Define “dating.”
When someone says “I am dating ____ (insert name),” it could mean they are boyfriend-girlfriend, they are going to the movies and out to eat on a consistent basis, they are going home together after the bars, or they’re just doing the horizontal hump. Basically, dating could entail anything more than friends — without benefits at least.
So what in the hell is dating exactly? Is it how you coin a relationship, or just a PC way of saying “fucking”? Can someone please explain it to me so when I talk about my relations I know how to “DTR” (Define The Relationship) … because that’s hard to do when I can’t even define dating.
I wanted to know what you thought dating is defined, so I asked via my Facebook page, and here are some of the responses I got from my request to define dating …
Constantine: You don’t want me to do that. Haha
Brett: That’s a tough one! When people ask “are you two dating?” they are usually asking if you are in a relationship. However, dating can also mean you are just “testing” the waters with people because you are hanging out with multiple people.
Stephen: Dinner, or something fun to see how you act around each other trying to figure out if you want to take it to a full relationship. A good way to get to know someone see how open they are with you
Jason: Dating = Effing
Justin: Brett is right. Depends on context. I think most often it means people are getting exclusive with each other. But that leaves some shades of gray in there.
K Paul: Depends on if you’re talking carbon or core.
Jeff: What happens before you are exclusive with someone and in a relationship …
Paul: I always thought it meant counting the rings in my thighs.
Sean: In the South it means you’re in relationship. Up North it means what it should, that you are free to date other people. The Northern definition is better … and smarter.
Lane: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=defin?e+dating
Eric: Going out with one person or several different people. A social behavior where a person chooses to spend their leisure time exclusively with one person or not.
Reece: It’s what I would like to do with you!
James: I THOUGHT WE WAS STILL GOING OUT I GUESS NOT I STILL LOVE YOU BRITTANY … [Don’t ask.]
Bailie Ann: Using ice core samples to determine air quality in the Jurassic period.
Jodi: A dance between two people. It is a skill that is developed and not something that one is just automatically good at. There is an art to not only keeping a partner, but showing them why they want to keep you. You either do the tango or fall flat on your face.
Matthew: The method by which one figures out if produce, milk or other perishables is edible.
Jeff: When a guy spends alot of $ and then gets shot down
So you see, dating is everything from determining the shelf life of produce to testing ice core samples, to effing, to spending money on a girl that won’t eff you, to dancing, to simply being with another person (but define “with”).
I guess dating is really defined by our own standard. What matters is how you define your own relationship.
This article appears in Dec 28, 2010 – Jan 3, 2011.
