There is lots of socializing out there. Look at bars, for example. The world does not lack a great deal of socialization. It is just that on the subway you are around people you will likely never come across again after being around them for just a few minutes. People on the subway are usually a hodge podge of different walks of life, and considering that they will never see each other again after a few minutes, why bother trying to interact? People would rather go to a bar where their particular walks of life hang out than have boring conversations for a few minutes on a subway. What would there be to talk about any way? Conversations are fun when there is either relating, opposition, or potential deal making. Without one of those things, it is just conversation for the sake of conversation, which is very boring.

There should be nobody hurting from loneliness. There is a bar for everybody. For alcoholics who want to stay away from bars, fortunately there is a club for everybody. It's not hard. Just make a list of all of the things you are, and then join some clubs that involve those things.