I think that women are capable of being very close friends with a man but not think of them sexually. However, I do not think that heterosexual men can be really close friends without trying it on. I am not sure why. -Any ideas?
I spent a long time considering whether to elaborate, staring at your post-Mmm tricky Then your avatar winked and I jumped out of my skin.- freaked me out.
Well. I'll let others answer. Does anyone on the forum have a close friend of the opposite sex, where it is happily platonic?
Too many to count Hoppy, I've never had any issues differentiating between platonic friendships and romantic relationships. Some of my closest female friends are more like sisters to me, which makes the idea of "trying it on" feel quite.... Ughhh!
I don't think it's a problem for men to be close friends with women. The problems start when the man's wife/girlfriend has the same mindset as you describe and give him grief.
i have several close female friends, but it doesn't work all the time. if i may make an observation here, i notice a lot of women are able to become BFF's overnight with one another, and i have trouble being friends with them, if at all.
For many men this is true, some simply cannot think of getting close to a women without it turning sexual. However many men are the opposite, and I have some great female friends which have never and will never be anything more than good friendship. I think it all depends on the individuals attitudes to women and sex... and if there is a hint of mutual attraction or not.
I think women can have close male friends. I think they more interested by the personality than by the *body*.
Now it's more difficult for men, as they are more interested by *the body*, I think they will have always a kind of *secret* hope hidden somewhere...
My best female friend in Geneva is actually a girl I loved recently. But I made so many mistakes with her, I have to prove her that I deserve to be considered as a friend.... but even if she finally reject my friendship, she will stay my friend.
I've had male friendships which established themselves from when we were 14 years old and in scouts.
Anything other than platonic (i.e. having a kickabout on the beach then going for a beer) is just too weird to think about.
Incidentally, all the male friends are now married and we are all great mates and still go on holiday with each other and our respective partners and offspring.
I do have two close friends who are male. They were colleagues and comming from latin american countries so found things in common. THey are both married and I do care about them but just don't look at them in that way and I am positive that they don't either. I am also friends with their wives. Actually I miss them because they stayed in the Netherlands and I am now here
An interesting question. I do think it's possible but I also think that the thought of "could we....?" would cross the male mind at some point, after all that does seem to be the way we're wired. I have a number of FF that are strictly that, just FF, definitely not FB's (although that has crossed at least one mind from time to time ;-) )
I think a test of true friendship would be if the FF can remain a FF after the male has made it clear that he's thinking of something a little more up close and personal and been rejected. Would such a friendship be possible and remain without regret?