Hmm. I’d say people want recognition or socialize. The right wing stuff is testing the waters. The rest wanting to talk. Especially when it’s about health, relationships… Those people just want to talk. With most people you can react accordingly and they’re able to tell from your reaction if you also want to chat and socialize.
With the immigrants stuff I found you can tell some people your experience and opinion is different. And that’ll pretty much end that conversation. With some people that doesn’t work at all and have the opposite effect.