Can men and women be friends?

System

One of my best friends is a straight male, im also really good friends with his gf and honourary aunt to their little boy. We've been friends for about 12 years (we dated for 2 of them :eek: but we've been friend a longer than the relationship lasted)

I have several other male friends who are just friends.

I think it's entirely possible. My friends are more like family so they're more like brothers

catmiaow

I could never have been friends with exs as I can't stand them, I have to like them as a person to be friends with them. My hubbys friends I don't see that much so I really can't build anything with them at all.

Person_one

Some can, some can't.

Bogof_Babe

Depends what you are looking for in the friendship. Not many single blokes would relish a one-to-one "meaningful" friendship with a married woman (unless they had ulterior motives!), whereas going out in a group would be absolutely fine.

pigpen

My partner is friends with loads of straight men.. .. he is also friends with lots of women.. He hasn't slept with any of them.. though some I suspect he would have had he been given the opportunity.

I can't be bothered with friends, I have 3 very lovely understanding friends, I can't handle any more.

catmiaow

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

Depends what you are looking for in the friendship. Not many single blokes would relish a one-to-one "meaningful" friendship with a married woman (unless they had ulterior motives!), whereas going out in a group would be absolutely fine.

Why would they not relish it? I mean surely it's nice to have a friendship where there is no pressure?

*katie*

I don't think I've ever had a genuinely close friendship with a guy without me liking him or vice versa. Maybe it's possible but I would imagine it's quite a rare thing for there to be absolutely no attraction on either side

Bogof_Babe

catmiaow wrote: »

Why would they not relish it? I mean surely it's nice to have a friendship where there is no pressure?

Well for a start he might worry that your husband would not be very happy with the friendship.

*katie* wrote: »

I don't think I've ever had a genuinely close friendship with a guy without me liking him or vice versa. Maybe it's possible but I would imagine it's quite a rare thing for there to be absolutely no attraction on either side

^^^ This, exactly. If you just want friends, does it matter whether they are blokes or women? All my good friends are women, and there is nothing lacking in my social life that my husband can't provide.

onomatopoeia99

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

Not many single blokes would relish a one-to-one "meaningful" friendship with a married woman (unless they had ulterior motives!)

Guess I'm one of the "not many" then, one of my closest friends is a married woman my own age, and we were friends before she met her husband. How close? Well, if I were to marry, I'd ask her to be my "person that brings the rings to the ceremony and stands next to me" - what do you call that?

Ulterior motive? Nope. She's beautiful, but a romantic relationship would never work between us, even if she wasn't totally in love with her husband. And unlike what some here seem to think, not every straight man wants to jump into bed with every woman they meet as soon as they set eyes on them!

Bogof_Babe

I suppose it depends what you mean by friends.

If it's having cosy twosome evenings together and sharing secrets, then I find that a bit weird. However if it's being relaxed in eachother's company, and having an inclusive relationship with eachothers' partners, then good luck to you all.