Think of the past three adult dating relationships you’ve been in. How did you meet those people? A bar? How about the grocery store? Maybe at school or in a dormitory? Or did you know them because they were somehow in your circle of friends? 51% of men and women tend to only date inside their circle of friends. Does this stat apply to you?

Clearly, dating inside your circle of friends is common because it is easy. You don’t have to look far to find your next partner, and you may feel comfortable around the person already because you are already friends or acquaintances with them. Dating friends or friends of friends is also easy because the introduction process is pretty much taken care for you. Your friends can do the dirty work of finding out if anyone likes you, or if anyone will be willing to take out out on a date. This may sound juvenile and high school-esque, but it definitely still happens  amongst grown women.

However there is a down side to only dating inside your circle of friends. For one, it is a little incestuous. Knowing that you and all of your female friends have swapped spit and possibly more bodily fluids with a handful of the same guys in never a good thought. Are you really okay with the fact that you’ve had sex with the same guy as your friends? Another thing is gossip. Gossip loves to travel, especially through little groups of friends who “know something about someone but swore not to say anything but will tell you if you promise not to say you heard it from me”. Then, what happens after you break up? There is always an awkward period after a breakup. You may lose some friend for a while until the air cools between you and your ex. Friends always pick sides during a breakup. You may think you aren’t affecting people’s lives, but you really are. Think twice before you decide to continue dating friends or friends of friends.

 

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