Dating vs Seeing Someone: What’s the Difference?
Almost everyone has gone on dates and most definitely found someone that you like being around and hope to get on the same page with. In the pursuit of entering a committed relationship or serious relationship, you must seek to understand the difference between dating vs seeing someone. These are two different terms that may sound similar but they are quite different.
These terms are sometimes loosely thrown around and the meaning is lost. It is good to fully understand them so you can correctly classify your dating life and put things into perspective. Also, when you go through this article, considering these various things will get you to think about what you are doing, where you are in life, and where you want to go. It is also good when you are intentional with your wants and needs so you can be clear with your partner and be sure where you want to go in your relationship. This will allow you not to waste your time or anyone else’s when you are dating.
Casual dating and going on dates can sometimes be misunderstood when trying to build a relationship. Dates are important but sometimes they can be misunderstood during the early stage as one will need to understand while figuring out the relationship.
Social media has blurred the difference between dating exclusively and super casual interactions. There has been intertwined with the modern culture of hooking up with seems to have destroyed the understanding of certain relationships. There is a considerable amount of information that has created some confusion between dating and seeing someone. The current action when two persons spend time can also be misconstrued as even on TV the meaning of the two has been changed. The hooking up culture has been how some persons in a relationship started their journey, however, this may not be for everyone. Dating in the current environment can be confusing and for some may see them not pursuing a relationship but just to have a quick fling.
Individuals may be in an exclusive relationship, so they may be putting their best foot forward when dating someone. From the early stage of the relationship, there may be exclusivity talk but when exploring a serious relationship, there will be discussions about the good and bad things. The whole point is that from the first date it is important to communicate properly with the person. Your partner in life should be someone that you can date and be friends with as you pursue relationships. Either men or women, it doesn’t matter, they will love to maintain close relations and would love to see everything grow.
When dating, especially trying to form a relationship, you may consider if you are meeting your partner’s friends or family members. This can be a good indication if you are exclusively dating or just menu dating. The main difference for a person you are in a relationship with as compared to casual dating (seeing someone) is the level of commitment that you will discuss from as early as the first date.
Dating can go through a few stages, it is good for you to understand them so when you are interacting you know what you are doing. This article will seek to see the difference between dating exclusively and seeing someone and what they mean. Even simple activities such as a post on a social media site should be explored to see what it can mean for you.
Dating vs Seeing Someone: What Are The Differences?
✦ Dating Someone
➤ What is Dating?
Dating is a well-known term that is understood in many cultures that really means you are dating and seeing if this person and you will work out together. Whether it is a guy looking for a girlfriend or a woman looking for a boyfriend, dating is a way to feel comfortable with each other. There is no wrong or right way to date but it is important to realize when you are dating, there should be some kind of commitment. Your word is a bond when you are talking and you should try to have fun when you are dating exclusively.
➤ The progression of dating
When dating, it is always a great moment to find someone with great conversation. At the beginning of the relationship, it is great to discover this and it is indicative of what the future can bring. It is understood that when you start dating someone, the point of each date is to get to know the person and start out as friends. In the beginning, there is no formal commitment but just talk and fun. Most people expect a little too much when dating and seeing someone. The conversation has to naturally progress to other activities as you move from being casual and becoming a more committed partner. Sometimes strong feelings are present and the love story just happens it may be hard to explain but relationships must go through stages.
➤ Exclusively dating vs casually dating
Professional advice may try to distinguish the difference between dating exclusively dating and seeing someone who is far more casual than having a formal partner. When dating someone there is a point where you decide to become more than friends and it will involve some amount of commitment to show the exclusive nature of your relationship.
Dating exclusively or casually will all depend on a few factors. How many people you are dating and what you are looking for from the activities. Things like casual sex or other casual activities are also things you should consider when exploring your relationship.
➤ Dating or friends with benefits
Whether you are dating or you are friends with benefits, this is something that should also be thought about when thinking about casual dating. Friends with benefits can lead to a more serious relationship but dating and seeing how the relationship will progress will indicate how it will work out.
➤ Common Dating Activities?
Dating is normal the initial part of a relationship with a person starts as friends and then moves past a point to make the other person more significant in your life. When it is an honest guy or some other guy, you will have to be seeing someone to see if they are wrong or right for you. So during the stage where you will have to date, there are a few things that may interest you as an idea for a date.
If you are curious, you can get an idea from various places. Whether it’s guys or a girl that is setting the stage for the date, seeing someone can be exciting as you get to know a person. Typically dating involves some fun or play activities that allow for great communication and can bring feelings of interest. Activities such as going to the beach or going to the movies are casual activities that set the stage for good conversation. This is casual and can set the tone for the future when you talk and keep going on great dates.
Dating can also involve going to restaurants to have a nice meal and have a good conversation when you are with each other. This is a cool and chill environment so you can get to know each other while you are spending time together. This is a common activity that persons exploring a relationship will do as it makes them create memories together.
Another good activity for dating will be doing mutual activities that you both enjoy. This will include things such as dancing, skiing, horseback riding, or any activities that you both enjoy. It is a great way to spend time together to create an atmosphere to learn about each other while on your journey.
✦ Seeing Someone
➤ What is Seeing Someone?
Some call it seeing someone or dating someone but however, you are building your relationship, spending time with the person is what makes the difference. A date can be casual and as you move through the stages you will progress to be more than a friend and you start to build your story.
