What's the method behind the madness?

So what's the deal? Do people date or is that a thing of the past? Do you ask out someone you're attracted to in an attempt to get to know them or jump straight into a relationship like a kid at a middle school dance? Just curious what everyone thinks the norm is. Personally I've always been a date to get to know them and then call it 'official' if it feels right after a few, but I know people who meet someone at a bar, take them home, and are together the next morning (I assume based off not much more than physical attraction but I dunno).

I never really dated either of my exes. They just lived in my dorm.