Can Men and Women REALLY ever just bo friends?

It's a more complicated situation, but if the man/woman really respect each other's friendship so much, it can remain just a friendship.

Our husbands think the same way!! It always made me mad, because I'm like, really, that's ALL I have to offer a guy huh?? LOL I still talk to my guy friends, but I've made sure my husband knows them now so he is less worried. And when ever he throws it in my face, I always say, well you work with three women, so are you saying I need to be worried about that?? And that usually stops the argument!

..it's not possible for me to be "just friends" with a man. A man always has a hidden agenda in my opinion.
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I think this is so true!!!!!

Yea I don't see why it's not possible. I think your friendship is a good example that shows men and women can be just friends. I have female friends that I met while in graduate school that I keep in contact with and occasionally go out with. We share this crazy passion for history, politics, and theory that my wife just isn't interested in. But there would never be anything more than just friendship there and I think that actually makes the relationships stronger.

The only times that being "just friends" won't work are when a spouse is jealous, friendship time cuts into relationship time, a friend becomes clingy, the friendship is based on a strong physical attraction, or someone becomes emotionally attached and wants more. If you see any red flags for possible physical or emotional attachment then it's time to rethink that friendship. And if you're spending every weekend with a friend of the opposite sex rather than your spouse then that will create problems too.

But just having friends of the opposite sex to chat with and hang out with every once in a while? Harmless.

It's extremely possible to just be platonic friends. Not all men are straight up horndogs thinkin' with their "cackenbals" all day. There has to be a level of maturity and mutual respect that dictates the security of any relationship. There are females that I know that simply can't have "male friends" because THEY, themselves, are always thinking about taking it to another level.

In my experience, the thought of constant promiscuity being generalized among male society, is usually a personal feeling that gets projected onto the majority of a population. So, unless there's a reason to think otherwise, it could be that your husband may not be completely secure enough to believe that you can have a male friend without jeopardizing your relationship. Which usually comes out in some form of the phrase, "I trust you. I don't trust THEM." But, that's just my opinion.

I think this is a hard question to generalize by gender. I think it's more specific to the individuals in question. Can *some* men and women be purely 100% platonic friends with absolutely nothing by way of sexual tension/thought between them? Yes. But I don't know if I'd necessarily use this information to apply it to your walking buddy. When one single individual has "feelings" for an attached individual, the attached party may never know. So to even try to guess at what they are thinking or feeling is kind of presumptive, IMHO.

Sos, in your shoes, I'd probably tell my walking friend about this conversation and very carefully watch his expressions as he responded. I don't know what your husband is like in reality but if nothing else, I'd want this person to be prepared for him to act like an *kitten* instead of being surprised by it. That would probably tell you everything you wanted to know.

:: hugs :: is it possible? Very. But I'd still be extremely cautious applying this as a general rule.

I used to be more liberal about it than I am now. I was friends with my ex-boyfriend from years ago (YEARS... we dated in 1996, and not for very long), and after talking on Facebook, we began exchanging e-mails. They were not romantic but his wife did not like it anyway. The e-mails were mostly talking about things from the past 14 years since we hadn't been in touch. I was still in my naive bubble thinking it was ok to do since we were not being romantic, and a family member had even told me it was ok as long as lines were not crossed. Then I was accused by another friend of participating in an emotional affair with him. Long story short, I got tired of his wife thinking something was going on that wasn't, and cut him out of my life completely.

I now believe it is a gray, and potentially hazardous, area. I guess it really depends on what "being friends" actually means. I know now that a single woman being friends with a married man or vice versa can get complicated quickly, even if the people in question are innocent. The way things look sometimes is all it takes for trouble to start.

I really think it depends on a lot of things, one of them being past experiences on the matter. The friend that accused me of participating in an emotional affair has a sister who is in an active relationship with a married man and has a child with him. The family member that said it was ok to e-mail as long as no lines were crossed has many male friends, and her husband has many female friends. Like I said, I used to be very liberal about male/female friendships, married/dating or not, but now it's just weird for me.

I did have another (married) friend tell me that she believed guys were friends with girls that they had some level of attraction to, whether they acted on it or not. Not sure if I believe it; I think it just left me feeling more confused.

I think it is definitely possible for two people to get along without there being any physical attraction.

I think no two relationships are alike.

Of course they can. I have guy friends, who I know wouldn't want to be more than just friends, and the feeling is mutual.

Most of my friends are guys. I only have one female friend. I think you have to trust your partner and yourself to make sure lines are not crossed.

Agree !! in the same boat, I work with all guys, I ride a Harley. My best friend is a guy... (my fiance' and I also joke about him being my "boyfriend") As he has good female friends also. It comes down to trust & how committed of a relationship you are in, we both know who we are coming home too.

It's easier for women to be friends with men than vice versa. I try but I can't associate with a lot of people because they constantly come at me the wrong way even when they know I'm taken. If there is absolutely no attraction on both parts, it's all good!

My best friend is a guy. He has been my best friend for years. Him and my husband get along, we spend a lot of time together and we are completely and totally there for each other all the time. Nothing weird or wrong has ever happened. My co host is a guy and we are exceptionally close. Actually to be totally honest with you most of my friends are guys.

I think as an exercise buddy or a creative partner, it manifests in different ways. Almost like a business, the relationship is for a purpose that is beyond romantic so that doesn't become a factor.

Hard to generalize for both sexes, and I'll say that because I've seen agendas on both sides of the fence.

There can definitely be only friendship between the opposites

Personally, my best friend is a woman...and her husband is a good friend of mine too and by no means has there been any or will there ever be any attraction. Also, I have lots of other female friends that I think are hot but I have never made any moves at them. Its okay to have friends of the opposite sex in the world today. I think its sad that people think that guys always have alteriro motives, which isnt always true. Maybe its all perception.