Can a man and woman be friends?
 

Both married, is it possible or appropriate for a man and woman to be friends?

guessing you meant......you're nuts :coffee:

[QUOTE=glen87;19079123]guessing you meant......you're nuts :coffee:[/QUOTE]

Yeah......that’s what I meant....

Are we defining "friends" as "having a close, long-lasting relationship without even a hint of romance or sexual desire?"

It can happen, but it's not the norm.

Hell no.

Men and women have nothing in common. If they say they are “friends”, that means one of them is attracted to the other.

That’s why the term “friend zone” exists. The male has feelings towards the female, but she doesn’t reciprocate those feelings. If no feelings of attraction were involved, they wouldn’t even talk to each other.

Plus, what kind of dude hangs out with a girl he isn’t attracted to for fun? That sounds awful. Either you hate yourself, or you are a little fruity yourself and want to hang with girls instead of guys.

[QUOTE=TheFrenzy;19079147]Are we defining "friends" as "having a close, long-lasting relationship without even a hint of romance or sexual desire?"

It can happen, but it's not the norm.[/QUOTE]

I am definitely not the norm. :D

There are 2 ladies I am very close to: 1 I have known for over 30 years and is married to my best male friend and the other I have known for about a dozen years. There is a bit of "chemistry" between both of them and I. None of us would ever consider acting on it. The former for obvious reasons. The latter because we have discussed it at one point and decided it would never work. We would rather have the bond we have.

[QUOTE=Braswell10;19079175]Men and women have nothing in common. If they say they are “friends”, that means one of them is attracted to the other.

That’s why the term “friend zone” exists. The male has feelings towards the female, but she doesn’t reciprocate those feelings. If no feelings of attraction were involved, they wouldn’t even talk to each other.

Plus, what kind of dude hangs out with a girl he isn’t attracted to for fun? That sounds awful. Either you hate yourself, or you are a little fruity yourself and want to hang with girls instead of guys.[/QUOTE]

That's certainly a take.

I think it also depends if one has a "lefty cervix" and the other one has a "hammer of justice."

[QUOTE=SleeperCards;19079194]That's certainly a take.[/QUOTE]

Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

Yikes
 

[QUOTE=Braswell10;19079175]Men and women have nothing in common. If they say they are “friends”, that means one of them is attracted to the other.

That’s why the term “friend zone” exists. The male has feelings towards the female, but she doesn’t reciprocate those feelings. If no feelings of attraction were involved, they wouldn’t even talk to each other.

Plus, what kind of dude hangs out with a girl he isn’t attracted to for fun? That sounds awful. Either you hate yourself, or you are a little fruity yourself and want to hang with girls instead of guys.[/QUOTE]

Who hurt you when you were young?

[QUOTE=oldgoldy97;19079119]Both married, is it possible or appropriate for a man and woman to be friends?[/QUOTE]

Yes.

[QUOTE=glen87;19079123]guessing you meant......you're nuts :coffee:[/QUOTE]

Engage with the BO meme culture from time to time Glen!

[QUOTE=TheFrenzy;19079195]I think it also depends if one has a "lefty cervix" and the other one has a "hammer of justice."[/QUOTE]

Yes, like this! Good and proper BO meming.

They can. I have other female friends that I’ve known for years - before my wife. My wife knows them just like she knows my guy friends I don’t hide anything. The difference is I wouldn’t do shady stuff like text at 2am or hangout alone at a girls house.

It all comes down to who you choose to call a friend. But when you try to control who your partner talks to, that’s when the secret relationships start 😉

it would seem very questionable if a wife or husband would want to hang out with someone of the opposite sex and similar age without their spouse

[QUOTE=jplarson;19079320]Who hurt you when you were young?[/QUOTE]

Why would someone that’s married need a friend of the opposite gender? What could they possibly have in common?

