Is It Okay For Girls to Have Guy Friends?
As you might guess, the answer to the question is, “Yes,” it’s absolutely okay for girls to have guy friends. The truth is, it depends on the situation and how you both treat these friendships.
You can be a good friend to guys without them feeling like you’re dating them or that they can do anything romantic with you, but there are certain things you should avoid doing when you’re first starting an opposite sex friendship. Here are some of the most common pitfalls to watch out for:
The first, and most obvious one, is to not let them know you’re interested in them. This can be done through indirect clues or by telling them flat out that you’re only looking for friends and not dating material. This can be hard, but it’s the right thing to do in the long run if you want to avoid any confusion.
Often, women unconsciously assume that the guys they’ve made new buddies with are on the same page as them, and don’t think about whether they’re actually a romantic match. That can be disastrous when they end up dating a guy and are left wondering what was wrong with their newfound friendships.
Another issue is that some men aren’t able to separate their personal feelings from their platonic relationships. This is especially true if they’ve never dated before. They might feel that they’re on a date with you, but they’re really just trying to get to know you better, which can cause them to act too hastily or have false feelings of attraction.
Sometimes a guy who’s in a casual relationship will try to show that he likes you by going out of his way to be nice to you or making you a priority. This could include giving you a ride to a show or buying you drinks at the bar, so that he can see how you’re holding up.
This can be a dangerous tactic because it can make your potential boyfriend feel that you’re already romantically attracted to him, and he might even start thinking about asking you out. Alternatively, he may just not be able to tell you aren’t into him, so you could find yourself in a situation where you have to break up with him because he is unable to separate his own personal feelings from your friendship.
The best approach is to be upfront with a guy that you’re not into him and then just be honest about it. This can be a bit tough because it can come across as snarky or immature, but it might be the right thing to do if you want to avoid any unnecessary drama.
Some guys also think that if they’re a casual friend with you, then you might be interested in them and that can lead to confusion and misunderstandings. This can be a big deal if you’re in a relationship, because you might have to explain that you’re not into him and that you only want to be friends with him, but it can also help prevent a future rift between you if your relationship isn’t going well.
