Kallie Spencer
Staff
Getting to know people is fun and exciting. It is also scary and daunting. Depending on the person, interactions can go well or not at all. Dating is the process of getting to know a person through planning activities and spending time together. It opens the door to romance, commitment, long-term relationships, self-fulfillment, and potentially marriage.
In a survey about dating, Snow College students, residents of Sanpete County, and beyond were asked questions about their perspectives and beliefs surrounding the topic.
When asked about the frequency of their dating life, 41.2 percent answered once every few months, and 21.1 percent said multiple times throughout the month.
Oxford’s dictionary defines dating as “the activity of having a romantic relationship with somebody, or meeting people who you might in future have a romantic relationship with” (Oxford Dictionary, 2024).
Those who took the survey answered the question, “What is dating?” most said the main purpose of dating is to get to know another person. Differentiations were made between going on frequent dates and the level of romance involved.
Often, people confuse the idea of dating with immediate commitment and romance.
Dating should be seen simply as getting to know another person. This can be done easily by meeting at a location for food, games, conversation, and enjoyment.
Commitment does not have to be established immediately. Nor does a date have to be romantic. Dates can be friendly and uplifting. Going on dates opens the door to future romance and commitment. Fifty-nine percent of survey responses said that dating is not considered serious until a direct conversation is had about committing or not.
In today’s world, a person can come across as “bad” for going on dates with multiple people. This should not be the case. Meeting new people is an effective way of expanding friend groups and searching for further opportunities.
If a first date goes well, one should go on a second and third date. More dates can be initiated after that. Following this pattern can allow people to decide if romance and commitment should be pursued.
Opposing ideas today are “dating to marry” versus “dating for fun.” Dating to marry, or courting, is the opportunity for people to date others with an end goal in mind.
This allows people to decide if they are long-term compatible, especially with marriage as the desired result. If not, a person can continue to date others until they find a better match. Fifty-two percent of replies said they date with an end goal in mind.
Dating for fun creates opportunities to meet more people or have steady relationships. This method allows individuals to enjoy dating compared to settling down and getting married. This form of interacting with others can be especially helpful while one is not in a committal phase of life.
Those who don’t aren’t dating to marry had answers such as not being ready, enjoying their younger years, gaining experience, etc.
Dating can be daunting and scary. But what if it could be fun and exciting? Being in the mindset of meeting people without immediate commitment can ease the situation. Dating should be a great experience that leads to opportunities.
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