Of course they do. There is no reason why woman and men can't have platonic friendships. It literally happens every day. Just as gay/ bi women and men can have platonic friendships with people of their own sexual orientation. It's mostly the incels who make platonic friendships with the expectation that it will lead to sex. Not to say that some relationships that start as platonic friendships can't change if life circumstances change e.g a partner dies or divorce. That can and does happen, feelings can grow over time, but it doesn't mean that there was always and intention to try to turn it into a sexual relationship.Edited 08-Jan-23 11:57am

Absolutely! All my life from teens to senior years I have had numerous platonic friendships with men, even married ones, whose wives, like my husband understand they are just good friendships with no jealousy by anyone.

When I was young I had as many girlfriends as male friends..maybe more...there may have been sparks and excitement at times...but yes it is fairly simple and fantastic...why would you hang out with guys?..I had my first girlfriend when I was five! Edited 07-Jan-23 00:47am

Yes a platonic relationship is possible as long as there is an understanding of that is all it is.

Age is the biggest factor . A number of seniors or super seniors look for a companion due to life circumstances. Often it is only a warm body to lay next to, just companionship. This would not the type of relationship most or many men would want if they are still young enough and are able to preform the sex act.

Anything is possible with the variety of people in the world. Personally, I tend to get to emotionally involved. Other people not so much, however, there are men that I wouldn't be attracted to only as a friend. I think it's harder for men because most of the ones I've known would never want to be with any woman without sexing her! LOL

I think it is possible to have a totally platonic relationship between a couple of either he same gender and either the opposite gender, but it depends of a number of factors, one being maturity of each person.

I think you can but my husband says no. An ex bf contracted me and most people around had a problem with it. We live opposite sides of Australia and he reconnected though FB with me. I had to stop it as it was causing so much trouble for me.

All 3 of my closest friends are male, 2 of them I've known for around 20 years now. They are out there :)

I have no idea but I have decided that should my husband die before me I don't want a toy boy I want a gay boy. When I heard about the actress who played Lovie on Gilligan's Island and her live-in gay male friend who took her to shows, movies and movie premiers, the hairdresser, shopping for her clothes and was at her beck and call asking nothing in return other than live with her I said "yes please, I want one of those". Everyone said he was wonderful to her and she left him her millions. Now that's what I call a platonic relationship.Edited 06-Jan-23 20:29pm

DON'T ASK ME!

it depends on the people involved

Maybe? Lol

Yes there are platonic friendships between man & woman .I have had one since I was 5yr old .We are great friends & now we are in different countries we communicate online.My husband of 60yrs doesn't have a problem & the wife of guy is ok with it too my friend (the guy )is on his 3rd marriage

I am interested in whether people on here who are married are ok with their spouse going out for say a coffee with a friend of the other sex who they used to work with. My lovely Sis feels very insecure with this. I don't think i would like it either to be honest.

from my experiences and observations I am quite confident that ALL friendships rely on someone having an unterior motive

Yes

I think true “platonic” relationships exist between adults - and I personally haven’t noticed that thinking of that is related to gender.

Yes they can, I have a male friend for over 10 years. Purely platonic, when I was very sick a few years ago , took me to hospital 3 times a week, cooked my dinners, took my dog for a walk every night. I had a huge operation at that time, he was there all the time...Forward a few years and comes for coffee or we go out for lunch. A friendship only, always has been. Listens to all my problems, I have cried on his shoulder many times, phoned him when feeling sad. Purely platonic. My dog says it all, she goes crazy when his car turns the corner. So yes I believe there is a thing as a pure platonic relationship. He is truly my best friend

Sometimes

Only if there are no romantic feelings between them.

It does happen especially if you have grown up with a friendly neighbour because having grown up one is looking for more than friendship elsewhere, and unfortunately sometimes it is one-sided.

I agree with that, Christina C - in my experiences.

That is only a once in a lifetime experience

Very, very rare. The only Platonic relationship I ever had was with a work colleague. He didn't want me and I didn't want him as anything other than a friend

Yes I do believe platonic relationships are real...and that's all that matters between you..is that understanding.

Absolutely not! Not every encounter with anyone has to be centered around "getting something." It doesn't matter what the other person is. If they are pleasant company, smart, good advisors, Fun, just great talkers and listeners, they are an extremely important part of your life. You don't have to get something to have a great friend.

I have had a platonic relationship with a number of females. Apart with from my mother, sister and aunt. We are just good friends.

Even with platonic relationships there has to be some form of attraction between the 2 people, not necessarily a sexual one.

Well, I could be wrong but it's probably because men think about sex a lot more than women and even with friendships they think about something sexual. Not to say that women can't have the same thoughts, but probably a lot less than a man and can truly see a friendship and just that.

