Is this a date?

[Tesserax]

Hi! It's been awhile since I've posted here but I figured you guys could probably help me out with this kind of thing. My issue? I have no clue if I'm actually on a date with a person or not. I'm always the one that initiates, but I don't know how the other person receives it which is the issue. I'll give a couple of examples:

Example 1: Hey, would you like to go watch a movie and maybe grab dinner after? (affirmative response and conversation ensues on plans)

Example 2: Would you be free to grab lunch on (insert date here)? It's been awhile since we last met and I think we should catch up. (affirmative response and conversation ensues on plans)

Example 3: Hey, do you want to go bowling some time? I know a place nearby we could try and at the same time catch up, and maybe we can get a bite to eat afterwards. (affirmative response and conversation ensues on plans)

Hypothetical, although 1 and 2 are based off real events, but what would you people think? If you did indeed give the thumbs up to hanging out, would you think it's a date in each scenario? How do you differentiate between hanging out just as friends or actually dating without specifically asking the person or mentioning that it's a date?

tl;dr, I don't know when I'm actually on a date or not. I'm good at dating, but when I ask somebody out on a date, I don't know if they know it's a date, or if it is at all, if you get what I mean. I don't know how to read their expectations of an outing, how to make my intentions clear, how to differentiate between a date and just hanging out as friends.

If you have any questions of your own regarding actually dating, I seem to be pretty good at that so feel free to PM me and I'll try to help you out with your own issue/problem.

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read this guys, and thanks for your responses!

[Dalcourt]

Well, whether I'd consider it a date or not depends for me on the person who is asking me. And sometimes if I'm not sure about their intentions I am blunt enough to ask them but that's just me I'm not sure whether other people would do that, too.

So for me all those scenarios could be dates or just hanging with friends really depends so honestly I can't give you a real answer here.

[ska8er]

Hanging out can b considered as meeting socially to
talk-b by friends that u c regularly-waste time. Catching
lunch or going out for pizza or a soda would b something
that would lead up to dating in the future-it is like a test
to find if the two of u r comfortable with each other or it
can even mean that u knew someone before and u want
to meet again. Something like bowling can mean anything
u want it to mean as long as the other person likes bowling
or whatever else. If the other person doesn't care for it and
u really not know then don't ask but u can say to any of the
questions u asked get to know someone for a time and then
ask them if they want to get together and date-don't spring
something on someone if they do not know u well. If u want
to go for lunch or a movie or pizza or hang out then ask and
tell them u will treat them or b friends and c where it goes
before asking for a date-it all depends on what kind of person
u r and who u r interested in.

[messid]

The first one sounds like a date to me. The other two don't since you're asking to "catch up". I guess the best way to make sure your intentions are clear is to say, "by the way, is this a date?" and if they respond awkwardly or shocked, just laugh off

[Just JT]

I think a lot depends on you the othervperson and the circumstances. Yes it could be viewed as a date, or just getting together as friends. Thing I'd ask you is what was your expectations and were they meet or not. Stuff like holding hands or kissing that person I think could pretty much make it a solid date. But if you went out like that 2 or 3 times with the same person and that's not clear, iteither wasn't a date, or one of you may not be as interested as you thought you were

[Emilyyy]

I think it depends quite a lot on the actual situation. If the person asking to meet up with you is already a friend of yours then I wouldn't automatically assume it's a full on date. However if it was a boy who I'd never really spoken to much before and he asked to go out somewhere with me then I might assume he means it as a bit of a date. Probably as part of the conversation firming up plans I would slyly ask whether this is a date type thing but I dunno if I'd be brave enough to ask.

[jamie_n5]

I think all 3 examples you gave are descriptions of a casual date. So yes they are dates in my opinion.