I just feel like I have to do *something*, and opportunities in real life are so rare, fleeting, intimidating, and often promising but are actually dead ends.
Go to a gig. See some live music. Doesn't really matter what kind (obviously I would recommend some form of heavy metal) as long as it isn't rap, but live music is basically the best way to meet people, especially for socially awkward types such as we.
If you go on a date with a stranger or to some house party
full of strangers you're gonna have to be thinking of shit to say, else you'll wind up sitting there/lurking in a corner feeling pissed off at yourself - at a gig you always have a whole plethora of built-in phrases to fall back on, like "that band was great!", "who are you here to see?", "any idea who's on next/what this band's called?" "the human sacrifice on stage was a bit much..." "where's the toilet in this place?" or "hey bruv sell me some pingas".
Well, the first three, at least.
Plus everyone is most likely happily drunk and enjoying themselves, so any faux pas you somehow manage to make won't be a big deal. Well, unless you go to some hardcore/straightedge show where they are always on the lookout for outsiders to prey upon, I'd say avoid those since the music is trash anyway...
But yeah. You don't need to offer yourself up on the digital dating altar just to "do something". Why not just get out and go see some bands? It's a great way to ease oneself into socialising and get some practice.