People don't believe me when I say that in all my 54 years of living, I've never been on a date. Dating isn't the only route to get to know someone. I meet someone, and according to the things we have in common, we do those things together, visit each other, hang out often, and do what friends do. Friends don't date, they do what friends do, they represent one another, back each other up, share so much in common that one already knows what the other is thinking before the other says a word. A good friend can be shopping and spot something feeling, I know he or she would like that (and sometimes they would buy or get it for them). I believe that from the start of friendship, in time it would grow to the point of becoming Good Friends, Special Friends, or even Best Friend. But it all starts from getting acquainted. Friends don't think about sex with each other either. I don't see women as sexual objects, just human beings, so I don't approach them with sex anywhere in my mind.
I don't know if I sound weird to any of you, but this is me, and I've run across many people who just don't believe it or understand.