There’s the common belief that members of the opposite sex cannot be friends, especially becoming best friends without the relationship turning into an intimate and physical one. That is why in the Nigerian setting, any girl seen in the company of a particular guy for an extended period of time, is considered to be either dating or just hooking up. The Next Edition carried out a vox pop to find out what the youth think about this. Below are reactions:
Bright Uche, Businessman
I think feelings built up over time; I’ve been in that situation a few times. I think impossible to be best friends with the opposite sex without wanting to be personal, have a physical relationship and all that. The person I’m getting married to, we started as best friends and things escalated.
Jerry King, IT Expert
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It’s possible, but 50 per cent of the time, affections may come in and something may go down. There are two things involved; either they have been intimate before or will be in future in most cases. But there are ones that exist like that especially if each person is in his or her own relationship. It is not good for single people.
Tolu Adenike, Student
It’s complicated. They can start off as just friends but we are all humans and we start developing feelings for each other. It’s a yes and no situation.
Anita Imoh, Entrepreneur
Friends, yes; besties without strings attached, no. Being best friends with someone is an emotional relationship between two girls or two guys (without sexual relations of course). So, members of the opposite sex with that kind of emotional attachment without anything happening is impossible.
Ed Akpan, Civil Servant
I think two people can share everything, be very close but not want to ‘knack.’ I can’t really explain it, but it is possible.
Emmanuella Henry, Graduate
I know for a fact that it is possible. It depends on how the friendship was started. I had a very close male friend some years back. Once we started talking we defined the relationship and no one strayed from that. The friendship just died a natural death and not because anyone made advances. We still talk every now and then.
Ejike Prince, Businessman
It depends on the people involved. I think it can happen. They can be close and nothing happens. I have a female friend like this. We haven’t crossed the line and so far I don’t think we will. It’s a good friendship. Doing something now will kill that friendship.
