Now, no one says that you should go out and look for strangers to talk to if you don't want to. You also don't always need to talk to everybody who talks to you. The thing is, you're going to end up in situations where you have no choice. It's better to be well equipped at small talk than to fight it. Fighting it only makes it worse. Instead of small talk, you end up in a fight with the person.
Everyone is a different type of talker too. Some people who talk to you won't be good listeners. Whatever. That's their deal. All you have to do is be a good listener and then fake a phone call to get the hell out of there. Fake a call, look at your phone, then put a worried look on your face and say, "it's my doctor."