[C.M.T.]

Is it possible for women and men to be just friends?

User Detail :  

Name : C.M.T., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Hispanic/Latino (may be any race), Religion : Christian, Age : 20, City : Spokane, State : WA, Country : United States, Occupation : student/military, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Deb]

I grew up with 4 older brothers, so I always felt more comfortable with guys as friends. Most of my close friends are male. We have never had any tension when it came to opposite-sex friendship. I could talk about my relationships, and they could talk about theirs without any jealousy or attraction messing up our friendship. I do believe this is a personal thing for many people though. I enjoy guys company more than girls. And guys seem to enjoy my company. But it doesn’t mean either of us have any intention of going any further.

User Detail :  

Name : Deb, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Religion : Christian, Age : 23, City : Syracuse, State : NY, Country : United States, Occupation : clerical, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Heather21465]

Three of my best friends from high school and college are male. The basis for our friendships is respect & (platonic) caring for each other. I say that and it sounds so serious, but understand that we still goof around, pick on each other, and do what normal friends do. It just so happens that they are male and I am female. I will say, however, that they have acted on occasion as ‘older brothers’ even though we’re all the same age. I’m now married, and my husband is good friends with those 3. It’s never been an issue of jealousy on his part. We’ve both got male and female friends at work and socially, and it’s not been a problem. I think it’s only an problem when you make it one.

User Detail :  

Name : Heather21465, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 27, City : Cincinnati, State : OH, Country : United States, Occupation : Engineer, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Claudia31967]

Yes, I think it’s very possible to just be friends with a member of the opposite sex. Take gay and straight friends, I highly doubt most people want an intimate relationship with someone that doesn’t find the opposite sex attractive.

User Detail :  

Name : Claudia31967, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 18, City : Iowa City, State : IA, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Upper class, 

[Matt22018]

It is absolutely posible for a man and a woman to be friends as long as the platonic relationship is absolutely clear to the involved people. but as far as my experience goes, at some point of time, either one of the two or both may want to take the relationship to the next level….

User Detail :  

Name : Matt22018, City : Huntsville, State : NA, Country : United States, 

[Tonya]

I believe that men and women can be ‘just friends’ as long as there is no relationship history behind it. I’m not saying that there can never be a friendship after a relationship either, but in my past experiences it can be difficult because of past feelings/memories. Once a man and woman cross the friendship line, it’s very hard to go back without feeling awkward and uneasy at times.

User Detail :  

Name : Tonya, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Hispanic/Latino (may be any race), Age : 23, City : Dallas, State : TX, Country : United States, Occupation : college student, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Bambie23461]

It’s very possible. I have had many ‘male friends’ over the years and value them just as much as my girlfriends. Having a male friend gives you better insight into the male perspective. Although men and women think differently, we do bring a sense of balance to each other’s lives.

User Detail :  

Name : Bambie23461, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Native American/African American, Religion : Baptist, Age : 34, City : Raleigh, State : NC, Country : United States, Occupation : Pharmeceuticals, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Fatima]

Im married and have male friends…yes you can have men friends as long as you both have the understanding that you are just friends and it can’t go any further than just friends.

User Detail :  

Name : Fatima, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Pentecostal, Age : 24, City : Twinsburg, State : OH, Country : United States, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 

[Niqualyn]

It is actually more normal than most people think. I have quite a few female friends because I am a very sociable person. I have found that not all people of the opposite sex who say they want to be friends are honest, but some are genuine and just enjoy having an opposite point of view.

User Detail :  

Name : Niqualyn, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 20, City : Dallas, State : TX, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Amanda H.]

I am female and my best friend is a male, and sex issues don’t come up, except as jokes. But that might be because my friend is gay.

User Detail :  

Name : Amanda H., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Wiccan, Age : 23, City : baltimore, State : MD, Country : United States, Occupation : Mom, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[D.G.S.]

I work with a predominantly female staff and have become close friends with my co-workers. The friendships haven’t gone beyond that because we’re on the same level of understanding that we’re just friends. I haven’t thought about trying to start a relationship with one of my co-workers. Don’t get me wrong, there are many attractive women, but I know when not to cross that fine line.

User Detail :  

Name : D.G.S., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 31, City : Pembroke Pines, State : FL, Country : United States, Occupation : Teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Pedro]

Billy Crystal’s dialogue on this in ‘When Harry Met Sally’ offers a great explanation on why it’s not possible. That said. I think it IS possible for men and women to be just friends, but the likelihood of that is far less than that of same-gender friends. I guess it depends on what your meaning of ‘just friends’ is. If you mean it to be that neither party has any attraction or wishes for something more than friendship, the possibilities of a platonic relationship go even further down. In my experience and speaking with friends, men are generally always on the lookout for possible partners, sexual or otherwise. Given the opportunity, I believe a lot of male friends would readily switch to more than that. I suppose this happens because men and women often become friends because one side started the relationship with the intent of something more, made a bad turn and ended in the friend category (credit Chris Rock with that one). They may have moved beyond those initial feelings, but there’s usually some remnant of it; perhaps moreso because they know them so well. By no means is this absolute, but I think straight male/female ‘friendships’ are much rarer than people think or believe.

User Detail :  

Name : Pedro, Gender : M, Race : Hispanic/Latino (may be any race), Age : 33, City : Easton, State : PA, Country : United States, Occupation : Telecommunications, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[MJ]

I believe women and men can be friends. I know firsthand. My best friend is male. I love him very much. He and I have slept together (sleeping) but never had sex. He is gorgeous, very masculine, and women love him. He is my confidant and holder of many of my deepest secrets. I wouldn’t change this for anything.

User Detail :  

Name : MJ, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 35, City : Dale City, State : VA, Country : United States, Occupation : engineer, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Linda H]

Yes. I have had more male friends than female ones. If you know a guy who can be your friend without being a jerk, of course you can be just friends. Why couldn’t you?

User Detail :  

Name : Linda H, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 32, City : Anchorage, State : AK, Country : United States, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[CR19190]

I do not think it is possible. At some point, one member of the friendship may start to look at the other sexually. I guess they can just ‘be friends’ if they don’t act on this feeling, or vocalize it. But I think it is impossible if you are straight to not have one of the people catch feelings for the other.

User Detail :  

Name : CR19190, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Religion : Baptist, City : Cleveland, State : OH, Country : United States, Occupation : college student, Social class : Upper middle class, 

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