If you try to be one with "Big Mind", how do you answer questions that shove you in a box?

It is rude to not small talk, yet people think your weird if you don't lie and fake like them or consider the same issues important. They insist, to control the conversation, like at the hairdresser or the dentist. Do you know what I mean? Ulterior motives, bla, bla, bla, Always "when are you going to be done with school?" how about asking the rest of the world when they will start, or be done filling the shopping cart, maybe it is just comfortable women and their shopping woes and complaints?