Can Men & Women Be Friends?

Irish poet and dramatist Oscar Wilde once said, "Between men and women there is no friendship possible. There is passion, enmity, worship, love, but no friendship." You know what? Wilde was a brilliant creative mind, but on this particular topic, I just don't agree with him.

I think men and women can definitely be friends. Sure, if you're a heterosexual woman, it's more difficult to maintain a friendship with a man than a woman, but it's possible. You just need to set up some ground rules for the relationship (preferably consciously and not verbally) and stick to them. Here are a few I suggest:

1. No intimacy. Studies show that when a woman engages in sexual intercourse or other intimate acts with a man, she becomes more emotionally attached. If you'd like to maintain a long-term friendship, then keep it out of the bedroom.

2. Be his wingwoman. Unless you feel the two of you are soul mates, which means you have a bigger issue to deal with, then it shouldn't be a problem to help him find "the One." We set up our girlfriends with guys we know, so why wouldn't we do the same for our man friends?

3. Do buddy things together. If your guy friend is a metrosexual, then go shopping together. If you're both into sports, then go to ballgames together. Maybe you're both music lovers — hit up concerts. Whatever it is, base your friendship on common interests.

4. Don't get jealous. Like I said, unless you think you're the one he should spend the rest of his life with (again, a different issue altogether), then make a pact with yourself that you won't get jealous when he finds Miss Right or even just Miss Right Now. Jealousy can easily ruin a friendship.

It's not the easiest thing in the world for men and women to be friends, especially if you're both unattached. So set some ground rules with yourself and stick to them.

More relationship advice from YourTango:

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