I’m not asking advice for a personal situation (yet), but seeing two of my friends forge what appears to be a romantic bond, I thought I’d ask the infinitely socially adept population of the SDMB how, without actually asking the persons involved, they would make the distinction.
Any physical touching for reasons short of putting out grease fire on your scalp is early-stage romance.
Beyond that, I got nothing.
Generally, if there’s no flirtation whatsoever in the early stages, I’m not too hopeful it’s going to happen later. So just look for signs of flirting/flirty behavior (touching, any references to sex or sexual appreciation, subtle or otherwise, plenty of smiling/giggling, etc.)
Even when there is flirtiness going on though, of course that doesn’t mean there will be a romance.
if you are female and do not look like a sea hag: he wants it to be early-stage romance.
if you are male: if you have to ask, it’s a friendship.
OTOH, you can always refer tothis handy chart to figure it all out.
I don’t know that this is necessarily right. Most men are pretty clueless when it comes to signs (me included).
Prolly woodies ‘n’ stuff.
It’s pretty tricky. Usually, my subtle as a water buffalo trick is to corner one of them alone without making eye contact, as if offering stolen merchandise from my overcoat, and whisper, “So? You and head nod in the other’s direction? Eh? What’s up?” which usually merits either a blush and a diminutive response or uproarious laughter at my expense which alerts the rest of the party to my total misread of the situation.
I say flirting. Extended eye contact. More compliments than usual. More focus on you and your life. Invites to solo stuff like movies and beach and “wanna play scrabble?”. More phone calls. More touchy-feely when you’re out somewhere dancing and drinking and having fun.