Oh, they weren't friends. They were fellow communters. People you see every day ~ 1-2 hr a day depending on the commute. People you are friendly with but don't really know much about them
Many times I'd work on projects while commuting and that would get everyone talking. We were a chatty group.
I worked at a hospital, when I finished items I'd bring a little baggy of dolls or a couple of lap quilts to give to the children in the pediatric ward and that's when I'd get the comments. It's the passing aquaintances who feel the need to make comments.