No

Yes

yes I've had a few since childhood, 75 year old

yes of course they can

YES PLATONIC RELATIONSHIPS WORK. WE HAD TWO SETS OF FRIENDS LIKE THIS, ONE WAS FOR 10+ YEARS BE HE DIED AND THE SECOND ONE WAS FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND THEY ALSO RAN SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS AS A TEAM. HE HAS ALSO SINCE DIED.Edited 06-Jan-23 13:36pm

Yes of course men can be friends with a woman and they don't want sex with them but then the man has to be gay. Seriously though I am sure it can happen. I have quite a few gay male friends and I have a few girlfriends and none are sexual friendships. My husband now we were friends with benefits before we got serious but we had to be friends first. I have known some men whom I do not find attractive and we are friends without any expectations of each other so yep it can happen.

yes,i have one with a girl that ive known since i was 10 years old,im approaching 48 so for 38 years we have been great friends,we talk every day even though she lives in the US now, i see her every couple of years,the most we have done is a hug and a kiss on the cheek,even in our teenage years

Absolutely platonic relationships can and do occur without any ulterior motive!! 100% Yes!! I have a few very close male friends whom I am closer to than my own brother. My best & oldest friend is a male. Yes it cabn be awkward if one person becomes attracted to their friend, however if they can talk about it & face it in a mature way, then their bond won't be damaged in any way or form. You just have to make the decision whetheryour friendshipis more valuable to you than your ego or a bit of discomfort for a period - speaking from personal experience here lol.

Being a woman I think they can exist, but I have also heard that they cannot from mostly men. Makes me question whether my male friends have an ulterior motive and I am just being ignorant

Yes you sure can. I have a few male friends that I use to work with, they were all married and I knew their wives. I always think of them as my brothers, and they thought of me like a was their little sister.

Personally I think anyone who is in a friendship with someone but has an ulterior motive has a problem. TRUE friendships of any gender are not based on ulterior motives.

It all depends on the individuals in question.

Yes, absolutely. I have many male friends, and with all I have platonic friendships, and in most cases I am also friends with their wives.

yes we have a few male friends with wives and some single butwe are friends never thought of any think els

It's the New year and the Misandry Campaign is, once again, off and running. We hear, endlessly, about how Horrible, how Distrustful, how Devious, how Abusive, how Misogynistic men are. They are no longer allowed to express an opinion, they must never, ever dare to say they don't like some female, their clothes, their botoxed faces, artificially pumped up lips - the list of what men must not do and how cruel, unfeeling and hurtful they are is endless and on-going BUT we never, ever hear, or rather are never allowed to hear that Females can be every bit as bastardly as any male BUT challenge them and they will claim they are "Exercising THEIR Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression"! No apologies but Christina C's statement is typical misandrist nonsense, men are no more, nor less, likely to have ulterior motives than any woman.

In one word YES, no question, I have a few male friends and we are totally platonic. My husband loves them, actually one of them is my husbands best friend.

Yes, it is possible.

I am not in any relationship with anyone.

I really can say yes to this as I have a male friend and it is no big deal and my husband appreciates me having a friend that I can talk with so he can have quiet time. Sex at some point is overrated anyway.

Of course they do. Just ask Santa and the tooth fairy.

I agree with you.

My best friend when I was younger was a male.

No, unless the man is gay

sometimes platonic friendships can develop into a very deep love, between opposite straight sexes

You might be good friends early on but then I think love come.

rarely someone is a manipulator

Rarely

I’m happy just to be friends with women without wanting anything more

Depends on maturity, and if you can write English so all can understand. CHEERS :)

This question is confusing

I believe it is possible but perhaps not probable.

YES

Yes

Yes, I am married and have 1 very close male friend. He is gay. I find it easier to talk to gay men as they do not expect anything other than a friendship.. He really is a wonderful friend and my hubby likes him as well. So in short the answer is yes.Edited 06-Jan-23 08:04am

Yes they can and do exist.... however there is often a bit of yin and yang going on. A little undercurrent in some of these friendships that is what makes them tick, really and the yin (female) usually has the upper hand ;;) so would it be a yay or nay one day ?.. guess they will keep the friendship handy juuuust in case and love them regardless :)Edited 06-Jan-23 07:32am

Plutonic in relationship between adults, I think it is love for friendship, for other things, materials things or pastion for other things, its not to do with man and woman relationship or same sex relationship} for love and marriage

Yes

Very few, but more so with an opposite sex gay person.

yes and i'm married lol

I talk to both males and females. I find it hard sometimes to talk to males because they think I am interested in them which is not ever the case at this stage in my life.

Yes they do exist and most are very successful. Both need to be on the same page tho.

Yes

Yes they do exist

absolutely

There's ALWAYS an "ulterior motive" ... your selfishly wanting to make yourself fell better by spending time with someone you like. Is there always a "romantic motive" is an entirely different question, although on some level there probably is.

Why, yes!

Of course, they work

yes platonic relationships are can work ,but unfortunately have'nt found anyone to have platonic relationship with

I think they can

Well, I have been married 46 years, so I do not worry about platonic relationships. But, yes, I think they can exist without ulterior motives. If two people have shared interests, goals, faith, values, etc., it can certainly work.

I think you can have a friendship without an ulterior motive but sometimes it does not work out it depends if the person is an honest person

I am not sure been married for 39 years

All my relationships are platonic these days...blowed if I can remember what sex is anyway!

Men will mostly only hang out with a woman if they are interested in them is why

NOPE MEN WILL B MEN

They absolutely do. Have had a good male friend for 30 years. He is someone I can talk to about anything. Never was any awkward issues with us just being friends

It’s something that I hadn’t given any thought too or consideration

i am not sure on this one

I think it can be as I have had a few over my lifetime and still do where the connection is purely friendship. However, I do think most men usually try to cross the line more so than women do but whether I would classify it as an ulterior motive or just try on I am not sure.

Sure it's possible

Yes it can

First off number one have to have trust without that then don't think so

Trust plays a big part I think.

I am a cynic - only in the 'movies' - lol

It can happen with no ulterior motive.