A way to figure out if you’re dating or hanging out?

My last pseudo date has inspired me to be more proactive in figuring out a means to distinguish the time I spend with the opposite sex as a date or just hanging out. Of course I only call it a pseudo date because it’s still unclear to me whether it was hanging out or if it was an actual date. After much soul searching, late night phone calls with every kindred spirit I could talk to/person willing to pretend like they were listening to me, a new resolution to this problem has presented itself to me.

The resolution? A friend suggested just plain being up front and demanding for clarity with the simple question of, “So, is this a date?”

It seems so easy, but I’m half skeptical about this. I’m afraid of coming off as desperate and possibly clingy. To me, there’s a reason why guys insist on “hanging out” with girls. The reason is, they don’t want to commit to anything just yet, so in proposing to hang out they’re safe guarding themselves from a girl that’s actually desperate and clingy (who at the same time is great at masking these character flaws).

Part of me understands that there isn’t any harm in asking. My time is precious too, ya know? BUT at the same time, what’s to be said about this cool, nonchalant-girl-who-doesn’t-give-a shit-facade that I’ve been putting up? I’ve been playing that card, forever.

Maybe I should just get over myself and listen to The Smiths:

Shyness is nice and
Shyness can stop you
From doing all the things in life
You’d like to

Shyness is nice and
Shyness can stop you
From doing all the things in life
You’d like to

So, if there’s something you’d like to try
If there’s something you’d like to try
Ask me I wont say no, how could I?

Coyness is nice, and
Coyness can stop you
From saying all the things in
Life you’d like to

So, if there’s something you’d like to try
If there’s something you’d like to try
Ask me I wont say no, how could I?

Spending warm Summer days indoors
Writing frightening verse
To a buck-toothed girl in Luxembourg

Ask me, ask me, ask me
Ask me, ask me, ask me

Because if it’s not Love
Then it’s the bomb, the bomb, the bomb,
the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb
That will bring us together

Nature is a language - can’t you read ?
Nature is a language - can’t you read ?

So, ask me, ask me, ask me,
Ask me, ask me, ask me

Because if it’s not Love
Then it’s the bomb, the bomb, the bomb,
the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb
That will bring us together

If it’s not Love
Then it’s the bomb
Then it’s the bomb
That will bring us together

So, ask me, ask me, ask me,
Ask me, ask me, ask me
Oh, la…