “Cool Shirt! Where did you get it?” :smack:
The chances of encountering the same person in the same grocery store again is rather low, although if it does happen a couple of time you can use it as a conversation opener.
“Ask Me About … Not A Darn Thing”
Or just really shy and full of social anxiety. I’ve gotten ‘‘we thought you hated us’’ more than once from people I’m quiet around, when I finally broke out of my shell. The whole time I was thinking, ‘‘They probably hate me.’’
I love people. I am not fantastic at small talk. I seek out people with better social skills than mine because they usually do the heavy lifting in a conversation. This is why I love extroverts.
I honestly find both POVs pretty extreme. Men who strike up conversations with pretty girls are not holding them ‘‘emotionally hostage’’ or whatever, but neither are women who don’t engage with such men stuck-up bitches.