It’s just reality. Men and women aren’t meant to be friends, they are polar opposites, that’s why they are good together when it comes to a relationship and balance, but not for friendships…especially if each is already in a relationship.

[IMG]https://media.tenor.com/QgnImGB5CLoAAAAC/yeah-thats-gonna-be-a-no.gif[/IMG]

Yikes 2: Yikes Harder
 

[QUOTE=Braswell10;19079425]Why would someone that’s married need a friend of the opposite gender? What could they possibly have in common?

It’s just reality. Men and women aren’t meant to be friends, they are polar opposites, that’s why they are good together when it comes to a relationship and balance, but not for friendships…especially if each is already in a relationship.[/QUOTE]

In my experience it's not polar opposites. In terms of not having anything in common, I couldn't disagree more. With my opposite gendered friends, we talk about shared challenges or successes with kids, interest in sports (yes, women like sports too), gardening, politics, gaming, shared experiences/remembrances in college, movies, TV shows, etc. Regular human social interactions. My every interaction with people isn't for the expressed goal of satisfying myself.

If you can't talk to the opposite gender without thinking they are an uggo or keeping it in your pants, it's your loss but certainly not a loss for women.

I would LOVE to hear how Josie would weigh in on that comment, even if it's to disagree with me.

[QUOTE=jplarson;19079453]In my experience it's not polar opposites. In terms of not having anything in common, I couldn't disagree more. With my opposite gendered friends, we talk about shared challenges or successes with kids, interest in sports (yes, women like sports too), gardening, politics, gaming, shared experiences/remembrances in college, movies, TV shows, etc. Regular human social interactions. My every interaction with people isn't for the expressed goal of satisfying myself.

If you can't talk to the opposite gender without thinking they are an uggo or keeping it in your pants, it's your loss but certainly not a loss for women.

I would LOVE to hear how Josie would weigh in on that comment, even if it's to disagree with me.[/QUOTE]

Are we talking about actual friends, or acquaintances? There are women I talk to, but not like one of my real dude friends. It’s not the same. I think you are talking about an acquaintance.

If I am not attracted to a female, I usually don’t interact with them much. Not saying I am a douchebag, but nothing more than an acquaintance.

The Yikes Ultimatum
 

[QUOTE=Braswell10;19079458]Are we talking about actual friends, or acquaintances? There are women I talk to, but not like one of my real dude friends. It’s not the same. I think you are talking about an acquaintance.

If I am not attracted to a female, I usually don’t interact with them much. Not saying I am a douchebag, but nothing more than an acquaintance.[/QUOTE]

Actual friends.

I can see we'll never find common ground here and the poll reflects that.

Carry on.

[QUOTE=jplarson;19079484]Actual friends.

I can see we'll never find common ground here and the poll reflects that.

Carry on.[/QUOTE]

I respect your opinion. I have no problem with you disagreeing with me.

My reasoning is for the simple fact that I have the utmost respect for my SO. There is no need for me to become friends with other women, when I have my good buddies to be there for me if I need anything.

That’s not saying I don’t have any women acquaintances, but I don’t tell them anything I would tell my actual friends.

In my mind it’s showing respect towards the one you chose to be with. If you need to be friends with the opposite gender, you shouldn’t be in a relationship.

I am blunt, but I enjoy the No BS approach because there is never any confusion. Confusion and lack of communication is the underlying problem to a lot of issues in this world.

Yes they can be friends but if they are both straight it's a guarantee one of them has thought about sex with the other at one point. Billy Crystal was right.

Josie’s thoughts are the only ones I really care about :cry:

Some wild takes in this thread

I have female friends that I would never think of in a romantic sense. The idea of having a romantic relationship with them is off-putting. I put them in the same bucket that you would a sister.

I'm friends with a ton of married women but none of them has seen me in person or in pictures.
Trying to avoid it because i know they will cross the line.
Super friends but only thru text/whatsapp.

Yeah, it's weird but it works for me.
Let me also say. Im not married