Why is modern dating like this?

What I mean about that is like... People recently has started saying more and more that they "Want a partner", instead of "I want [someone] to be with me". I know sometimes it's not said with bad intent, but it really feels like they view dating as "filling a role" of sorts. Like they don't care about the person that is in that position, but they care about how good they can fill that role in their lives. I've seen it many times before, and it's been bugging me a lil'.