Why Can’t We Just Be Friends?

Why is that everyone believes that a girl and a guy can’t be just friends. Why is society still so closed-minded about people having best friends of the opposite sex, especially when I have found this to be a common occurrence? My best friend is a guy, and we have put up with our share of comments about us being together, and it’s always awkward when we find out that people thought we were together and you have to convince them we’re not. It’s not even that we act like we’re together, the boy doesn’t even hug me…so I’m still lost about how people get the idea that we’re together. While out parents joke about us being together, and we take it in jest, there are a few observers who are convinced that we should get married and I shouldn’t ride him off, even though he is 3 inches shorter than me. I don’t have a problem with having female friends, because I have some really great ones, but there are definite advantages to having a best friend who is of the opposite sex:

1.) You get a glimpse of what is going on in their mind.

Now while we all know that we will never truly understand one another, there is always a person who can help decipher what is going on when we’re struggling with relationships, and trying to figure other members of the opposite sex out. Girls, he’s always there to assure you that guy just didn’t realize, because yes he is dumb. And guys, sometimes girl’s advice is just better, like when trying to decide if you really can drink that milk for one more day.

2.) Protection

This one doesn’t work so well for me since I’m taller than my best friend, but it works in more than one way. Girls: you always have someone to watch after you at crazy events like concerts, and someone you aren’t scared to walk around downtown late at night with. For girls and guys: it’s an easy out when that weirdo won’t leave you alone. Since everyone assumes you’re together, just let the weird person assume it to so they’ll leave you alone. And by weirdo I mean the girl or guy giving off the psycho vibe. Or if you just aren’t interested (for other reasons that I’ll leave alone) it’s once again an easy out.

3.) Less Drama

I would have to say this is more of a benefit for the girls than the guys. Just to preface this so I don’t get feminists beating down my door, I have an older brother, and I was always around him and his friends so I was everyone’s little sister. And while guys can bring drama, we all have to admit it’s inherently less. I for one cannot handle end-of-the-world situations every minute of the day. I guess for the guy, it provides them a bit of entertainment. Laid back is definitely the way to go however, and this is just about a guarantee with guys. Also there is no way of syncing up with guys, once again lessening the drama.

4.) Relationships

This has its advantages and disadvantages. Disadvantages: If the person you’re in a relationship with doesn’t have a best friend of the opposite sex, they can be very uncomfortable with the friendship or always be questioning if something else is going on there. Sometimes there is no question though, like if they shudder at the thought of a relationship with one another (quick pause to just say eewww). Advantages: The person that you’re in a relationship with has a member of their own sex to hang out with when you’re together, so it’s not a constant barrage of extreme girlyness, or testosterone.

I’ll leave you with a conversation from When Harry Met Sally and let you decide for yourself.

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: 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: 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.

I obviously don’t agree with this, I don’t doubt that this is the majority of the cases, but we can’t rule out a great friendship just because you’re afraid what the other might be thinking.