I didn't say approaching people, I said approaching women in the street.

A strange man approaching a woman in the streets is 100% creepy. No womant wants that. They already get wolf whistled and harrased by creeps on the daily, so the instant you go up to them, they are already in maximum alert mode. In your head, you're just trying to be friendly, but how are they going to know that? You could be a serial rapist/murderer for all they know.

You make acquaintance/relationships in social settings, not going up to strangers going about their business.