A friend and I were talking about what in means to be going out with someone and have differing views.
I'd be interested to hear what everyone's views are on the subject.
What defines going out with someone rather than just being friends in your opinion?

Oooooh, I'd say in the very beginning, going out has is a little something extra in the air, a certain potential for something to develop, an ever so slight anxiousness even... of the possibility of a possibility for romance to blossom that friends usually don't have. But, lol, I rather suspect you'll have as many versions as you do answers here!

Once you make the choice to be girlfreind or boyfreind you tell the whole world you are exclusive and are committed to a relationship. Dating is the start of that relationship and where you check each other out and get to know someone.

I think that's up to the individuals in question as everyone has their own ideas about what constitutes "going out" as opposed to "just friends." Personally I prefer the direct approach in that when two people explicitly agree to see each other exclusively, that's "going out." Until that happens, as far as I'm concerned, all bets are off and everything and everyone's fair game.

Yeah I think the definition of being someone's boyfriend/girlfriend is when you both decide to see each other exclusively... and neither of you date other people.
It usually progresses with time too... whereas a friendship doesn't progress the same as a relationship, if you get my drift :p lol

Is it just that you don't do anything sexual with other people or is there something more that it means?

I think being friends with someone is how you treat a friend of the same sex.
While going out with someone I believe is instead of wondering whether you are you get the fact straight with the other person involved.

I think it should be easy to determine if someone is your gf/bf...

It needs to be mutual and I've never had to actually ask my gf's to be my gf's. You should gain, through time, respect and monogomy with the person your with, based on a deep emotional connection. It obviously includes only sleeping with that person, but that type of thing shouldn't need to be addressed.

I think any other loose interpretations of a gf/bf are not a true relationships. Like open relationships... BS.

I think being friends with someone is how you treat a friend of the same sex.
While going out with someone i believe is instead of wondering whether you are you get the fact straight with the other person involved.

Sorry didn't really make my question clear. I'm not confused about whether I'm in a relationship with someone I just wanted opinions on what defines girlfriend/ boyfriend status to other people. I was saying it was to do with being monogomus but my friend was saying it's to do with "being a team and always knowing where the other person is etc".
On reflection though I started thinking about my ex who I had an open realationship with which contridicts my own definition...
I suppose really it's to do with being in love with someone who's also in love with you.
I've confused myself with the question now, lol.

Your friend seems like a control freak to me!

A relationship to me is being mongomus that's what its all about. Only being with that 1 person.
Truly loving each other, wanting to spend the rest of life together.

But if you and your ex made it clear it was an open relationship and suited both of you then that's OK.
Not my style though.