[atskitty2]

Well, to clarify...he had never offered specifically to mow for me, and I never asked the neighbours to do it. They did it themselves after I'd gone to work Sunday evening. They didn't know I'd hired someone already. <br />
But I do see your point. <br />
<br />
He always offers to help. In any way possible. and yes I do appreciate it and I don't think that is indicative of more romantic type feelings, maybe the defensive posture or his unwillingness to just let it go...I told him I thought I'd offended him. I guess I felt a bit disrespected by his insistence to have it his way and not just leaving it be when I asked him to. About the gun thing especially. He was already looking for places to get me into shooting lessons...<br />
It was tense, uptight. It just was odd. <br />
<br />
I've also told him, I'm not a person who warms up and tells everything to all my friends. I just don't see the need...and I really

[atskitty2]

Well, I mentioned it to our mutual friend who left town. <br />
He laughed and said he was actually surprised it took this long to have a problem. He said Jim is pushy and annoying and I am prideful and stubborn so it was bound to happen. <br />
He said he hopes he can cool off and take it easier and we can still be friends. I hope we can still be friendly but I really think it needs to be kept to the group outings...I think the one on one time is too much.<br />
I guess I'm not the only one to have to tell him to hush and sit back...relax and lay off the panicked talk.<br />
He said it seems like we'd get on each other's nerves with our personalities. <br />
<br />
So....I feel better, but not really. At least I dont think I overrracted or was overly rude. He seems to draw this response from other friends as well. <br />
<br />
I guess I'll wait and see what happens. I don't intend to initiate an outing any time soon.

[jns]

If you're going to be just friends with a person of the opposite sex, it helps to not have physical attraction to the other and have little or no chance for physical attraction to grow.

[atskitty2]

I agree jns. I do think as some others have mentioned, that your relationship status plays a part.

[a_dub]

I don't believe so. Well OK yeah. I was really close friends with my buddy's then GF, but at first I had the hots for her too. But once he was going out with her, I saw her as one of the boys and treated her that way. After they broke up, we have lost touch...probably forever.

The only other girl I am friends with I started talking to her cuz she was hot. But then found out she had a BF and kept talking to her cuz she was really cool. We are still friends although not in touch as often and I still think she is attractive.

I have had one other friend that I was friends with and did not have any attraction too.

So, nevermind, I change my opinion. Yes you can have platonic friends.

[Popcorn&Candy]

Yes: I think men and women CAN have platonic relationships. I am close friends with an older man. He is in his 60's and believe me, there is no chance of a relationship developing. We have been close friends for many years and often talk on the phone. Most men would expect something more than friendship, but - thankfully - not this man. He offers a different perspective on life and supports me when life is tough. I can trust him 100%. He's a decent friend.

[hooper]

It's funny you write about this topic. I'm in my late 40's and watched When Harry Met Sally in my late teens/early 20's. At the time I thought the movie was profound. Harry's premise that men and women can't be friends because we always wanted to have sex with them was true. It was very true for me at the time. I've watched it a few times and the last time was a few years ago. This time his premise held no water for me. When I was younger it was but now not nearly so much. For background I have a great wife and have for the past 15 years so I'm covered. If I were single I don't know how I would feel about it but I don't think it would be the same. I've got many female friends but even if they are attractive and many are I just don't see things the same way I did in my late teens to early 30's. I still love the movie and think it's funny but it just no longer applies to me in the same way.

[Stillness]

At the time I thought the movie was profound.

Your comment is profound. So many times I'm telling my wife, "You have to watch this great movie I saw 10 years ago." We watch it and I'm trying to explain how one of the greatest movies I've ever seen is now shallow and formulaic.

I didn't think I'd still be growing and maturing at 40. Now I don't that as long as we live, we don't ever have to stop.