Meh, honestly you can do it. It's more so a cultural thing. It also has nothing to do with treating people like prizes or prey, in a chill environment people are okay conversing with total strangers, but its very location dependent.

I met my last girlfriend this way. I know friends who found partners randomly chatting on the train, in ubers (pool when that was a thing), at bus stops etc.

Just dont be an asshole or a creep/creepy looking, and youd be surprised how receptive people can be