ShinChuck wrote:I imagine it varies a bit by the person/situation.
I'm American, from Detroit, and also spend some time in Kansas City when I was in the Army, and I'd say it varies by the person. I was never much of a socialite, I had some friends who were all over the place, and the place depended on their personalities. Coffee shops were prominent amongst my school friends, for others, it was clubs or car events. I knew one guy who had a few dates a week, just hitting up people on the internet through MySpace and Facebook.
Myself, I never did much of that. My dates were mostly work or school peers. But it does seem like Americans can be pretty obsessed about dates and meeting potential dates. It's not even uncommon to "date" without being "in a relationship", but that does lead to potential drama, because not everyone feels that way.
Just my anecdotal two cents as an American.
Now that's most interesting as it sums up exactly the part that was confusing me, the whole, 'dating without being in a relationship part'! It does seem to be an American thing - but we adopt everything American over here eventually so no doubt we will take that fashion up soon, and yes, the whole 'date two people at once and then choose which one is serious'!
How would anyone have the energy, I decided long ago I didn't have the time, money or energy for one relationship - never mind several at once!!
Strangely I can see why Frasier is attractive to women, it's his intelligence and education, he would be fun to talk to, though I think in the long run he'd be much more fun as a friend than a boyfriend!