Of course they can, but only if the man is secure in his "macho" self. I have many men friends, sometimes they are better than women!! LOL If a guy can't be a friend, then forget about him, he's probably narcissistic. One should always be with their best friend as a mate.
My best friend on the planet is a guy and there's nothing sexual between us at all. He's actually more like a brother to me, but one I really like to be around! Lol. I guess you never really outgrow your sibling annoyances.
I think it is movies and tv shows that make us believe that all male/female relationships have to end in sex. I've found that to be the furthest thing from the truth in my life.
Apparently this "just friends" question was pondered by others beginning about a decade ago. In general, many of these benefits and costs were the same for both men and women. For example, both sexes enjoyed opposite-sex friends for dinner companions, conversation partners, self-esteem boosts, information about the opposite sex, social status, respect, and sharing resources. Both sexes also noted some similar costs of opposite-sex friendship, such as jealousy, confusion over the status of the relationship, love not being reciprocated, cruel or mean behaviors, and being less attractive to other potential daters because of the friendship. So yes a man and a woman can just be friends but the intimacy is what needs due care.
Songs like Mrs Jones and Secret lovers have made it difficult especially for us adults to believe it is possible. We may say it is possible but in practice do we actually believe it is?
Hey Margo not that difficult requires two functional adults and a clear understanding of the basis for the friendship when other romantic interest are involved the complication factor increases by 2 jealousy being one of the determing factors and insecurity being the other that said. do you have a freindship in mind or is this just a hypothetical?
Not a problemo MargoX, Lets layout that scenario in simplicity, if you are both on an equal footing and not intimately involved then easy, peazy, brezzy as Jamie Oliver would say when he's drumming up one of his many food dishes.
On the other hand if either one of you is trying your hand at carrying on or establishing a new friendship with the opposite sex on a frequent basis, rather than just occasionally touching base, then there is no pot of gold at the end of that rainbow that awaits you :-)
Can a man and a woman can be just friends ?