I mean the flip side of what you are saying is that people aren't allowed to have a social life free from romantic pursuit. Yes, it's a thin line to walk but you are only seeing the view from a person with limited romantic opportunities, not the person who is tired of every social interaction being hijacked by dude number 67897 "out to find people you enjoy spending time with, and maybe some of them are also people you consider pursuing romantically."

Like I totally get your perspective here. Doing things, and then... Organic relationship with no pressure. That's ideal. The problem is that horny dudes hold this ideal in their head, and then use it to justify blowing up every coed activity in existence. You might think, "ok, if she says no, I'll drop it" but the counterpoint is that this ritual becomes a chore for the other side of the fence. You are socially awkward, now imagine that any time you socialize in a group you have to awkwardly defend against someone's iterative advances. And that this happens so often, it begins to color the way you interact with every acquaintance.

Yes, meeting people in group settings often leads to dates. But going into those settings with the intention to find a date is a recipe for problems. This is a subtle, but important distinction which seems lost on a lot of people.