Anon goes to a bar

DON'T go to the corner. Sit at the bar (or lean if there's no stool). You have to be seen to be acknowledged else they'll think you want to be alone - bar knowledge #2.

Was about to comment this. When I was a young guy, that was my go-to when I was new in town. Make friends with the bartender, letting them know what you're up to, and if they know of any work. Maybe make some friends, connections. Graduate from bar to board game night. Move out of the shelter into an apartment. A-bing a-bang you got a job, a nascent friend circle, and a place to lay your head at night.
Aragorn was seen though
- But not approached - he was the one who approached Frodo.
Good point. I will force my self to be part of the party

I think if you're going to sit alone in the corner of the bar and drink, you need to be wearing a cloak

And have at least one quest and a small bag of gold coins with you for when the adventurers act like you're not all here to do adventuring stuff for fun
And a hood that's obscuring your face.

Yeah relatable. Someone needs to release a bar socialization guide for us to follow.

A lot of my friends worked in the bar and restaurant industry over the years and I’ve spent a shit load of time in bars. I’ve had several bars that were my regular haunts for a few years at a time, and I’ve gone through a few completely different sets of, like, “bar friends” over the last 25 years. (One of the “bars” was more of a bar/coffee shop where I drank way more coffee than booze, mind you, but anyways…)
don’t sit in the corner. The bar is where it’s at.
talk to the bartenders a bit. Ask about the local scene. Any events going on? If it’s a sports bar, ask about any PPVs coming up if they do that sort thing. If it’s a music bar, ask if they have any good bands coming up or if there’s open mics or whatever. At a minimum that starts up a conversation for a few minutes and gets the ball rolling. Of course, if the bar is being slammed, don’t just pester the bartender like a jerk, they still have other customers and a job to do, but part of their job is getting folks to come back. Repeat business is generally better business, and if you ask about what’s coming up in the future, you’re showing interest in coming back.
go a few times over the course of a few weeks. People will probably start to remember you.
any activities at the bar? They have dart boards? Pool tables? Open mics? I’ve sucked at darts and pool but I still played ‘em, and even played in some dart leagues, and no one really cared that I wasn’t particularly great ‘cause neither were they — it was all just an excuse to get out of the house for a bit.
the music scene is where I landed in the end. That’s been the last 15 years for me, really. It all just started by showing up, asking about shows, “any good bands coming up? What are the Bluesy Jazzies like? I've never seen them before, they worth the cover?”
don’t limit yourself to bars. Coffee shops, table top game stores, go bowling, whatever. It’s all really just about talking to people, starting with the chitchat, making inquiries, getting involved in some activities. Eventually you’ll be socialized as fuck.
Find a dive bar and go at the same time/times every week for at least 8 visits. You’ll know it’s a dive bar if it smells like the beer has soaked into the walls and floors and someone offers you a bump of coke in a bathroom that’s too small for two people. You will absolutely make friends but they might not be the best influences on your life. They’ll be really loyal and probably kinda funny though.
- Bonus: if you're gay, the guy offering you a bump will usually also blow you in said too-small bathroom.
See that's the wrong idea, meeting people in bars can be creepy and dangerous. For everyone alone that want to meet new people go for some classes or groups. In anything that you think interesting. Learn a new language, join a dance class, theater class, matial arts, Hiking group, advocacy, do some charity work, learn some obscure sport like disk golf, go do some larping... whatever floats your boat. Don't go for things you don't already like a bit, like if you are an indoor person don't go for hiking, it can get old quick. This are the nice and cerified ways to meet new people without being awkward
- There are lots of people who go to bars who aren't creeps. I have several friends I can trace back to meeting while out drinking, and others from other activities like some of the ones you described. No need to shame people who socialize at bars
- Where can I find a drinking alcohol, making comments about sports that I stole from the internet, and playing so-so darts, class to sign up for?
- not necessarily creeps but definitely true that bars are great if you wanna make friends with elderly alcoholics
- This is the way. If you want to make friends it’s so much easier when you start with a shared interest. Made many good friends in martial arts despite not being great at making friends, the ice breakers were all taken care of for me.
Here it is, casually explained: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vfxwNqLShyE

That's why you drink alone for 6 hours and hope that someone talks to you.

In a corner alone? People can see you want to be alone and leave you alone there.

I wonder why no one suggested yet to just go to a group that looks cool and say "hey, I've come here alone and want to meet people, would you mind if I join you?" and the answer will almost always be a resounding "yes" and you will be adopted.

I really don't think that would work, it would be very awkward forcing something like that. Unless everybody is absolutely smashed you could maybe have that but it would still be not great
- I'm not sure how to argue with this except with "I have done this so many times and never received another answer". I had no friends.
- This was my go to method of meeting people at college parties (which is admittedly a slightly different environment), but it never failed to work. Long as you aren't giving off "creep" vibes most people are also down to meet new people
Unless you're an asocial nitwit that spends free time on image boards
- No, actually, the answer will still be the "yes". However, what happens after is by no means guaranteed and I'll make no comments on.
"Hey, I've come alone and want to meet people, mind if I join you?" Also works a lot better for lonely/other asocial people in the bar, since asking about their day right off the bat can make them feel awkward
There's a bar here where, if I have a table outside, I offer to let people looking for a table share it.

Any advice given is going to completely ignore the underlying causes of this situation.

Just bring your own friends.

It’s October. Just meet some cool people at a pumpkin patch.

- You have to be willing to walk up and introduce yourself, and also willing to deal with the risk of rejection. That fear of rejection piece leads people to make decisions that protect their egos but also leave them lonely or isolated
- Maybe paint ball instead? Shoot someone in the neck and you'll get a great story and an easy ice breaker.

barcades are a great option if there's one nearby. "Hey, want to play?" is so much easier than trying to start a conversation unprompted

Wow, is this a thing? Never heard about it. I would like love to see play some old arcades in a bar
- It's definitely a thing in the US and I imagine a lot of other places. Even smaller cities will usually have at least one. Some aren't going to have actual arcade cabinets (or not many of them), but will have consoles/emulators set up

Honestly Starbucks is a better bet. Make sure you bring your phone chargers.

I sit upon my barstool throne

I vow to never drink alone

I only drink with friends or total strangers...

I drink alone, yeah

With nobody else

I drink alone, yeah

With nobody else

Yeah, you know when I drink alone

I prefer to be by myself

My whole family done give up on me
And it makes me feel oh so bad
The only one who'll hang out with me
Is my dear Old Grand-Dad