No, the South isn't uniformly conservative. Urban areas tend to behave more like large urban areas* east, west, and north of here. *Rural areas probably behave like large urban areas, but won't admit to it.

Friendships can be made and sex can be had. The trick is to make the friendship and decide that it's worth testing the friendship by adding sex to the formula.

With maturity comes the understanding of how destructive a sexual relationship can be, especially if one party is deeply in love and the other is merely curious. Best for the merely curious party to pass by that opportunity and let the tender heart not suffer a horrible injury if the relationship isn't going to happen. If both parties understand that recreation is a desired activity, and the friendship deepens, excellent.

I suppose that as a relationship evolves it might be entertaining for a group to observe. Dating while camouflaged by a group seems like it might be a more difficult way to get to the intended sex part, but would offer moral support of the relationship didn't get off the ground.

SRS