good thread i must say...:D well can't really speak for others but i will speak for myself and since i have sworn to speak truth and only truth in sajha (:P), i believe, to a great extent, i do epitomize, the mentality of most of the men out there. so here's my take on it: YES! men and women can JUST be friends (very good friends) ALTHOUGH, as billy crystal pointed out in "when the harry met sally", i don't deny the possibility of the intrusion of this strong emotion called "sex" in it. i have quite a few girl friends (or friends who are girls rather :P) and i swear on gita/bible/kuran (or u name it), i share a remarkable camaraderie with most of them that is devoid of any sexual attraction. BUT (and this is not a small one), with FEW, i have fantasized (in my wildest dream ni pheri :P) having a playful, very, very emotional sexual intercourse and i don't regret it because this once-in-a-while emotion has ONLY helped me (or US rather, coz i believe they do fantasize the same about me at times :P) to strengthen the otherwise very sanctimonious bond between us.