Once you are moving to a more serious stage, then some will want to introduce their partner to their family and any friend they may have. Dating someone and doing these introductions are a strong part of the relationship. Whether you are talking to each other for fun or for the future, the family members are an important step to ensure you can put your mind to rest. Also, if you are a public person who likes to post to a social media site, then you can go ahead and show the world your relationship. The site will be open to your followers and they will see all that you share with them.
If you are posting your significant other whether you are dating exclusively or casually dating. This would mean that you are proud of them and do not mind others seeing who you are dating and this means that you may want to move forward with them. Also, on their side, if they do not mind you posting them then that can be a good sign that they may want to progress with you as well.
The “seeing someone” stage is quite exciting once you are moving towards a future especially one that may include marriage. To some, seeing someone is a more casual stage than formally dating someone. Especially when you are exclusively dating a person, this leads towards a more serious relationship that can form the main difference between the two thoughts.
Essentially, it can be said that dating is more intentional to go into a deeper, more meaningful relationship. A casual relationship may be how it starts but when it is casual, this is more about feeling out the person and seeing what they are like. When you consider to date, this is when you possibly have decided this person is worth exploring and you are looking to see them in different scenarios. Also, it will include communication and learning more about each other as you go along.
➤ What Do You Do?
When you move towards a serious relationship, your hobbies, interest, and differences come together as you move to make life with the other person. Whether you are a guy or girl, you will want to engage in activities that are exciting for your other person or a group of persons who want to enjoy each other’s company.
This is also a good way to feel out for each other when you are around friends and family to see the interactions of them all. If they fit with your closest people this can be a good indication to you if this should be someone you can be with. If it works that is a good signal to you that you can safely move forward. This will indicate to you whether you should continue to see the person or to move to more formally dating them.
Things like a vacation, even with family are things that help to set the stage for marriage in the future. Having a partner in life does have a few benefits and the relationship can grow as you keep dating and having fun as you spend time together. Having someone you can depend on is a good feeling and one that everyone should experience.
Things such as kissing on a date are a wonderful experience and are even more enhanced when you are in a committed relationship. Having a loving relationship with your partner is what makes the difference between dating exclusively and just seeing someone. A relationship based on deep commitment is what makes the difference and it is even much better once you start to include sex. When you move to this stage, this means that strong love can be present which can be rare when you are just dating early in the relationship.
Moving to the next level including a sexual relationship would indicate a more serious engagement with your partner. Some choose to do this casually with different people but if you choose to settle with one person to pursue this, that means this would be a more committed relationship.
The Spectrum: Where Are You?
When analyzing your relationship, you can try to determine where you are on the spectrum of seeing and dating someone. You can first think about the number of persons you are dating. Also, are you pursuing a relationship with one person while the others are in the background? Have you introduced them to your family and friends? Are you at the stage where you post the person to your favorite social media site? These questions help you to consider where on the dating or seeing someone spectrum you are.
Some of the differences to consider are if you are dating and haven’t settled down as yet. There may be others you are looking at before you make any long-term decisions. Did you meet any of their family or friends? When you consider these things in your relationship, then you can get an idea of how serious things are. Commitment is something you will have to consider before you settle down with a particular person. While you are casually dating, then this will take time before you make up your mind on what will work best for you.
It is possible to be in between the stage so it can go either way. If you like the person and would like to see how things are going you can explore these thoughts. You may have to give them a little time but if you are engaged in a relationship, then you can explore all the different things in your dating life to see where you are going.
The spectrum is a good conversation to have as you can appreciate when you move from one end to another. This includes moving from a casual less thought about life to a more serious thought intentional lifestyle. The spectrum will also represent growth as you get older and become more responsible and start to move towards the more settled side of the spectrum.
Final Thoughts
Relationships can be complicated when you are dating and trying to figure out where you stand in someone’s life. When you go on dates this is how you grow in the relationship. and build the connection between each other. The article seeks to explore the difference or differences between dating and seeing someone when in a relationship. There can be differences based on where you are in the relationship and also based on the number of people you are dating.
When you consider the various stages of a relationship, it can be up or down. Dating is necessary as you will explore each other hopefully to the full extent of possibility seeking the goal of marriage. As you start from the first date, it can grow over time until you start to become seriously involved and you can build towards the future. This includes movement on the spectrum of casual dating to more intentional relationships where you are more committed to your partner. This helps you to be focused when you are in your relationship so you can be sure of your decisions and exactly what you want from your partner. This can save loads of heartache and save a lot of time as you will be clear on what you need and what you will require from them.
As your relationship grows, it is a great thing, so it should be enjoyed as you go through the motions. Dating is important as you grow and it facilitates the human contact that we all need. Relationships are important as you grow and look to have stability in your life. There are persons who thrive in a casual more friends with benefits lifestyle but this may not work for everyone.
Once you confirm a commitment to your partner, this will allow you to basically give them a promise that you are in the relationship for the long haul and you can grow and learn from each other. Integrating your family and friends in this commitment can help you to confirm the decision you have made to move forward. If they confirm and like your partner’s choice, this makes it feel good that you are choosing to move ahead with someone who your closest people like and will endorse for you. These are simple things but true happiness will make you overall happier and more productive in life while you are making positive steps.
