Do you go into a date without expectations and treat it as a fun outing or do you more so keep in mind what you're looking for in the person you are interested in and stand by it?

If I manage to get a date again at some point. I'm going to treat it more fun, instead of being so intent on if it seems to be going anywhere.

Definitely fun. Wanna BE fun, wanna HAVE fun, wanna BREATHE fun. *Talking to self* Okay...........she gets it.............now shut up.

I am serious about having fun. Seriously.

Fun. If there is a connection, then become more serious about it.
But never leave out the fun.
After all...it isn't a new car you're shopping for.

I go for fun. I have yet to go on an online date where anything came out of it.

If it is a date with someone I met in 'real life' then i'd take it more seriously I guess but online dates are all for fun and absolutely no expectations.

Fun I think these days. I had dates not going well in the past because I was too serious or intense. It's a bit of both maybe because I like deep meaningful conversations as well as joking around.

It depends on the chemistry that I've got with my date obviously but the last date I was on with was with a woman that I didn't think was any fun at all and I didn't let that make me feel awkward and just decided that since the date was a bit of a washout and I was out anyway I was just going to have a few beers and not give a crap if she thought that I was a drunkard.

Neither. There are people more fun than me. Just be yourself and see what comes naturally.

Yes, that was a learning experience for me after being away from the dating scene for many years.

serious dater

A fun outing seems to be working for me right now. After the serious work I do it is fun not to have expectations. I can relate to two Lobo songs now. "Don't expect me to be your friend" explains the last of a relationship for me that ended just like the words of that song. "Me and You and a dog named Boo" explains the fun I had with my housemate, today. We had fun going to yard sales this morning. She was a friend and let me rant and rave about my job. And even said to me if I didn't want to go we didn't have to go. I know she is missing being with her grand daughter. And it really hurt her to have to take back all the clothes she bought for her grand daughter since the mom and her are at a stalemate of her getting to see her. It was a real struggle to have even a friendship with her because of how close to her she was. I even explain to her how jealous I was of her relationship with her grand daughter. It took a while to understand how much fun they had together and lose the jealousy. I guess her grand daughter like me have grown up some. Hey, it can happen. lol But now, of course, the dog has taken the grand daughter's place. lol Not me. lol But then that is okay because it keeps the relationship fun based.

Fun with an intent to eventually turn serious? And just because it turns serious I don't think the fun should ever stop.

Fun. Life is too short to not enjoy the little things!

I always go in it for the fun. but I'm also always looking. to see if it has the potential to be serious.. fun is fun.
but time is ticking on..

Tick tick.tick. hey you!

i always going in just expecting to see some boobs and then leaving but i always get sucked into a relationship and having to listen to her gripe for 6+ months

If your a fun type person, sure, be yourself. The serious stuff will work itself out over the next few dates.

I only date with a view to the long term in mind and I hope it is reciprocated by my date. Even though neither of us know what the outcome of those first few dates will be, I believe if the possible long term interest is missing then it is unlikely it will ever develop in to a romantic relationship. If there is no possible long term interest then in my opinion you should tell your date upfront, they just might have more interest in you than you have in them and you know already it is not going to go anywhere, in which case if someone is going to get hurt it will not be you.

A bit of both, sort of like Nr1.
I used to go on a date with the idea and hope to find the one. Learnt quickly it doesn't work that way. So instead of getting disappointed each time, I know aim to have a nice afternoon or evening as two singles. But in the back of my mind keeping an eye out for that one person nonetheless. He(ck, I might even meet him whilst on a fun date with someone, he might be sitting at the table right next to me.
You never know how these things will go nor where you will meet your future partner.

To me the idea is to have fun while getting to know someone. Go out a few times, have fun getting to know someone while seeing if there's the possibility of it developing into something more. Worst case scenario I get to know someone and make a new friend in the process.