[RosieCotton]

But a paradox there is that it may be difficult to tell if someone is a potential marriage partner unless you date them enough (or otherwise see them enough in non-dating situations) to get to know them sufficiently.

I think it's better to get to know someone in a group FIRST. When people date one on one...people are much more likely to be on their best behavior or to inadvertantly hide something of who they are, for better or for worse. Not to mention it can start to make you feel like there is something there that doesn't really exist...just because you're together and start to have shared experience. Don't know if this makes any sense...it's just something I've observed in my own life.

The downside is that the world has changed, and there are few opportunities (off-line) to take part in gatherings with a variety of people in a neutral environment. Used to be there were more dances, gatherings of extended families, church picnics involving LOTS of people - families and singles alike - etc. Society is different now. It's hard.

[TalonDJ]

Very much so. Unless someone is more introverted in which case in a larger group they are pretty much shutdown. But in the non one-on-one situation you are more likely to see the real them.

[Fedora]

I think it's better to get to know someone in a group FIRST.

Agree. But that requires attending group activities which lend themself to that. This can be challenging if either such activities aren't available or if a person is shy in groups. I personally have a crowd phobia that affects me in certain social settings, though not all--I have to be in a certain environment for someone to get to know me.