“So are you guys dating or do you just hook-up a lot?” My friend squirmed over the question.

“Well, we’re not really dating or anything but it’s not just random hookups either, I’d say we’re . . . thinging?”

Ah. At first, I had absolutely no clue what the hell this was supposed to mean. But upon completing additional research, I came to the stunning realization that “thinging” is a brilliant innovation. A word so ambiguous that it provides infinite leeway to those involved.

My friend had effortlessly defined the limbo in which millions of young men and women find themselves: “thinging.” I was floored by this revelation. Here was something that was less than dating, but greater than hook-ups, the missing link between a committed relationship and a meaningless throwaway.

“Thinging” seems strangely accurate in defining a good number of college relationships. As a hybrid between the sometimes-irritating relationship and the reputation-shattering hookup-buddy, “thinging” seems a pretty powerful tool for committing in the least committed way possible.

This, to the untrained eye, could be seen as something somewhat strange or confusing. Someone unfamiliar with the situation might say, “What the hell is the difference?” or “You just don’t want to change your Facebook relationship status, huh?” But these people are dead wrong.

This brand of relationship has existed for a long time, but never before had I seen it so prevalent, nor heard it so eloquently portrayed. By giving it a name, countless not-quite-relationships become validated under its umbrella.

“Thinging” is the manifestation of every uncertain young person’s dream circumstance. If you’re “thinging”, there’s no need to fear. If you “break up,” it doesn’t even count as being dumped. Hell, you never even acknowledged the relationship’s existence in the first place, so how could its end possibly be an issue?

This same principle applies to the pair that gets drunk and hooks up regularly, but with no other real contact with one another. The random hook-up, while undoubtedly a pleasant experience, never really works out for more than about three weeks.

“Thinging” affords the young terrified person a longer grace period to make up his/her mind. If everything goes smoothly, maybe a relationship will in fact materialize from these inconspicuous beginnings, or, if it all goes downhill, they can get out with their dignity relatively intact.

So it is with great enthusiasm that I support this innovation in relationship terminology. “Thinging” is the best thing to emerge from this field since men invented latex condoms. The ultimate combination of commitment and caution has proven the stepping-stone in countless relationships, and will undoubtedly continue its noble work for years to come.

So, before you jump into a relationship, before you run screaming from a potential commitment, remember, it doesn’t have to be that way. There is an answer, and that answer is “thinging.”