While you've learned from many people to scoff at the idea of staying friends with your ex after a breakup, you can't help but wonder if, in your case, such a friendship actually could be possible. Before you rush into a decision you could regret, consider these points from both sides and see whether or not it's the best idea for you (and them) to reconnect on strictly-platonic terms.

Why you SHOULD be friends with your ex:

1. You have a lot of friends in common

Just because you and your ex went separate ways doesn't necessarily terminate all of the common friendships you both had. If you can be cordial with your former lover, you all could still hang out as you did while you were still dating and it'll be as though nothing has changed. Of course, this is the scenario that most of us often strive for, but it isn't always attainable.

2. You don't need any more stress in your life

When you've got a lot on your plate, the last thing you need is your ex making your life that much harder to keep in a manageable balance. While it might feel more satisfying in the heat of the moment to lash out and really let them have it, perhaps it would be easier (and less destructive) to make peace with them and just move forward.

3. You miss each other's company

The desires for romance between you two may have faded, but if you ended your relationship on civil terms, you could find yourselves missing the bond you shared. But be warned that trying to reconnect with your ex by admitting you miss them is treading a thin line between happiness and emotional disaster. Be wise and read the situation carefully before you go ahead and dive in.

4. You know each other well enough to get along

Depending on how long you dated, you both have gotten well-acquainted with each other's basic likes and dislikes and attitudes about particular topics. In order to date, you had to first become friends, so you've already established the foundation of a functional friendship that's now leftover post-breakup. Why not preserve that dynamic you first had and actually continue to be friends?

Why you SHOULD NOT be friends with your ex:

1. You might do something you later regret

Drunken phone calls in the middle of the night, begging them to take you back. The hookups that always start with both parties agreeing that "we shouldn't do this, but we're doing it anyway". Cheating on a new partner with your ex just to rekindle a flame that's already been long since dead. These are just a few of the regrettable actions you risk taking by trying to keep your ex in your life. What starts as an innocent friendship can very easily morph into a toxic, sexually-charged, emotionally-damaging affair.

2. You might not be ready to move on after all

Keeping your ex around while your feelings for them haven't quite disappeared can be absolutely torturous. You'd have to put up with the never-ending "what-ifs", the overanalyzing of texts and phone calls, and the perpetuating of your grief. If you can't restrain yourself when you're with them and think you might be too tempted to kiss them or try to win them back, it's time you let them leave for good.

3. You'd possibly have to see them date someone else

It's inevitable that one of you is going to find romance elsewhere after you two are broken-up. And if that happens first to your ex, you might find it too painful to bear the thought of them with someone new in your place. Even if you swore you were completely over them and didn't care at all if they dated again, part of you could still ache for the loss you feel and it won't exactly thrill you to know that your ex is happy while you're still not.

4. You can't heal properly from your broken heart without a clean break

Most people feel better after a breakup if they cut off all contact with their ex (at least for a short while). In the time you spend completely apart, you can cleanse yourself of the strongest of the negative emotions and focus on getting yourself back into a more positive mindset. When your emotions are more stable, then you can consider getting back in touch with them; but until then, distance is probably the most ideal for your (and their) recovery.

I hope that I've presented valid arguments both for and against forming friendships with your exes, and I hope you make the choice that's best for you.