If you started dating someone that would automatically make them your boyfriend/girlfriend?

[Pebbles1104]

I thought this until i read something is this true or not?

[TheSpaceGnome]

Yes, thats correct, dating = being a couple.

The people who say otherwise are not actually dating, they are hooking up.

With actual dating, you are friends first, and then once things turn into a mutual attraction point, and you start doing things that couples do, like kissing, sex, etc, thats dating/being a couple. The choice to do those things is an unspoken agreement to want to stay together, it's saying "I love you" without verbally saying it.

With hookups, you go on a "date" with a stranger, and rush into things on a gamble, it usually ends badly because there isn't any actual love, knowledge or history involved.

[Blueeyes81]

Not correct. Dating is a period to see if the two of you are compatible. You usually have a talk about being exclusive and at that point you are in a relationship. Sometimes the talk never happens and after a while its just a given that the two are together.

[Pebbles1104]

i honestly just thought that made you guys a thing aka being exclusive but thanks this kinda clears things up

[TheSpaceGnome]

No, friendship is the period to see if you are compatable, dating (aka a relationship) is what happens after.

@pebbles1104 people who think like @Blueeyes81 are what I was talking about with hookup culture.

[Anonymous]

Funny, I had a friend once say a girl used this excuse but expected loyalty and exclusivity from him while dating others. He got blamed for everything ending when she picked someone else

[SnowedIn]

When I was your age, yes. Apparently now there are 763,546 different grades of something-ship between never met them and girlfriend/boyfriend. Sadly, you're left with confirming with them what exactly you are. Preferably with teams of lawyers on either side of a table or, failing that, several smart phones and gangs of your friends.

[Fireguy17]

No, not until we were exclusive.
If we were just dating then there a most likely be others that I am dating as well.

[abc3643]

When I was young, this was generally understood although some people did not date exclusively.

[BarryLiverstone]

Nope, you can go on dates and not be in a relationship. Many people will date more than one person, only until they ask to be exclusive would they become a boyfriend/girlfriend

[MementoMori777]

no dates are like testing the waters, if y'all like each other, it can get deeper

[shortster]

Not really. You should talk about becoming an item and exclusivity.

[msc545]

No, it makes them a date for now.

[LazerBean]

No, it does not.