"dating" or "going out"

[The_man]

what is the differnts between "dating" and "going out"? Just wanted to know what the differnts is!

 

Thanks!

[coollady1957]

In my opinion I would take it to mean if you are dating, that you are seeing each other but not yet exclusive.

 

If someone is " going out" it has probably come to the point of being exclusive and not seeing anyone else. " Going out" I think would be what some of us older folks used to call " going steady" .

 

I am not sure if this answered your question. Hope so.

[CharmedphoenixRising]

uh oh. i thought going out was just going out and dating's got some kind of exclusivity involved.

 

Well that's confusion for you!

[laboheme]

I think people use the terms loosely nowadays. I've heard both of them applied to the beginning stages of the relationship...and to the more committed stages by various paople. To me they are basically synonymous...but then again, I like to assign very precise labels to things, so if the meaning really mattered, I would steer clear of using either one.

[trivialpursuit]

I say that dating is when you are interested, or like the other person, and arent get exclusive.

 

I say that "going out" blurrs the line more. It encompasses all of dating, and extends a little bit more to include the beginnings of a more serious steady relationship.

[trivialpursuit]

well think about it. You are going on a DATE. You dont necessarily date someone you are only exclusive with...its like an experiment. Thats got to be the earlier term.

[coollady1957]

uh oh. i thought going out was just going out and dating's got some kind of exclusivity involved.

 

Well that's confusion for you!

 

 

Boy that could be confusing . You and I have exact opposite thoughts on it . I am basing my response on how my kids, whom are now age 20 and 25 ,spoke of dating and going out being different. At least that is how it seems to be around where I live.

[The_man]

I always thought "dating" was going out on a few dates and spending time together and "going out" is in a relationship; boyfriend/girlfriend.

[renaissancewoman101]

To me "going out" is hanging out with your friends or potential dates. "Dating" is more seeing someone as a "potential" for a bf/gf. Not sure though. It's been a while since I've actually gone dating, although I am entering that realm again, hopefully.

[The_man]

this is a very confusing topic

[southerngirl]

To me dating is just that, dating ... could be only one person or seeing more than one person.

 

But 'going out' is an exclusive relationship... boyfriend/girlfriend type thing.

 

When I was younger if someone wanted me to be their girlfriend they may say 'will you go out with me southerngirl'... So at least where I grew up, thats what it meant.

[The_man]

I agree with southerngirl

[CharmedphoenixRising]

Here my going out is equivalent to hanging out

Dating's well. . . yea i guess just a Date is possible - in which if the date was a movie then we'd just say, yea, we'll go out for a movie.

*groan*

This is way too confusing (no wonder my 'dating' life's all weird- I'm using the wrong lingo!!)

[The_man]

sometimes people ask me at school "are you going out with her?" but I never know what to say because "going out" might mean something differnt to them, thats why I started this thread.

[xmrth]

"Are you two going out?"

 

"Are you two dating?"

 

They really are the same thing. Going out is going out, dating. Dating is going out...

[The_man]

The Xmrth says it, seems to make more sense...

[shikashika]

EVEN though I know Canadians use it...and I have too on this board "dating' seems to be a very American word.... if I'm going out with a guy a few times... I'd say i'm seeing him.... just to add another one in there !

[The_man]

i forgot about "seeing"

[bhzmafia]

At my school; if you are going out, dating, seeing each other - you are exclusive. This could apply to your school.

 

Once you leave school, I agree with southerngirl.

[Honey Pumpkin]

Dating = episodes; i.e. a 'date' on Friday night. It's time limited, in that it would be in hours, and that each date had to be arranged. No big expectations.

 

Going out = boyfriend/girlfriend. You take it for granted that you will see each other at the weekend etc.

 

Maybe there is a cultural divide, because I know in the US the term 'dating' is used more than it is in the UK. Which I think is nice.