What is casual dating? It is for you? Well these are two very good questions and one which I hope to answer shortly. However, casual dating has been going on for years but has only been brought to prominence over the last twenty years or so mainly due to the internet. Here we will hopefully answer those two questions.
So What Is Casual Dating?
Let's go back twenty odd years ago. In the "old days" people used to physically to go out, typically on Friday and Saturday nights after pay day to social venues such as bars, pubs, clubs and the local disco or nightclub. Most went out just to have some fun and a good time and if they met someone, well that was a bonus. Some people went out with the aim of "pulling" or "getting laid" or having a "one night stand". If they hit it off with who they had met, they might arrange to meet again, but some went out again the next night or the following week to meet someone new. The latter is "casual dating" where they meet new people all the time for some "fun" and move on to someone else without having any emotional attachment, hence the saying "No strings attached" comes from.
However, in later years due to the internet, hundreds if not thousands of online casual dating websites have sprung up all over the internet and in many countries worldwide. Because of these, the idea of going out on the chance that they may meet someone has all but gone. People can go online, exchange emails, do live chat and arrange to meet for whatever their intentions they may have before even crossing their doorstep. For most, this is both convenient and time saving plus it can save money. So casual dating is not new.
The idea behind casual dating is that two or more consenting adults who have possibly never met before, arrange and agree to meet for "fun", and yes this may include "adult fun" or sex, hopefully have a good time, say their goodbye's and will probably never meet again. They leave without any emotional attachment, they are only interested in the physical part of it. Tomorrow is another day! This is not to say that some go on to form lasting relationships, but it was not the initial intent. In fact, statistics show that 65% of people that engage in casual dating go on to see each other again with around 9% ending up in a long term full time relationship and marriage.
It is a simple fact that the internet has made it so easily accessible to meet like-minded people who want the same thing, taking the anonymity out of the equation.
Is It For You?
Unfortunately this is a question only you can answer. But let's take a look at some of the types of people who use casual dating and their reasons why. Firstly, their are people out there whose lives are just so busy with work and other vocations that they simply don't have the time for a full-on or full-time relationship, but casual dating provides them a service whereby they can call upon someone when it suits their busy schedule.
Then there are those that may have been hurt in a past relationship and just want some "fun" or company when it suits them. I would like to add here that, yes the majority of people who take part in casual dating are in it just for the sex, but there are also those that simply want friendship or some company and many of these do not actually meet in person, they are happy just exchanging emails or live chatting with each other on which ever website they are registered with.
And coming back to sex. Yes, the vast majority of people interested in casual dating are there for a "one night stand", "leg over" or "wam bam thank you mam", tomorrow is another day. But let's take a quick look about morals here.
Morals And Consequences
There are of course those that disagree with the idea of casual dating, it maybe against their morals or beliefs, but if two or more consenting adults wish to meet up for whatever their reasons, they are quite within their rights to do so. Of course, as with any type of online dating there can be consequences and these should be considered before taking part in any such activity. As I said before, the idea behind casual dating is to not get emotionally attached to the other party, but let's face facts here. We are human and it is in our nature to develop and have feelings and this can become a big problem if one side of the coin does develop feelings while the other is completely disinterested. This can cause heartache and pain and in extreme circumstances, "stalking".
There are also certain professional bodies that blame the rise in online dating sites for the increase in sexually transmitted diseases, but it is up to the individuals that take part in these activities, internet or not, to take the appropriate precautions.
At the end of the day, it seems very clear to me and the thousands of people who take part in casual dating that there is a place in society for it, you just need to ask yourself "Is it for me?" and whey up all of what it has to offer.
