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Be Just Friends With a Member of the Opposite Sex
Platonic male/female friendships can be just as or even more rewarding than same sex friendships. However, they can also cause jealousy and other problems in your current or future romantic relationships if you don't set boundaries for the friendship from the start.
Steps
Be sure that you want to be just friends with this person. If things go well, are you going to want more? Will they? Be honest with yourself and your friend. They should be honest with you too. Egos aside, address why you both want to be just friends. There's a period in every opposite sex friendship that you question whether or not you should be more. Address it early on.
Both of you must want a strictly platonic friendship and understand that's all it will ever be. No matter what anyone says, it is possible to be just friends as long as you have that understanding from the start.
Don't be too touchy feely with your friend, especially if you're in a romantic relationship with someone. Limit hugs and physical contact to the same amount you share with your same sex friends. If you find the need to hug and touch them more, then maybe you're not just friends.
Don't date your friend! Having a night out together is fine, but don't date your friend or bring them into social scenarios where everyone else has a date. That is called dating, not friendship. You wouldn't ask Your same sex friend to accompany you to your sister's wedding, so don't ask your opposite sex friend!
Accept that some flirting is normal. It's called teasing! You have to remember that you are members of the opposite sex and the dynamics will be different than if you were the same sex. However, flirting should never be sexual or romantic in any way.
Tips
If you're in a relationship or become involved in one, keep in mind that your significant other may feel threatened at first. It's going to take time, especially if they don't believe in platonic male/female friendships. Be respectful and include your significant other in outings with your friend. Don't hide the friendship, but don't fuel any jealousy either by excessive one-on-one time with your friend or talking about your friend endlessly.
Make an effort to be friends with your friend's significant other. Find out what they like to do and suggest an outing for just the two of you. Even if you don't like the person, understand there might be a little doubt and jealousy over the friendship. By becoming a friend to the couple, the doubts and jealousy usually vanish in no time.
Don't meddle in your friend's relationships. If their significant other finds out you gave some "helpful" advice that they view as causing more problems, chances are, they will not want to friendship to continue. Your friend will have to choose and, either way, will lose someone they care about. Don't put your friend in that position. Give advice, but unless your friend is in danger or being abused, never put down your friend's significant other to your friend.
If you're not in a relationship and feeling lonely, never turn to your friend for physical comfort. It doesn't matter if you'll still be friends in the morning. Platonic friends do not engage in anything physical ever.
Warnings
In any friendship, the dynamics change over time. An acquantiance you don't really care for all that much today might be your best friend a year from now.
It's possible you and your friend will develop deeper feelings after a long, platonic friendship. But like any friendship, resolving whether to act on feelings requires honesty from both sides. It doesn't mean you were never platonic friends. It just means the friendship has changed like all do. React to the new feelings in a way that preserves the friendship and makes both of you happy.
Steps
Be sure that you want to be just friends with this person. If things go well, are you going to want more? Will they? Be honest with yourself and your friend. They should be honest with you too. Egos aside, address why you both want to be just friends. There's a period in every opposite sex friendship that you question whether or not you should be more. Address it early on.
Both of you must want a strictly platonic friendship and understand that's all it will ever be. No matter what anyone says, it is possible to be just friends as long as you have that understanding from the start.
Don't be too touchy feely with your friend, especially if you're in a romantic relationship with someone. Limit hugs and physical contact to the same amount you share with your same sex friends. If you find the need to hug and touch them more, then maybe you're not just friends.
Don't date your friend! Having a night out together is fine, but don't date your friend or bring them into social scenarios where everyone else has a date. That is called dating, not friendship. You wouldn't ask Your same sex friend to accompany you to your sister's wedding, so don't ask your opposite sex friend!
Accept that some flirting is normal. It's called teasing! You have to remember that you are members of the opposite sex and the dynamics will be different than if you were the same sex. However, flirting should never be sexual or romantic in any way.
Tips
If you're in a relationship or become involved in one, keep in mind that your significant other may feel threatened at first. It's going to take time, especially if they don't believe in platonic male/female friendships. Be respectful and include your significant other in outings with your friend. Don't hide the friendship, but don't fuel any jealousy either by excessive one-on-one time with your friend or talking about your friend endlessly.
Make an effort to be friends with your friend's significant other. Find out what they like to do and suggest an outing for just the two of you. Even if you don't like the person, understand there might be a little doubt and jealousy over the friendship. By becoming a friend to the couple, the doubts and jealousy usually vanish in no time.
Don't meddle in your friend's relationships. If their significant other finds out you gave some "helpful" advice that they view as causing more problems, chances are, they will not want to friendship to continue. Your friend will have to choose and, either way, will lose someone they care about. Don't put your friend in that position. Give advice, but unless your friend is in danger or being abused, never put down your friend's significant other to your friend.
If you're not in a relationship and feeling lonely, never turn to your friend for physical comfort. It doesn't matter if you'll still be friends in the morning. Platonic friends do not engage in anything physical ever.
Warnings
In any friendship, the dynamics change over time. An acquantiance you don't really care for all that much today might be your best friend a year from now.
It's possible you and your friend will develop deeper feelings after a long, platonic friendship. But like any friendship, resolving whether to act on feelings requires honesty from both sides. It doesn't mean you were never platonic friends. It just means the friendship has changed like all do. React to the new feelings in a way that preserves the friendship and makes both of you happy.
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