Can men and women be friends? (and only friends)

I was reading this article earlier this morning regarding female-male friendships. As it discussed the benefits of male-female friendships, I found myself thinking about my own male friends (and what a bunch they are!) Although my absolute best friends (sister soul mates, I call them) have always been women, since I was quite young, I have always been able to name a few male companions as best friends. So what? We work together, have class together, go out together, enjoy similar tv shows, music and movies. How can I not become friends with them? There have always been ideas, feelings, etc that I can share with one sex and not the other so why not befriend both. I can have my cake and eat it too!

Then someone tried to tell me I can’t have both. A dear friend of mine feels that men and women simply can’t be friends because as we get older the sexual tension is too difficult to suppress. “Someone in the friendship always wants more” she tells me. I understand that there is always the possibility that one party may desire more than the other, that doesn’t mean that it is always that way.

I have been attracted to a few male friends, and I have had male friends attracted to me. Sometimes it has blossomed into a more romantic relationship, sometimes it has failed miserably and unfortunately, sometimes the friendship has ended due to an unrequited lust. But any relationship can fail. That doesn’t mean that I’m going to stay away from certain people because someone, somewhere decided that it just isn’t possible for me to befriend another.

Maybe I’m naïve. Any thoughts?