Would you consider dating and being in a relationship the same or different?

Question

My former situationship and roommate says that we were dating the entire time and I said we weren’t because I wasn’t his girlfriend. To me, dating is being in a girlfriend/boyfriend relationship. There’s the talking phase then the dating phase. Clearly we were on two separate pages which is why we’re in the boat of pain we’re in now. Also, I feel like there’s just certain things you do if you’re dating, like making time for the other person, not leaving them behind. Am I overthinking this? Am I in the wrong?

VIVANT · Accepted Answer

You were two people with romantic chemistry spending time together intimately one on one getting to know each other. That’s what people do when dating. Doesn’t matter what you call it tho yeah personally I prefer to establish a mutually agreed to term just so no one feels confused. If I want to date a guy I’ll make sure to let him know and ask him if he wants to just do trades no confusion. But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be defunct in that same dynamic without using the word. I just prefer words.

A relationship is the agreement to date exclusively.

What is it about him thinking you were dating that bothers you? Are you not into him? Thats easy enough to solve.

RubyFrench · Accepted Answer

Dating to me would be seeing if they are worth getting into a relationship for.

- Dating
- Relationship
- Honeymoon stage
- If you get through that - marriage
- Buying a house
- Becoming a parent (if you choose to)

(this can be done in different orders but the first 3 are definitely correct in my opinion)

OlderAndWiser · Accepted Answer

On my world, "dating" means we have expressed the mutual desire to explore the possibility of a romantic relationship and we are intentionally spending significant time together to see what might develop. But dating does not automatically imply an exclusive arrangement or agreement.

"Relationship" means a couple which has been dating and has taken the next step in agreeing to date each other exclusively. At that point, most couples become sexually active, if they have not already been sexually active with each other, but the sex is not necessary to call it a relationship

Maybe_Maybe_not · Accepted Answer

It MUST be both ways, EXPLICIT else it is a fiction in someone's head , that can be said for any relation, dating, relationship, friendship, anything involving a link. The problem you have is that  someone considered, unilaterally, that he was involved in a relation with you. Sidenote, this  "situationship" word is odd,  it doesn't seem to exist in any translators I'm using lol, I see it used only in journalistic areas, where does this word come from?

mandyfire98 · Answer

Dating means going on dates. It's nothing more.  Relationship is an official romantic partnership that can happen after you date awhile.

RebelinSteel · Answer

Dating is pretty much the getting to know each other bit, seeing if it’s worth continuing. At some point you move into a relationship, this may simply be when you stop asking each other on a date and just accept you are going to do stuff like go for meals, do the dating stuff without saying it’s a date, to the formerly agreeing you are both in a relationship. A relationship is when you have that feeling and connection with the other person nd want to develop it further, this may mean moving in together or just a closer connection. For me the two are different.

razelove · Answer

If you were living together I'd have to side with him on that one. That seems a lot more intimate than "talking phase" or going through whatever official portal you wanted to pass through. Certainly you'd know and throw a shit fit if he brought a woman home to get laid. While you could go get laid at another guy's house.

boyfriend/girlfriend, that would be moving towards exclusivity, which granted he assumed you had rather than talked about it. I had something similar once, though with a girl I'd show up and see on Friday, and leave on Sunday. The line I assumed on was when she took me to meet her parents.

magiusX26 · Answer

did you go out together, just the 2 of you in a romantic kind of way? did you share intimate secrets with each other? (this is the only one that should be a yes if you were not dating as long as the question after this 1 is a no) did either of you date/see anyone else at that same time? if yes, did that have to be hidden from the other person?

if you answer yes to any of these, with the one exception, then you were dating. just because one of you decides not to use the boy/girl-friend label does not negate the facts of it still being a dating relationship.

ɹǝʇʇɐɥpɐW · Answer

I think "relationship" implies boyfriend/girlfriend. You even, yourself, called it a "girlfriend/boyfriend relationship." Now, a situationship is completely different. A relationship is committed with the intention of being permanent. A situationship is noncommittal with an understanding of being temporary. But that has to be made clear early and often to make sure you're on the same page.

ProbablyClueless · Answer

Dating is less than being in relationship, in my view. Dating means that we've mutually decided to spend time together one on one to explore the idea of building a life together. Being in a relationship means that we've formally agreed to build a life together.

Ladsin2 · Answer

I think you can date multiple people at once, but only be in a relationship with one. To explain further. I think you can be going on multiple first, second, and even third dates with multiple people while you're trying to figure out who you like. Once it goes further to the point of becoming a relationship you have to let the rest go.

Telekinetic-Potato · Answer

Dating is the beginning stages to me a relationship is after you already are comfortable around eachother, you're dynamic is pretty much figured out and you know what to expect from your partner.

jojouzumaki · Answer

From my perspective, there’s a huge disparity between dating and being in a relationship. Dating doesn’t ensure commitment, but relationship does.

LiamJHayden · Answer

They are different. Dating can lead to a romance. A relationship can be a friendship, a business connection, or any number of other things besides a romance.

Unap0logetic_ · Answer

For me it’s different.. dating in my POV is like going on an interview.. you won’t know unless the interview goes good if you have the job… which in term becomes the “commitment” in dating.

Nikki1989 · Answer

Anyone you know IS a relationship of some kind.

Void-Walker · Answer

Yes dating and being in a relationship are not the same as you can be in a relationship without dating but if your dating you are in a relationship

morganherrel · Answer

I've been going on "dates" to see if someone is compatible. No one has become my "girlfriend" yet.

libralove · Answer

Dating =getting to know someone  Relationship #there is chemistry and you wanna see where it goes

Rena00 · Answer

A Date is your interview for the position. A relationship is you got the position and your more yourself.

Anonymous · Answer

Dating is akin to "playing the field", while being in a relationship is like "going steady"

Jamie05rhs · Answer

Why did you move in with him?

the29thhuman · Answer

Not at all. Dating is a term used by men.

chocolatetwopointo · Answer

its the same thing

Julia987 · Answer

Its different

Anonymous · Answer

Same thing

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