On relationships. What's the deal

I have decided that I'm missing some important step between "friends" and "dating" or "in a relationship." I don't know what that difference is. The entire pairing-off process confuses me. And I am starting to think I don't like the whole dating thing. I haven't liked one particular guy for sure in years. Even if I did, I don't think I would act that much differently around him than I would around a guy that I honestly just wanted to be good friends with. Ech. It's so confusing and strange. There have been so many times in the past where there would be one guy I would spend a lot of time with, and everyone would be convinced that I liked him, or that we would start dating, or something like that. I've still never had a boyfriend. I don't know when I will. I don't have any prospects at the moment. At the moment, I'm pretty cool with being single. I wouldn't mind having a little more experience, and there are plenty of guys I know right now that I'd really like to get to know better, but spending time with a guy, for me, doesn't necessarily mean that I'm seriously interested in him as anything but a good friend. I have had plenty of guy friends in the past, and I seriously hope to continue the trend. Anyway, there's one more of my rants, for your entertainment and informational purposes.