Boyfriend/Girlfriend?

So, the other day, I was talking to a friend of who started dating someone a couple weeks ago. I asked her if they were officially dating (or, I suppose, dating exclusively, boyfriend/girlfriend, whatever you want to call it). She said she didn't want to bring it up to him because she'd heard that men get antsy/freaked out by labels.

Also, on the same note, the other day at work, a male coworker was passing on advice to another younger male coworker. One of the tidbits he had to offer is, if he starts dating a girl and she brings up 'what are we?' - brush it off with 'we don't need to label things'.

Hmm. I think you may be able to guess my thoughts on this one.

Now, for me, I like labels. Shocking, I know. If I am going to be romantically involved with a guy, I would like to establish that we are 'boyfriend/girlfriend'. Now, I don't necessarily know the protocol on this one (or is there even a protocol on this one?) - does one say 'are we boyfriend/girlfriend?' or 'what are we?'. I've been in four 'relationships' (if you will) - I think in each of them, things went down differently. And honestly, I don't know what the norm is; nor, do I think, does anyone else.

I guess, for me, I the thing that I find a bit off-putting about the above suggested male way of thinking is a) I believe it's designated to leave room to, perhaps, leave one's options open for a random hookup or 'someone better', if you will (which is fine if that's a mutually shared feeling in the relationship), or b) perhaps it's more convenient to not have to establish an actual relationship with someone so that, in the instance one decides things aren't going to ultimately work out, he or she can just kind of 'disappear' or ease out of the situation without the actual awkward breakup conversation (who likes those?). Or, option c) this perhaps gives one the freedom from certain relationship obligations - no airport pickups, family parties, moving assistance, etc. I suppose this freedom can benefit both parties in the 'non-relationship'.

Anyhow. Again, as I said, I like labels. Sure, I definitely want to take my time in getting to know a person before making some sort of commitment to him (and by that, I mean even as little a commitment as agreeing to a relationship), however, I like the 'boyfriend/girlfriend' label. And if some say this scares guys off - well, a guy who scares easily is a turnoff for me. What is the protocol these days? Is there a 'relationship talk' of some kind? Are there a lot of couples in 'undefined' relationships, if you will? Is this the same principal of 'a rose by any other name' - are these 'relationships' just as serious as 'defined relationships'? Does the 'boyfriend/girlfriend' talk scare all men?

Your thoughts?