You Say Tomato, I Say Dating - Part II

To conclude my thoughts on the definition of dating, I want to reference a conversation I recently had with a good friend. This specific friend has mastered that art of dating that my mom had once so flawlessly executed, and she openly admits that she receives her share of criticism in regards to her style. But she also confidently says that she's just one girl in a big city of people, so having a "flavor of the month" is just a way for her to find THE flavor of her life, and there is no harm in openly and frequently dating especially if she's not giving the flavors any real "sugar". How sweet it is.

So how can we define dating for 2007? I don't think you really can. My mom and good friend have the same old school mentality of keeping dating casual, frequent and constantly changing. But a majority of people I know either keep dating really, really casual to the point of "I'm not sure if we're just friends" or take it the other extreme of getting bent out shape when they write on some one's Facebook wall of the opposite sex and conclude their comment with a ":)" - "What does that mean?! Is he cheating on me?! He doesn't put ":)"s on my wall!!!"

Below are my own, personal definitions of the many layers of dating, take them for what they're worth:

• "We're Talking" = You met someone at a bar, gave them your phone number and now you talk with them randomly on a Tuesday night and you can't seem to remember if they were cute or not - this has little to no potential of going somewhere serious and a HUGE potential of being awkward when you finally meet up with them again
• "I'm Seeing Someone" = Casually talking or hanging out with someone who you may like to date; this person most likely has or will spend many nights with you and your roommates on your couch watching Sex in the City
• "We're Dating" = Seeing someone who may have the potential of being more and this includes going to functions beyond the bar scene and your couch; somewhere in this period you will most likely meet the parents
• "I'm in a Relationship on Facebook" = Whoa, this is getting serious; you are telling all of your 413 closest friends that you're taken
• "This is my Boyfriend/Girlfriend" = Take this one for what its worth; I once had a "boyfriend" for 3 days in the 6th grade and I now have a boyfriend who I know will be in my life forever and turn into "something else"; if your significant other refuses to say this word even if things are serious, be worried, but if he/she acknowledges the term but doesn't throw it around like is confetti, don't be too concerned

So you say Tomato, I say Tomatoe. You say dating, I say what's your defintion?