You don't go into it looking to find a loneliness cure, you go into it looking to make a new friend. Maybe that friend can be more, but maybe not. The worst case scenario is the same as not trying, a decent outcome is a new friend (which can lead to expanding your pool of datable people!), and maybe you find a partner along the way.
I've been married for about a decade now, what I miss most about the dating scene is all the new friends I'd make and experiences I'd have.
Unfortunately, they're constantly horny and motivated to do stupid things.