Let’s start off with this excellent definition which we took from those wonderful people at Wikipedia. If you haven’t checked out this site then you are in for a treat as it is the font of almost all knowledge although it is human edited and so likely to have the occasional strange interpretation or fact.

Our interpretation of their words are that in the eyes of many people, casual dating is as casual as you want it to be but does not include being distant or uncaring towards another human being. In fact, there seems to sometimes be a mutual recognition that emotional support would be appreciated but not to the degree that a full-time relationship is in the offing. Many of us get into no strings attached relationships without the help of a casual dating service.

“A casual sexual relationship, casual relationship, or casual dating, is a physical and emotional relationship between two people who may have casual sex or a near-sexual relationship without necessarily demanding or expecting the extra commitments of a more formal romantic relationship. Motives for casual relationships vary.^[1] There are significant gender and cultural differences in acceptance of and breadth of casual relationships,^[2][3][4][5]as well as in regrets about action/inaction in those relationships.^[6]

A casual relationship may be part-time, or for a limited time. It may or may not entail partner-exclusivity. In each case, the relationship’s dominance in the lives of those involved is being voluntarily limited, and there is usually a sense that the relationship is intended to endure only so long as both parties wish it to. Casual relationships sometimes include mutual support, affection and enjoyment, which underpin other forms of a loving relationship.^{[citation needed}]

People in a casual sexual relationship are sometimes referred to as “friends with benefits”, but the terms may differ in that the latter term carries less of the implication of relations beyond sexual activity. A one-night stand is also different, as a casual sexual relationship extends beyond a single sexual encounter. To the extent that casual sex outside of casual relationships includes casual sexual contact, the casual sex is generally focused on fulfilling sexual desires rather than romantic/emotional needs” This is attributed to Wikipedia and so please follow the link if you want to learn more.

The one thing you can be certain of is that you always have the right to say no and that safe sex is the best sex particularly with someone who is almost stranger to you. The best suggestions we can offer for staying safe is do not divulge your personal details until you are at ease and always meet up for the first couple of times in a busy place. When you are at ease a hotel room is a darn site safer than going to the room of someone you hardly know. Bottom line is that casual dating is not much different from any other type of dating. Keep it real, stay safe and have fun.