(Ed. Note: this was originally written a month and a half ago. The personal aspect was no longer applicable as of mid-November).
I must be getting old.
I remember a time when the process went like this: guy meets girl and strikes up conversation. Guy asks for Girl’s number, which she gives to him. Guy calls Girl, and after an appropriate (but varying) amount of phone conversations, they go out together. After an appropriate (but varying) amount of dates, they figure out what they want to do - if anything.