Can a woman and a man be friends?

[A.K.L.]

What do you think about a friendship between a man and a woman? Is it real? Is it safe? Do you have a friend of the opposite sex?

[dyadya zu]

Of course they can. For example the wife of my friend is my good friend without anything else.  But there could be another situation. Sometimes it is difficult to draw a line between a friendship and another type of human relations which is not just a friendship. There is neither love nor a friendship or may be there is either love or a friendship 

[Michael Lang]

I'd like to ofer the conversation between Harry & Sally as food for thought in this conversation...from the film. "When Harry met Sally", the romcom of the 1980s.

Harry Burns: You realize of course that we could never be friends.
Sally Albright: Why not?
Harry Burns: What I'm saying is - and this is not a come-on in any way, shape or form - is that men and women can't be friends because the sex part always gets in the way.
Sally Albright: That's not true. I have a number of men friends and there is no sex involved.
Harry Burns: No you don't.
Sally Albright: Yes I do.
Harry Burns: No you don't.
Sally Albright: Yes I do.
Harry Burns: You only think you do.
Sally Albright: You say I'm having sex with these men without my knowledge?
Harry Burns: No, what I'm saying is they all WANT to have sex with you.
Sally Albright: They do not.
Harry Burns: Do too.
Sally Albright: They do not.
Harry Burns: Do too.
Sally Albright: How do you know?
Harry Burns: Because no man can be friends with a woman that he finds attractive. He always wants to have sex with her.
Sally Albright: So, you're saying that a man can be friends with a woman he finds unattractive?
Harry Burns: No. You pretty much want to nail 'em too.
Sally Albright: What if THEY don't want to have sex with YOU?
Harry Burns: Doesn't matter because the sex thing is already out there so the friendship is ultimately doomed and that is the end of the story.
Sally Albright: Well, I guess we're not going to be friends then.
Harry Burns: I guess not.
Sally Albright: That's too bad. You were the only person I knew in New York

[A.K.L.]

 Michael Lang, what do you think about it?  Do you agree with Harry?

[Michael Lang]

It's probably why I am lonely in Moscow!! Ha HA!!

[housewife]

I think man and woman can be friends after long lasted marriage.

[A.K.L.]

I agree with you. My husband is my best and only friend.

[LaLuna]

I don't agree with people who think that there is no friendship between a man and a woman. One fellow, that I know was eagerly trying to convince me оf that fact that there CAN'T be any friendship a man and a woman either. He was sure that men consider women only a sexual objects.
And what about friendship of families?

[housewife]

I think that it is necessary for people in present time. It is very pleasantly to fell togetherness.

[Chihniochih]

No they don't. They will want to have sex.

[LaLuna]

No they don't. They will want to have sex.

Chihniochih, do you say so by your own expierence?

[dyadya zu]

I think it is a real problem. Sex and passion may prevent man and woman to be friends

[LaLuna]

I think it is a real problem. Sex and passion may prevent man and woman to be a friends

But it doesn't mean that you will make love with your best friend's wife for instance, does it?

[A.K.L.]

But it doesn't mean that you will make love with your best friend's wife for instance, does it?

But what if they are divorced? She/he is your friend, but she is not your friend's wife/husband. There is no "taboo" any more...

[dyadya zu]

But it doesn't mean that you will make love with your best friend's wife for instance, does it?

I think the problem of "taboo" is another problem. I mean only one thing: it makes   to prevent man and woman to be friends. Other situations are possible as well.

[red apple]

But what if they are divorced? She/he is your friend, but she is not your friend's wife/husband. There is no "taboo" any more...

I can't imagine that I have this problem, because my and my friend's tastes differ.

[Alex SV]

I guess a man and a woman can be frirnds, but his wife and her husband don't be loyal them friendship.

[A.K.L.]

Alex SV, unfortunately I agree with you.   I have lost one of my best friends because of his wife's indignation. I still miss him and want him to return in my life as a friend, because I need him.

[Milika]

I still miss him

Do you love him????

[snejanocika1]

I think, it's possible.