Friendship, dating and relationship. These three definitions are all different. However, a person can have all three of these things in One parnter.

Friendship doesn't mean dating.

Dating doesn't mean a relationship.

Relationship means a commitment.

I prefer to date to see if there is a Possibility of a monogamous relationship.

Dating for Me is platonic,. Which is not the Norm for Many people !

we call it FWB

I tend to observe and get to know people before making a move. So I'm geared toward either friendship or a relationship.

By the time I decide to ask for a date, I'm just looking to see if the woman might be interested in a relationship.

And if we were already friends to begin, then both of us are testing the waters to see if we can make a relationship happen.

None of the above works for me. I'm done with people in all realms. The only exception being my kids.

Toody, you are making things so complicated! ha ha.

Friends > dating (only kissing, cuddling) > relationship

Friends means we don't have sex but we hang out want have a good time. Male or female.

Dating means we hang out and see if we MIGHT have sex because we are compatible with each other as friends AND physical partners. (In my case this is reserved for men only).

Relationship means we see each other exclusively and are moving toward possible marriage. Maybe that's old fashioned thinking but I like taking things very very slowly to make sure we both are get everything we are bargaining for before going to the next level.

That sounds right, Red.

Well, my definitions combine Galaxy's and Red's.

Dating for me does not include sex. It might include kissing and cuddling, but that's really a precursor to moving into an actual relationship. So it falls toward the end of the dating phase. Sort of like testing to see if there is a spark that could lead to something more physical. No spark, then odds are not good for a relationship.

If there is a spark, then....there's a very good chance that the topic of a relationship gets broached.

This is something with many different definitions. For me, a friend has no gender distinction, it is platonic, and you pay your own way. It is no different than if I went out for the evening with a male buddy. I expect the same interaction I would from him.

Dating is something gender specific and a shared social outing. It is expected to lead to a sexual encounter eventually. This to me is what a FWB is all about and it may or may not be sexually exclusive.

A relationship is basically a prelude to marriage or cohabitation. It is normally exclusive in all ways and expects mutual planning and decision making as a couple.