[zozbot234]

Very good point, this whole notion of "asking X out on a date" is an anti-pattern if you're genuinely trying to get to know each other socially. If you want to "date" in a formal sense, do it after the interest has been clearly reciprocated not before. Anything else really is quite creepy, and it's no surprise that people outside the U.S. will mostly reject it outright.

[soupxix]

maybe in this or that country. in many countries, including the US, "asking X out on a date" is a perfectly normal pattern to genuinely getting to know someone socially and isn't considered "creepy" at all. in general, more people should be more forgiving, especially of foreigners, who try to get to know people socially, especially when it comes down to usage of a single word.