I'm really curious about different people define casual dating? I recently started going on dates and 'casually' dating a guy from work and I'm interested in learning what people define as dating? Do you like to casually date? What do you think is acceptable on casual dates? Hand holding? Kissing? Etc. Also do you only casually date one person or multiple people until you decide on 'the one' etc? I'm just super curious to hear about people's experiences with it.

- Casual dating sounds like friends with benefits. It's something I would not do any more even if I was single.

My experience with friends with benefits have been awful. All of the guys caused me some sort of emotional trauma. When I was in these sorts of relationships, I was very depressed and hoped that any sort of intimate companionship would help me. But, I became insecure about myself, lost interest in my hobbies, and didn't want to live. My problem is that I wanted a long-term relationship, but none of the guys wanted that. So, what I believe is friends with benefits may only work if both people agree that they don't want a long-term relationship and that neither of them end up falling in love with the other.

Hmmm, never had any experience with this but maybe look at the show F.R.I.E.N.D.S. and see how they causally dated people just for the fun of it. That all I can really think of when I think of the term 'causally dating'.

It does sound a lot like FWB, from what is saying. Maybe just go on dates and see who you click with the most? You don't definitely do not have to do any touching if it makes you uncomfortable. Or vise versa. No real rules to how to do things properly? Lol! You're not committed to one person after one date and you can certainly go on more than one date if you so desire. The best thing would be not to lead anyone on! Just go for it, and have fun and see how it plays out.

To me, casual dating has just been the opening stages of a potential relationship - e.g. you've gone on a few dates with the other person and neither of you have brought up becoming an exclusive couple. IMO anything goes - you can go on dates with other people and do whatever physical stuff that you're comfortable with. My boyfriend and I didn't commit til about 4-5 months after we started dating so I did go out on a few dates with other guys over the months. We've been together almost 2 years now.

Aah I can see how it'd seem like friends with benefits. The guy I've been seeing and myself both had a short chat about what we 'were' and the basis of it was "well we'll go on a few dates and see where it goes." I recently got out of a relationship, not bad or great, and I wanted something without a strict label. My biggest fear is after a month someone will get sick of me, so we decided we'd see where it went?

Yeah the whole gist of it is to go out and do stuff and see just how much we get along. If I wanted a FWB I'd make that obvious, but neither of us want that. We're just kinda doing stuff and seeing how much we click before we decide we're going to officially date or if not. Etc.

Yaaaas. Like I said before, I just hopped out of relationship and didn't want to leap face first into another. I'm glad that you seem to have a 'success story' with casual dating. xD

Casual dating doesn't sound like a very good idea to me. I'm more of a "be friends with someone then fall for them, rest in pieces my heart" kind of person and it's been working like hell until now but it doesn't really matter.

Casual dating? You could go up to sex with someone but it's just that... not serious. If you started in a not-so-serious way, can you upgrade it to something more? Probably not, especially if it's with guys? Depends on the guy? No idea. I never dated, but from what I noticed so far, guys are horrible to date, be with, etc. so you're basically wasting your time with them.

I wouldn't be so negative; just because you don't have any experience and have only heard negative things isn't a reason to get down on someone for doing something outside your frame of reference! I've had friends that have turned casual, even online, dates into something more serious. One of my friends met her current long-term girlfriend off Tinder and they are planning to be engaged... her girlfriend is also the most sweet, caring, and genuine relationship she's been in. So you can definitely go from casual to more serious! It doesn't work for everyone, but everyone is different and relates to dating differently.

I would say the most important thing is, if it starts to get serious to you, that you be honest and open with yourself, and don't let yourself pretend that it isn't for the sake of keeping a thing going. I've had friends that get hurt because either person in the casual dating gets more intense feelings, and wants more from the relationship than the other is able to give. Move at your own pace, be honest with yourself and others, and I'm sure things will work out. Have fun! You deserve it to let your heart heal if you want to date.

Hm, the way you describe "casual dating" just sounds like how I'd describe dating. Where you're not committed to any one person, so whatever you want to do with the person whose company you're in at the time is up to the two of you. I've never "dated" in that sense tbh, since I've sort of just fallen into all of my relationships, but that's how I understand it from those I know who've gone on dates to find someone(s) long-term.