Can men and women ever be in a truly platonic relationship together?

Question

Or is it true what Billy Chrystal's character Harry says in "When Harry met Sally: that "men and women can't be friends because the sex part always gets in the way."

Is there always an undercurrent running in male/female friendships? Or was that wishful thinking on the character's part?

Answer 1

Yes
Sometimes
Yes
Possibly

What makes MF platonic friendships interesting is the undercurrent of which you speak, and as varied as people are, there is also a wide continuum comfort zone in regards to boundaries. There are many delicious temptations that cross our paths every day, from the trivial (say, chocolate) to the profound (a Wilt Chamberlain-style philanderer). In navigating our lives between self-actualization and the care for others, we have choices to make that can enrich ourselves and have peripheral benefit to those whom we are obligated. We can allow ourselves to be seduced by any one of these temptations, or we can can sublimate them. The key is to find and maintain the balance that incorporates all the best things to which we aspire....and maybe have a little (trivial) fun along the way.

Answer 2

That's what ugly, goofy guys like Billy C. say when they don't want to feel rejected.

Of course they can be "just friends" not every woman and man are sexually attracted to each other.(and for that matter not everyone who is sexually attracted to each other want to be friends.)

But if you become really good friends and there is some connection then the natural human response is to express that emotion and desire, be it thru sex or other affectionate contact.
Doesn't necessarily mean you have to act on it even if you want to.For someone sensuous like me, that can be difficult.( but not impossible) - I can be rather "touchy" if I fancy someone, even a friend.
I do think with the right person and relationship affection ,flirting, kissing and even sex can be involved and not "get in the way". (Actually my idea of the an ideal relationship really, is a good friend you can be intimate with. )
But hey I'm just some hippy-dippy, artsy-fartsy, free-loving idiot I suppose.

Answer 3

They can definitely be just friends - for a while. The issue is how long can it stay that way? I honestly don't think there can be a guy/girl friendship without one of them at some point having at least slightly more-than-friendship feelings. Even if people think it is possible to be ONLY friends , do they know what the other person feels? For all they know the other person feels more-than-friendly and is just too cautious to share their feelings.

Answer 4

Yes, platony is possible (though sadly, not a real word...) thanks to modern technology. men and women can be real friends on opposite sides of the globe, conversing in real time about things that really matter, swapping advice, jokes, life stories and gossip in the manner of face-to-face friends without the prospect of sex ever becoming an issue. Flirtatious chat doesn't count because there is no thought of taking it a stage further. How's that for unexpected? The internet becomes the ultimate NON-sex aid..?

Answer 5

yeah, guys and girls can be friends, and very good friends without it being a sexual thing. i've been friends with lots of girls throughout my life without it ever having sexual undertones, even if i did have a passing sexual thought about some of them. however, you can also be very good friends with a partner you love, which not only makes the "sex part" wonderful, but every other aspect of the relationship wonderful as well.

Answer 6

I believe that men and women can be in truly Platonic relationships.

Answer 7

i believe men and women can be JUST friends. but that's just me. i have two friends. i consider them brothers almost. never have they crossed the line with me, and i doubt they ever would.

Answer 8

Of course, I have lots of them

Answer 9

i almost agree with dim, but you know...

Answer 10

Yes, if they are gay.