Have you ever just gone to the mall, or a park, and sat on a bench? Life just bustles on around you, and most people pay you no mind. You can sit there and look around, and see just what people do when they think no one's paying them no mind.
I always like sitting and looking for people I think would be interesting to talk to. Usually, I don't try and strike up a conversation, that seems to abnormal for most folk just at the mall to shop. Most are there to shop, not to have some random dude walk up to them and have a chat. It seems to abnormal for me even to try.
A problem could be I don't give off the vibe of being an approachable type, and not anyone is just gonna sit down on a bench to strike up a conversation with a scowling young man. Smiling hurts, so I save that for people that need it. Maybe I'll try and talk to someone soon, who knows, might just work