Difference Between Dating & Being in a Relationship

However, I still will usually follow it with a quick explanation or even my tone will appear uncertain, like I don't know how to describe it because I'm aware nothing it technically official yet. I've noticed that people get offended anyway if mention you're dating others, whether you've been dating less than a month, haven't agreed to exclusivity, etc. Give some time, think about it and then have a talk about how you are feeling.

I disagree with the previous explanations. Now obviously her intentions were to be more then friends but she didn't label it as dating, she still continues to this day and says they were just friends.

Difference Between Dating & Being in a Relationship - My friends say there is no difference, but the guy I have been seeing for a couple months say that seeing someone means testing the waters, getting to know someone you are romantically interested in, and the stage before dating. When talking to friends, I don't say I'm dating him.

Ok, so what do we all think about the terminology used when we are with someone?? I have just started 'seeing someone' about 2 weeks ago. We see each other a couple of times a week, and its generally a good laugh. I was cut up about it for a LONG time still am to some extent. Anyway recently i have been getting a LOT of attention from other women which has really boosted my confidence. Like the old phrase, you wait for a bus for hours and hours and then a whole load turn up at once!!! Anyway, so i've been seeing this girl for a few weeks now, but i still am not sure whether i want to keep seeing her or not. She is aware of the fact that i want to take things really slow. She is currently out of the country for 2 weeks, and i found myself chatting to a lot of other women at the weekend, and getting a lot of interest. And i really enjoyed it. If i had been 100% single, i would have tried it out with one of the women i met at the weekend, but i am not sure where i stand with this whilst i am 'seeing' the new girl!?! If that makes sense?? At what point in a relationship do you 'owe' it to the other person not to go around doing things like that? I kinad feel weird because for the first time in a long time i feel really happy about being single even tho i am not strictly single. At the same time however, i also want things to work out with the new girl because it could be great. Any thoughts would be great. By the way, congratulations to me for finally posting somewhere other than the 'Getting Back Together' forum!!! Cheers Spatz Dear spatzcolumbo: After going with someone for 16 months, eventhough you took a break for 6 months, you owe it to yourself to be single and to take things slow. This is what you owe yourself. If you have only been dating this girl for 2 weeks, you are still in the get to know you phase. If you are finding other women attrative you could either be scarred of getting into another relationship or your just not ready. What you owe her is honesty. You have already told her that you want to take things slow. You've said that you don't want to mess things up with this new girl so be as honest as you can with her and compassionately tell her that you might like to see other people. I'm assuming that she knows about your ex and if you are very honest with her she should understand that you need a little time. Hope this helps and good luck. Peace and blessings to you, Evepm thanks evepm, The new girl does know about my ex, but half the weirdness stems from the fact taht she dumped her ex just 2 months ago after 6 years! So i think it strange for us both because she is ready to date because she dumped him, whereas my ex dumped me, so maybe i am less ready for another serious relationship. I'm just a bit rubbish at deciding these things!!! Everyone seems to have different opinions on what it means to be 'seeing someone'!!! Spatz, a couple more thoughts on this.... I've noticed that people get offended anyway if mention you're dating others, whether you've been dating less than a month, haven't agreed to exclusivity, etc. It's really a roll of the dice, I personally am trying to move away from the all or nothing mentality in such a short period of time. But you may run into a little trouble. Check out this post for a pretty good description of what can be going through someone's head very early on in a relationship. I gave the poster some advice that I thought might interest you. At what point does a relationship become 'exclusive' naturally?? It's a matter of opinion i guess - some say its when you have that conversation, otehrs say it is when you sleep with someone, etc etc. I jsut don't know what to think!?! I would prefer for it to be 'the conversation' but then i kinda get the feeling with this girl that it is more likely that she will just see it as a natural progression of the relationship. Taking myself too seriously in that paragraph.... Sure Spatzy, no problem. Anyway, I find that taking things for granted can lead to trouble. My last boyfriend asked me after a month if we could be exclusive. But I was taken off guard, and frankly, pleased as punch. Anyway, I liked that he made a direct statement instead of a question. It was bold, and gave the impression of confidence. There's always been some defining moment in my relationships where we bring up the matter of seeing other people... I prefer it that way instead of just taking it for granted. I've often been wrong when I've taken something for granted! I do think that the issue should come up when one of the parties genuinely feels he or she wants the relationship to be exclusive. There's no time frame, either. Of course, two weeks would be way too early in my opinion. Yeah i think the problem is that we have been physically intimate, and for me this is a major major mistake for no reason other than it is just NOT something i do until i am sure about someone. The trouble here is alcohol the cause of and solution to all lifes problems etc etc. So yes basically having been intimate with this girl, i feel like she is assumiing that everything is great. It probably sounds a bit weird - but i guess it comes from being in the relationship with my ex and things being great right up to the end. That, and the fact that i am generally a very flirty person, which often gives people the wrong idea!!! But its not about giving this girl the wrong idea... But i am unsure i like her THAT much.... I have never wanted to settle for 2nd best!!! Its just that i seriously wonder whether i was having more fun being single than i realised!!! I spent so long hung up on my ex that when i finally got the confidence back and started flirting a lot, it took me by surprise how much interest i seemed to get back. I guess when you are in a relationship you don't flirt so much, and thereforeeee maybe you forget what it is like to have that kind of ego boost!!! So i end up asking myself whether i like the new girl because she is someone NEW who is TOTALLY different to my ex, or for some other reason!?! Perhaps you should talk about all this with the girl you're seeing. Seriously, you make some excellent points, and bottom line I think you feel you're being dishonest by sleeping with her yet still wanting the right to see others. I personally don't think you should feel bad, because like you said, alcohol sort of fueled the initial intimate encounter. But talk to her - maybe she will have some insight. Does it look like she wants a relationship already? Yes it looks like she wants a relationship.... For me here is one of the MAJOR red flags so far taht has kinda alerted me to this... We had been seeing each other casually for a week or two before she left around 10 days ago. The day before she left she told me that she wished she had booked the holiday for 1 week rather than 2, because she was going to miss me, and didn't want to go 2 weeks without seeing me. This is obviously a nice thing to hear someone say because it makes you feel good about yourself - i think i am obviously doing something right for her to say this.... It doesn't particularyl bother me that i am have not seen her, and will not see her for another week. This is partly confused by the fact that my ex and i were a long distance relationship for large chunks of time whilst she was away at uni. However, i also think about how i felt when my ex and i started dating... I have not had that feeling with the new girl!! I don't want to throw away the relationship, but i don't know what i want from it either. Of course the other major problem is that which i mentioned about her just getting out of a 6 year relationship!!! She may just be looking maybe without even knowing it herself for someone to fill that gap in her life!! After 6 years with someone, even if you are the dumper, you don't get out without some kind of feelings. You will find it hard without that person. Maybe she is unconscisouly looking for someone to take the physical and emotional gap that she has since she dumped her ex!!!

I take my way of thinking from the Archie comics:P Archie has always been dating Betty AND Veronica. A mutual female friend was whining about her guy not for to get married. For now, I should be patient and just enjoy the ride. In Italy seeing someone is going out or courting that someone and is casual. He was indirectly asking you if you would be interested in trying an exclusive relationship with him. The trouble here is solo the cause of and solution to all lifes problems etc etc. Like the old phrase, you wait for a bus for hours and hours and then a whole load turn up at once!!!.