Can a man and woman really be "just friends"?

Question

What are your experiences? All answers welcome

Answer 1

only if the woman is ugly, otherwise you spend most of the time trying to persuade her to get in your pants !

Answer 2

I don't know about "just friends", my friends are important to me =P

But yes, even if one or the other may have unrequited romantic feelings about the other at times; two people of opposite sex can and do have friendships with each other.

Although the possibility of cheating on your mate with a friend does exist, I think it's hilarious that one half of the population would be considered off-limits as friends to one partner or the other. May as well just wrap your partner up in a banner that says "NOT TO BE TRUSTED" and send them out into the world.

My outlook is this: Life is tough, and beautiful - if you're with someone of your choosing you had better be able to trust them, and they better be able to trust you. Otherwise, when the going gets really weird, one of you is going to have a meltdown and betray the other. So choose wisely, abide and trust your partner.

Answer 3

In my experiences, it seems that women can be "just friends" with men but it is hard for men to be "just friends" with women. Men might not want to date the girl but they probably want to at least sleep with her. I have a couple of guy friends. And I think of them as only friends. BUT I am not sure they feel the same way. I think if they had the chance to be more then they would. So I think it is possible but it think it can be a lot of work sometimes to not let it cross a certain line just because of the opposite sex thing.

Answer 4

Dude? Let me tell this TRUE STORY! She's been a Friend of mine? For over Three Years. And we're getting along great. I want it to be more. But she's only offering Friendship. But, just this Weekend? She's started coming around. I played the Friend, all this time? And she's starting to see that Ol' Rug ain't so bad, after all. Have as many Friends, as you can. If someone is THAT Special? It can grow to how you both want it. Respect is hard to earn. Friendship is how you go about getting it. Good Luck!

Answer 5

I was very much a Tom Boy growing and most of my friends were male, I had a couple of female friends ... starting dating guys at 17 and continued to have my male friends .. we have been friends now for years and still go places together as strictly friends ..... I just never have looked at them differently and vice versa ... Most of us have gotten married, some divorced, some stayed single but no matter our friendship has endured... so yes ..a man and a woman can really be just friends..

Answer 6

You need to define what you call a friend in as far as it goes . The opposite sex. can only be called a friend. when you get to getting to close it can lead to more especially if you are already in a relationship . How does one put it. so that the line never gets crossed... you can have a friend of the opposite sex. as long as no boundaries are ever crossed. They also need to be introduced into the circle of what you would call the person that you are in a relationship with. if you keep them outside of the relationship then you are ultimately , it will look like your sneaking around or hiding something from the person your already in a relationship with. so think long and hard about this before you do call someone a friend, would you introduce them to the person your in a relationship with?? if not then it looks awful suspicious as to why you want to just call them a friend.
So the answer would be no.
otherwise. they are a friend if the person your in a relationship with already knows this person him/herself...

Answer 7

My best friends is a woman - just to see if the above is true we tried the whole love and sex thing for a few weeks but we work better as friends, so there we are now - after 28 years.

Answer 8

Yes they can...I have several male friends that are just friends. I am married and have a good trusting relationship with my hubby. He has no qualms about my friendships with these men. It is strictly platonic. I have a very close male friend from childhood days and we are able to help each other by our friendship. I can call him any time and vent he'll talk me down and help me see another side of things. It's great getting a male's point of view that is honest that's what friends are for.

Answer 9

Yes but usually one of the friends is attracted. that happened between me and my friend. Well the weird part was that we had been friends for seven years when we realized that we were attracted to each other. We tried to start something but it felt weird after being friends so long. I wish it had worked out though. A relationship like that would be the best.

Answer 10

Yes, I have a really closse male friend, who I do not look at in a sexual way at all, however there is the risk that being so close, if you went out one night got drunk you know the story, it can be quite easy for this to happen as they know you so well, and you feel relaxed around them.
But I wouldn't say this would happen alot unless you were attracted to them

Answer 11

i think so i have a friend who is a boy i am 27 and we have been friends for years. we used to hang out all the time with each other when we where bit younger stay at each others houses when other people where there as well. but there was never any feelings of romance we where genuinly just friends and still are - i think it becomes complicated when one of the people involved does have feelings then its a different kettle of fish !