<p>I don’t think there’s anything nefarious about it most of the time. It’s just a way to let the other person know that you’d like to spend some time with the person but are not interested in a romantic relationship. It’s a way of saying, “I don’t consider this social outing a romantic date.” There’s nothing wrong with that.</p>
<p>Cobrat, your friends simply got the wrong impression when they asked those people out, but their impressions were quickly corrected in a manner that saved face for everyone. It’s better than having the woman turn to you in the middle of dinner to say, “I hope you don’t think this is a date.”</p>