When is too soon to be introduced to a dude's friends?

So, when you're just starting to date someone new, when is an appropriate time to introduce the guy or girl to your friends?  Is there really an appropriate time?

To me, I've always thought it's somewhat of a big deal to intro a new suitor to my friends -- I try to avoid it, because let's face it, my friends are judgy. Lol, no I mean, they just want the best for me, so I think they tend to be critical of the guys I date and I do love them for it.  However, because of the kind of guys that I like, I sometimes just know that the poor guy will not be received well...or my friends will just be super nice and tell me after the relationship has crashed and burned how the poor guy was just not a good guy.

Anyway, the reason I ask about this is because I just wonder how big of a deal is it.  Do guys think it's a big thing to introduce friends to girls they're seeing, or is it their way to see how they'll hold up against the friend test?

So, a couple of months ago I went on my second date with Divorcee dude and I was introduced to his best friends that night -- like, I was NOT expecting to be thrown into that situation so soon.  Then last night, I went on an interesting date -- I was introduced to the guy's roommates, who happen to be 2 girls.  Which was totally cool, they were super fun chicks and I got along really well with them.  Then when we went out, I was then introduced to some of the dude's good friends.  Like, the entire time I was thinking, 'what has he told them about me?'

Pretty much that's my biggest hang up about the entire meeting-friends-so-soon thing.  What are they telling their friends about you at that point?  I mean, the friends on both occasions were actually all so welcoming and sweet, and let's face it - I work in PR, I can pretty much talk to anyone about anything, so there's not much to worry about on my end.  But for me, on the second or third date, you yourself aren't sure what you really feel about that other person yet, and then throwing friends into the mix I think complicates situations entirely.

I don't know -- I just think a second or third date is a bit too soon!  I want to be all melty and excited about spending time with that guy on those first few dates.  There's plenty of time to meet friends if that person is going to stick around.  Shouldn't it be something that you ease them into?

Just my two cents. What do y'all think?

#backupguys

Do y'all have them?

I think the common definition is a guy who is usually more than a friend but less than a relationship, someone you keep on backup when you need them.  Sounds horrible doesn't it?  Like when all else fails, call your backup guy and he'll make you feel better -- he won't be your Mr. Right, but he'll boost your ego and distract you from that jerk that you REALLY like who treated you like crap.

Ok, so I don't have one specific 'backup guy', but what I have noticed through all my dating disasters lately is that I've been getting over the jerks pretty quickly (obviously after some major dramatics to my friends, and a lot of questioning about wtf happened to guy x or guy y...but pretty quickly nonetheless) because I'm easily distracted by other random boys that I've gone on dates with, and have gotten along with, but don't really LIKE LIKE.  I mean, they're totally cute and very sweet boys, but just not the one I want to hear from.  You know?  And it got me to thinking a little bit  -- are these backup boys helpful or hurtful to me?

In the grand scheme of things, yes, it's great that I'm able to bounce back quickly.  For example, after the horrible date at the Motorcycle & Tattoo show with Divorcee (who I had dated over a month) when he ignored me for 2 weeks (only to message me again after I returned from my trip to Chicago), I had ended up rekindling things with a guy (let's call him Dancer Dude) I had met 2 months prior and even ended up going out on 2 dates with him within those 2 weeks Divorcee was ignoring me.  So obviously when Divorcee texted me again out of nowhere, I was essentially unfazed because I was being distracted by Dancer Dude.  Then, when things with Dancer Dude slowed down a bit due to his work schedule, I had already gone on another couple of dates with Military guy.  Now that Military guy is being all jerky and MIA, I've gone ahead and schedule a couple of dates next week with some other folks (Dancer Dude has asked to be scheduled in as well).  Endless cycle of backup guys.

But at some point, being distracted by the backup guys is really just a mind trick -- and I'm going to run out of the backup guys to keep distracting me at some point!  So what happens then?  Do I recycle? Because inevitably, based on previous experience with the BOOMERANG BOYS that I date, I'll end up with some sort of drama from an 'ex' who had decided he wants to canoodle again.

So, what do y'all think - is the reliance on backup guys a help or a hindrance?  Or is it TRULY time for a Dating Detox?