given what the op originally stated, it appeared that he/she was not a SSSSelectee but seeing what was added, it looks like the screener screwed up. i'm also gonna add that i think the g/a screwed up as if a SSSSelectee has been missed and makes it to the gate area, the screeners need to come to them not the pax going to the screeners as you now have an "un-screened pax" roaming around the terminal and god help us all if that pax decides not to board the flight. dump da-dump-dump, duuuuuuuuump

now as to screeners making small talk, i get that all the time due to my orthopedic shoes and orthotics and i have no problem with it but i am also very leery as to what they ask (spot questions vs legitimate ones-actually had a screener wearing the same style shoes as me [but black vs white] and asked about how to get custom othotics). don't know if that makes sense or not