About Sales Director
Jenn Price does not proclaim to be an expert on dating…but her years of practice (and willingness to share stories) will certainly get people talking. Join in the dialogue each week as Jenn tackles matters of the heart.
I'm blessed to have many friends. Female and male, straight and gay, bisexual and even bar-sexual (a girl who kisses other girls only in bars and clubs).
Question is, how long can male/female friendships last before one person feels an attraction for the other and either acts on it, or severs the friendship because they are afraid of crossing the line (and they just can’t take the sexual tension any longer)?
I have often been oblivious to a man's interest in me. Somewhat naïve at times (I like to say this quality keeps me young and innocent), I have been burned when someone that I had invested time and energy in, has suddenly dropped me like a hot potato for one reason or another.
In university, I met a guy that ended up becoming one of my best friends. He helped me through a very hard break-up, deaths in my family and my parents' divorce. I swore we’d be friends for life. Then, suddenly he told me he loved me and could see himself marrying me. A feeling of suffocation and a sense that I had just lost a best friend encapsulated me. I was also bewildered. How could I have not seen the signs? Was he only supportive of me because he thought it was going to lead to something romantic?
We remained pals for a while, but as soon as he found a girlfriend (who is now his wife) he told me he couldn’t be my friend anymore since she wasn't comfortable with our friendship. That crushed me more than anything.
After that, it took me a while to trust that a man could be my friend. As with any relationship (and I may sound like a broken record), communication is key. Be honest about feelings from the start and as long as all cards are on the table, decisions can be made.
Since then, I’ve formed a beautiful friendship with a guy that has become like my brother. It is a great dynamic to be able to listen to each other and give advice from a different perspective (that only the opposite sex can provide). I think if a friendship is labeled as such from the start, it will (most likely) continue on that plane.
What has been your experience with opposite sex friendships?
**Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin as Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy, 30 Rock airs on CityTV.