man -women only friends?

This topic was created in the Aquarius forum by elly on Monday, December 11, 2006 and has 39 replies.

Can Men and Women Be Just Friends

Many believe men and women can be platonic friends with clear boundaries. Friendship depends on individual perspectives, mutual respect, and communication. While some think romantic feelings may develop, others maintain purely friendly relationships are possible. Respecting personal boundaries is key to maintaining healthy friendships between men and women.

Profile picture of elly
@elly
20 Years500+ Posts

I have this debate all the time here living in Greece, because they are firm belivers in that "men and women can not just be friends" Opinions please......

Profile picture of ladyvie
@ladyvie
19 Years

Then I have very few friends if I discount the men... I can be friends with both sexes. Sure with the men there is more a joking relationship quality to it, but there is a reason that nothing more happens. With women there is a sharing of emotions so it all good. I am also very secure and I wish my male friends good wishes with their girlfriends.

Course I am in a profession where I'm surrounded with men, so it's either bite back the idea that men and women can't be friends and be antisocial OR find a balance so I have someone to eat lunch with. My first job was in a garage at 16 and now I'm an attorney... men are just men.

Profile picture of sherob
@sherob
19 Years

I believe they can be friends, however, i strongly believe that there is always one person in a male/female relationship that wants more than friendship ... its a human beings animalistic need for intimacy.

Profile picture of ladyvie
@ladyvie
19 Years

I don't know about that sherob because then I have lots of admirers. (My ego says woohoo!) But if I think about every guy who I talk to on a regular basis has some secret desire to possess me, I might get a big head or I might start acting like a crazy person. I'd rather be carefree.

And quite honestly men are easier to talk to about some things and women are easier to talk to about other things. Men and women just need to set up boundaries in their friendships, and respect each other.

Profile picture of Yama
@Yama
20 Years5,000+ PostsScorpio

"I have this debate all the time here living in Greece, because they are firm belivers in that "men and women can not just be friends" Opinions please......"

Only if the woman is ugly.

Profile picture of ladyvie
@ladyvie
19 Years

Yama... not true at all. Facts are facts... the most beautiful women of all are often starving for friendships. Men seem to clam up and act stupid with a knock out standing there unless she pushes him to open up. Men can get stupid and lack intelligent conversation until they recognize that 'wow she has opinions, maybe just maybe we can talk.' Then the guy lost the girl because he couldn't speak for a while, girl is involved elsewhere but it's a learning experience to be friends...

Profile picture of ladyvie
@ladyvie
19 Years

If things are easy all the time then there is a lack of growth which perpetuates the myth. But beautiful women from good families, decent morals, loves to smile, and intelligent conversation are out there.

Profile picture of Yama
@Yama
20 Years5,000+ PostsScorpio

"Yama... not true at all. Facts are facts... "

Well, when I think of friends I think of people who can trust each other completely and harbor only the purest of intentions for one another-this is simply impossible for a straight man+good-looking woman.

Profile picture of ladyvie
@ladyvie
19 Years

straight man + good looking unavailable women... can there be friendship?

unavailable straight man (happy in love) = good lookin woman... can there be friendship.

perhaps if the equation is available straight man + good looking available woman there are more issues there but even then it can be worked out with boundaries.

And yes friends only have good intentions with each other.

Profile picture of Yama
@Yama
20 Years5,000+ PostsScorpio

"unavailable straight man (happy in love) = good lookin woman... can there be friendship."

Love has absolutely nothing to do with being attracted to a woman, the same goes for availability.

"And yes friends only have good intentions with each other."

Pure != good.

For example-I wouldn't have a problem doing/saying something disgusting in front of a male/ugly woman, but I wouldn't do it in front of a good-looking woman, even if she is unavailable.

Profile picture of ladyvie
@ladyvie
19 Years

OK there are boundaries, yes. Your example is a boundary. But if you can discuss things with the intelligent beautiful unavailable girl who wants to see you happy are you going to ignore a possible platonic friendship?

Profile picture of ladyvie
@ladyvie
19 Years

availability has alot to do with platonic friendship. You are less likely to fall desperately in love with a woman whose happily in love with another guy. But does his mean friendship can't be on the table?

(Yes there are women who get kicks out of breaking up couples to boost the ego, and yes there are men who want the woman so much that they can't leave her alone... but selfishness kills good intentions.)

Profile picture of Yama
@Yama
20 Years5,000+ PostsScorpio

"OK there are boundaries, yes. Your example is a boundary."

I guess we're just using different definition of the term "friendship" then.

"But if you can discuss things with the intelligent beautiful unavailable girl who wants to see you happy are you going to ignore a possible platonic friendship?"

I would talk to her, sure, but it wouldn't be a friendship. I'd try to get her into bed without even thinking about it.

Profile picture of Yama
@Yama
20 Years5,000+ PostsScorpio

"availability has alot to do with platonic friendship. You are less likely to fall desperately in love with a woman whose happily in love with another guy. But does his mean friendship can't be on the table?"

Love is not the issue, attraction is. Attraction leads to a certain artificial behaviour and creates stress.

Profile picture of ladyvie
@ladyvie
19 Years

Yama... how old are you? It seems to me that you must be young or you work as an adult without alot of interaction with intelligent women.

Profile picture of Lady_M
@Lady_M
20 Years10,000+ Posts

Its possible..if it werent i'd be friendless...

But WBTG is right...you must be on the same page, and the line has to be clear between the both of you...

This type of friendship is not for the weak and faint hearted.

Profile picture of Yama
@Yama
20 Years5,000+ PostsScorpio

"Yama... how old are you? It seems to me that you must be young or you work as an adult without alot of interaction with intelligent women."

This seems pretty tangential, care to explain?

Profile picture of ladyvie
@ladyvie
19 Years

"I would talk to her, sure, but it wouldn't be a friendship. I'd try to get her into bed without even thinking about it."

I meant no disrespect but only a guy who doesn't deal with women being men's equals says or means that. So I was giving you the benefit of being young.

Profile picture of Yama
@Yama
20 Years5,000+ PostsScorpio

"I meant no disrespect but only a guy who doesn't deal with women being men's equals says or means that."

No one is my equal.πŸ™‚

...

Scary thing is, I actually mean it.πŸ˜›

Profile picture of Reiniba-Chan
@Reiniba-Chan
19 Years500+ Posts

Let's see, Yama is either: a)a virgo
b)God
c)from a different dimension
d)stubborn(ignorant, liar etc.)
e)chemically imbalanced(brainwashed etc.)
or f)all of the above

or just cool in my opinion.