As a female with many male friends, I can tell you that the struggle of explaining your friendships with these guys is real. People oftentimes assume that you’re friends-with-benefits, or dating, or anything more than just a friend. I, personally, have more guy friends than I do girlfriends, and I can say that 100 percent of my friendships are just that: friendships.
Perhaps one of the reasons people have trouble understanding a male-female friendship is that they don’t see a point to it. In today’s society, much like in the 1970s, sex very much was, and is, a widely accepted thing. It is almost expected of teenagers and young adults to always be thinking of something dirty or having sex in their cars or sleeping with someone different every night. So, when people see a male and a female hanging out together, they usually suspect, if not assume, that sex is an element of their relationship.
Ladies and gentleman of the internet, I am happy to inform you that non-sexual friendship between a male and a female is possible! I have all my friendships to prove it. Again, many of you may not see a “point” to a friendship like this. Here is a compressed list of perks to having a guy best friend:
1. Emergency boyfriend
If you're hanging out at a public place and some random, creepy guy tries hitting on you, no worries. Your guy best friend is there to pretend to be your boyfriend so the creep will leave you alone.
2. Reaching tall places
All the short girls out there know what I mean.
3. Whole different life perspective
Men in general look at life differently than women. Because of this, they can give you a different angle to view a situation you are otherwise hopelessly confused by. They are also pretty laid back compared to how tense some women (myself included) can get.
4. Portable space heater
In my experience, I have found that most men just have an excess of body heat and are usually more than willing to give it away. This is perfect for when you unexpectedly become frigid and there are no blankets in the vicinity.
5. Late night pal
For those nights when sleep won't come and you don't know what else to do with your life at 1:30 in the morning.
6. Cuddle buddy
I have my bad days when loneliness settles over me like a dark cloud, and the need for human touch stronger than ever. Have no fear, your guy friends tune in to when you need their presence or some form of physical contact, whether that be arms touching or “hold me, I feel so alone.”
7. No messy feelings
Guy friends are friends, there are no romantic emotions to get caught up in that complicate everything.
8. Sports buds
They're there when you feel like playing basketball at 10 p.m. or dodgeball on a Sunday afternoon or tennis at 6 in the morning.
9. Musical duet
When your jam comes on and you both are singing with zero cares of what anyone else thinks. In other words, you sound awful but have fun doing it!
10. Comedy
Guys have a knack for lightening the mood. This is one of the most helpful things ever in a tense or sad situation.
11. Guy advice
If another man is spinning you in circles and you don't know how to speak guy, your friend's got your back. Consider them a translator of guy intentions.
Some of my best friends ever have been men. Zero romantic feelings, zero awkward phases, zero worries about if they're going to make a move on you. The friendship itself is just nice, low-key, they're there when you need them, and you feel totally comfortable around them. Let me tell you, I don't know how I would have survived the first month and a half of college without my best friend. He's awesome!
