Making friends with the opposite sex : How Do You Draw A Line Between Love and Friendship?
482792
My best friend is a guy, and I've been a little in love with him for years.  He'll make some woman a great husband someday.  BUT... We've made it clear from the get go that there won't ever be more than that.  We're TOO close and know each other too well, in some ways.  And the chance for ruining the wonderful friendship we have? No way.  You have to be up front and completely honest.  I think your friends were not mature enough to deal with their feelings.  There's nothing wrong with having strong feelings for your best friend, or even saying so, but to try to hide them or avoid them will just breed resentments.  Next time you get close to a female you don't intend to date, make it clear up front, letting her choose whether to stick around.  Some will, some won't.  But at least then you don't lose someone that you're already quite attached to.  Been working for my friend and I for 13 years now.  Good luck.
456480
Love is a connection on a deeper level than friendship. It has a component that is committed and loyal. You love usually when you share values and attitudes. You love when you can disagree and still be respectful of the other person's opinions. Though I use it in reference to my old cat too. He liked being around me and being cuddly. The current cat  I'm just friendly with heh.
179613
I think it is very difficult to be friends with your x because even if you don't want to admit it you usually still have feelings for them.  It also makes it awkward for the new person in your life when you hang out and are friendly with your x.  They can't help but wonder if the two of you will end up back together and it can cause stress on a current relationship.  It is okay to part ways being friendly and not hating each other but a relationship as friends is just too risky especially when you find someone new.
900017
treu friendship i believe is like a marriage. you have to work at it all the time. and both parties should be involved. not a one way street .and you should always agree that whatever is brought in2 the relationship. secrets etc should stay in it.........\n\nfrom someone who had a very bad experience with what i thought was "true friendship"
148906
It is a very real fact that men and women can be friends.  If the 2 people are satisfied with themselves (meaning that they don't have to continuously try to prove something or have hang-ups about if they are "cool" enough) they will be able to interact on a friendly basis.
1006977
hello you can't say this is one thing friendship and love is different thing yes sometime friendship can turn to love but if both friends want's you can't change yourself you can enjoy the friendship with clear mind and love is life with clean heart.
136315
I've come to realize that this is the biggest, most unrecognized quandary in dating that I know of:\n\n*** Almost everyone universally agrees that people should be friends before being romantic.\n\n*** And almost everyone universally agrees that love can hapen when you least expect it.\n\nYet....everyone has that deer-in-the-headlights- look when someone, who is a friend, falls in love with them!\n\nlol\n\nIs like the most natural thing that can happen!.....yet no one seems to realize this.\n\n\nDear one...you are probably a very likable, easy-going, appealing to the eye, and of such good hearted type person that the guys can't help but adore you for your qualities. \n\nIt's a natural thing to have happen!\n\nYou're just being yourself...which is the advice I give on here over and over and over and over again.....cuz it's true!  ....lol. Being yourself, being relaxed, being happy, fun, funny, intelligent, caring, and on and on is a sugary spice that cannot help but attract.\n\nYou just unwittingly have done this, and it has done what it DOES.....it worked!\n\nNow, along with this you have to *continue* being a friend to your *friends* and tel them how *you* feel. You can't love everyone....lol. So, you can choose whom you'd like to hang with and try and caringly explain to the others that you love them as a friend....but no more.\n\nThey may be hurt, or disappointed, but that's OK! It happens, and if you do it as a friend, with concern for *them* and their feelings, you will indeed minimize their hurt, and later when they get past it all, they will love you more for having ben such a good person and sweet friend.\n\nA friend we should all be so lucky to have in this world.\n\nYou are rich.....and this is exactly what people mean whe they say....you are rich when you are a good person to them.\n\nNow....go do what you need to do, and I hope all goes well for you.\n\n:)
719498
be friends for awhile and see what it leads to
544875
Be yourself,be warm and giving ...Give to the other person what you would like in return. Friendship is a bond .Not one sided . GOOD FRIEND'S takes time and life experiences the glue that truly is called FRIENDSHIP.Being there no matter what... Well that's what it is to me.
1140232
If you find out how to get past the "friend barrier", let me know.  I hear a lot of women say they want to be friends with a guy & then date him, but I also know several girls who say I'm a great friend & have no romantic interest in me whatsoever.  Usually, I try the honest approach & tell a girl I'm interested in more from here, but have only had limited success at best with that idea.  Still, at least if you're honest & tell her your feelings, you won't be wondering years from now what would have happened if you had the guts to tell her.  Best of luck, & I hope everything works out for the best.
851468
It is totally possible to have a best friend of the opposite sex with out falling in love with them.  Especially if both people involved are thinking with their heads and not what is down below.  I have had a few very good guy friends that I was never in love with.  I care alot about them because they are good friends, they are like brothers to me, so I guess you would say I love them in a family way but I'm not in love with them.  It's totally possible!
757660
Extremely dangerous situation you put yourself in.  I became friends with a man who was training my child.  I thought it was perfectly harmless and was I so wrong.  I can remember to the day when that harmless situation turned into disaster.  I fell in love with this man and almost wrecked my marriage on a person who really wasn't who he said he was.  I really believe that you should not get involved in any "friendship" with the opposite sex because it is not worth it.  Find yourself a friend of the same sex and prevent yourself from a lot of problems.
492875
Its harder to go from lovers to friends because of the intimacy. You now KNOW that person and their body, whereas the opposite, you just know their personality and dream of their body.LOL
223110
you can't\n\n\nreal friendship takes time
344213
also, try asking yourself, if you were so shallow as to decide not to be their friend simply because of their sexuality, would they want to be friends with you anyway?
44691
I have a question for you . . . what is the purpose for this friendship . . . for the two of you to become lover or just friends.\n\nLet me tell you something . . . when you are friends with a woman . . . that is all you are going to be . . . very rarely less than 10% move on to the next level . . . no matter how bad you want to advance.\n\nAs to your questions : basis of friendship . . . common interests . . . communication . . . interaction.\n\nAs for your second question . ..  Do you need to get as much as you give or visa versa? (This is why I asked the previous questions in the beginning).  There is no give or take in a friendship . . . you do things because they are your friends not for a payback.  Same thing for relationship . . . women claim they want a 50/50 relationship when in fact it is more like 85/15 in their favor.  Women like to be wined and dined and guys like burgers and a beer.  Guys don't care about the new fancy resturant that opened up at $150 per plate . . . we are happy spending $9.00 at Fudrukkers (I know it is mispelled okay).  But you get the point.  What do we get out of the dinner with the girl . . . maybe sex . . . but not necessarily . . . odds are you are just her meal ticket.\n\nWhen you take guys out . . . your buddies . . . you buy a round they buy a round . . . you buy dinner one time and they will the next.  I took a buddy to a hockey games . . . and he bought me drinks and snacks during the game.  Will girls do that . . . the majority will not. . . and that is a fact.\n\nGiving and getting will never be equal . . . but with male buddies . . . they will share . . . as for women . . . you better have a big wallet. (Not all women are like this . . . but the majority are)\n\nListen to a man who lived through it . . . and if not me . . . Listen to Tom (a radio personality in Los Angeles) who is now broadcasting live on the internet at www.blowmeuptom.com between the hours of 3-8 pm Pacific Time.
1001275
I have many friends that are either/or.  They are still good people but have a difference on their sexual outlook.  If they are your friends that is all they have to be nothing more.  I had a male friend who I did not know was gay and when he told me after 5 years of friendship I was only upset because he didn't tell me.  I told him I still loved him the same and we were best friends for many more years after that.  Some people are very mean when it comes to that.