“Women don’t have platonic friends.”
I think Chris Rock is a prophet.
“To women, a platonic friend is a dick in a glass case — break open in an emergency.”
Can men and women be friends?
It’s the theory made famous by my favorite movie, “When Harry Met Sally,” and plagues opposite-sex friendships everywhere.
I am not talking about casual acquaintances or part-time friends. I’m talking about close, platonic friendships.
When I broached the subject with friends, there were no black-and-white answers.
After a confident “Yes, of course, men and women can be just friends,” or a definite “No way!” a “but…,” an “only if…,” or an “as long as…” often followed.
Platonic friendships are like lubricants; there are the good, the bad and the cherry-flavored. And, they will all put you in a slippery situation. Ponder that one.
Friendships between straight men and women are viewed by some as impossible or abnormal. Think about the characters on your favorite television shows.
Who hasn’t hooked up with one of the “Friends?”
Or what about “Saved by the Bell” — even Lisa couldn’t resist Zack.
Are society’s views correct, or can we have an opposite-sex friendship without sex?
“What! No sex?” a guy responded. “Not to sound chauvinistic, but if I like a girl enough to be her friend, I usually want to have the benefits part. What? I have hormones.”
“I think a girl can be platonic friends with a guy,” one girl stated. “But, it’s impossible for the guy. Men are just a bunch of wolves looking for sex.”
She’s right — not about the wolf thing. But, most guys admitted that it’s hard to have a completely platonic friendship.
“There will always be a hint of ‘I wonder if…’ or ‘if things were different…’ on someone’s part,” an honest guy told me.
Some had different opinions.
“I enjoy having guy friends,” one girl responded. “Sometimes, I need a break from the estrogen and take comfort in drinking a Bud Light while watching ‘Old School.'”
“Having a girl as a friend gives me a different perspective,” a male believer told me. “She informs me on things I didn’t even know existed.”
“In college, especially, male-female friendships are important. You are starting to solidify yourself,” Susan Schultz, deputy editor of CosmoGIRL, said in a recent article. “Guys and girls can help each other navigate their way through romantic relationships.”
Whether it’s possible or not, both men and women use the phrase to let a misdirected friend down.
It’s called “entering the friend zone.”
This is more common to boys than girls.
“I thought we were just friends.”
Or the classic line: “I wouldn’t want to hurt our friendship.”
We hear it all the time. Is it true?
Is Michael Jackson a pedophile?
Until the day comes that you are mature enough to have a platonic friendship, take the advice of Stephen Stills: “Love The One You’re With.”