Why do you want to date someone?

In my life, I’ve never really dated. I’ve gone out with people, but they weren’t formal dates. They were just ways of getting together. Why did I want to get together with these women? Well, there was something I already admired about them. For one reason or another, they gave me a kind of buzz. I felt like there was a distinct possibility of love.

My sense today is that people know much less about others when they date them. I think that it is less likely that they have a sense this is a person they could love. The dating process is more the beginning of a filtering process rather than the tail end of it.

When you date (if you are dating), or if you had to date (if you are in a long term relationship), what do you think it would be like, for you, emotionally speaking? Would a date be an intense thing, or fairly low key? Are you just looking to find out more about someone, or are you looking to see if the sparks are real?

If you start low key, how long might it be (number of dates, or days or weeks), before it becomes a sparks flying situation? Do you have a hunch about a person right away, or does it take time for a relationship to evolve where you are concerned?