To Platonic love I offer this thanks,

     when needing something like naturalism

When writing poetry and drawing blanks,

     I often settle using Platonism

I have been seaching ever more,

     hoping again to sing your praise.

For words, I very much adore,

     lacking me in several ways.

~ Curtis Foster

Can men and women have platonic relationships?

77

Just Friends: Tony Rebel and SwadeBy SpiffyD

Can’t see we’re just friends, they say I’m bunnin’ my lady

Some criticize and say, mi ha mi cake and ah eat it up

They can’t see we’re just friends, they say I’m secretly loving you (Oh no)

They say we coulda never live so and nuttin nah gwaan

This is the chorus of a 2002 reggae song by Tony Rebel and Swade. The song addressed common perceptions that men and women cannot be just friends without there being more to it. Indeed, when some women know that their boyfriends have a lot of female friends, they may be somewhat uneasy.

Guys might be even worse, since they know the tricks that fellas (including themselves) may try with “friends.” In fact, some might argue that it is what female friends are for. As the reggae tune suggested, many persons just don’t buy the notion of men and women being “just friends” too cheaply.

Whether it’s because of the “friends with benefits” phenomenon, or knowledge of how the bonding process occurs, there may be some overtones to relations between the sexes. That many relationships commence with friendships also reinforces the idea that friendship may be just a starting point for greater things.

Many persons refuse to believe that it could just be, without anything else happening. However, there are several obvious reasons for the existence of truly platonic relationships.

No romantic attraction

Not everyone is heterosexual, so that fact automatically undermines the idea that men and women cannot be friends. However, even a heterosexual male or a heterosexual female may not be attracted to each other for various reasons.

Perhaps it’s the absence of physical attraction or maybe you don’t think the person is the type that you can have an intimate relationship with. After all, the dynamics of a romantic relationship are much different.

When one or both parties is not interested, it would stay in the friendship zone.

Source: 123rf.com

The only issue with low levels of attraction is that it can morph into attraction later on, especially if a strong emotional bond develops. Even though there are different levels and types of attraction, there are some friends whom you would simply not perceive in that manner.

The type of love that obtains here is Philia, as opposed to Eros. Often, it’s the case that one friend has some level of attraction while the other does not, but sometimes mutual non-attraction may exist.

Friendship history

Some friends may have tried dating, or were actually a couple once upon a time. This can alter the perception of the relationship to others, or can have bearing on the nature of the interaction between the pair. However, it does not necessarily mean that it’s impossible to be friends with a person of whom you have carnal knowledge. However, the situation would be a tricky one, since there could easily be residual feelings or the temptation to drift back to the golden days.

The friendship foundation

I knew a fella who required his female friends to be within his physical attraction threshold. The funny thing was that he resembled a Rugrat more than a stud, but that’s beside the point. In that case, the friendship is not completely platonic to begin with. However, if it is based on good conversation, empathy and shared experiences, thoughts or secrets, then it has a better chance of remaining platonic.

What is your "just friends" quotient?

Have you experienced truly platonic relationships with the opposite sex?

•  Yes
•  No

Fidelity and high-mindedness

What makes humans superior to other animals is our mind. We do not have to be victims of our impulses and desires. Unfortunately, some folks do not have that mental fortitude to ignore lingering feelings, regardless of whether they’re in a relationship or not. However, even if there is some level of attraction, a disciplined mind can ensure that a friendship remains platonic, especially if it is patently apparent that pursuing more would not be ideal.

Conclusion

Although many persons might raise eyebrows at your friendships with the opposite sex, it is possible for things to be strictly platonic. Sometimes, friendships develop into more, and the chances of that happening may exist for some time. You may even hear of friends who were married to other persons getting together after they divorced their spouses.

It is in our nature to wonder what it would be like with a friend of the opposite sex. Some psychologists argue that it is merely a process called “love mapping.” Just because this occurs at some point does not mean that it not platonic; your mind merely toyed with the possibility.

Someone I knew used that as a basis to convert a friendship into an unlikely relationship, with unhappy results. They did not want to just be friends, but for those who make more prudent decisions, there’s nothing wrong with being “just friends” with the opposite sex.

What is Platonic Love? I know it until now.

65

By Danicalele

What is love?

One day, Plato asked Socrates: "What is love?"
Socrates said: "I ask you to pick a strain of the largest and most golden grain through this piece of rice paddies, but there is a rule that you can’t go back and you can pick only one."
So Plato began to do this. After long time, he came back with nothing.
Socrates asked him why he came back with empty-hand?
Plato said: When I walked in the field, I had seen a few strains with particularly big grain, but I always thought there would be a bigger and better one in front, so that I didn’t pick them up; But I found that the grain I saw is not as good as the last one, and finally I picked nothing.
Then Socrates meaningfully said: "This is love."

Another day, Plato asked Socrates: "What is a marriage?"
Socrates said:" I ask you to cut down a tree which is the strongest and thickest through the forest, but there is a rule that you can't go back and you can pick only one."
So Plato began to do this. After long time, he came back with a tree which is not as strongest as thought.
Socrates asked him why he cut this tree?
Plato said: when I walked through the forest, I saw a few good trees, and this time, I learned the lesson of grain and saw this tree still good, so that I just choose it for I'm afraid I miss the chance though it is not the best. 
At this moment, Socrates said:" This is the marriage."

On another occasion, Plato asked Socrates:"What is happiness?"
Socrates said:" I ask you to across the field and pick a flowers which is the most beautiful, but there is a rule that you can't go back and you can pick only one."
So Plato began to do this. After long time, he came back and held the most beautiful flower.
Socrates asked him:"Is this the most beautiful flower?"
Plato said:"When I crossed the field, I saw this beautiful flower and I picked it up and recognizing that it is the most beautiful one, while I saw many other beautiful flowers later, but I still insist on this one is the most beautiful one so I took it back."
At this moment, Socrates said:"This is happiness."

Plato, one day asked Socrates:"What is affair?"
Socrates asked him to walk through the forest again without any rule and can walk back to choose the most beautiful flowers on his way.
Plato went out with confidence, after two hours, he took a gorgeous flower but slightly off,
Socrates asked him:"Is this the most beautiful flower?"
"I have been looking for two hours, and found this flower is the most beautiful, but it is wither down gradually during I came back" said Plato.
"That's an affair?"

And one day he asked Socrates again:"What is life?"
Socrates asked him to walk through the forest without any rule and can walk back and forth to choose the most beautiful flowers on his way.
Plato had previous lessons and went out full of confidence
After three days, he still didn't come back.
Socrates had to go into the forest and find him, finally he found Plato has already lived in the forest.
Socrates asked him:"Have you found the most beautiful flower?"
Plato pointed to the flower beside and said:"This is the most beautiful flower."
Socrates asked:"Why doesn’t bring out?"
Plato answered:"If I take it off, it will wither quickly. Even if I don't pick it up, it also will wither sooner or later. So I just live beside this flower when it blooms, and find the second beautiful flower when it withered. This is my second flower which I found here."
At this moment, Socrates told him:" You know the truth of life"
.

Platonic Love or Romantic Love: Ways To Tell

72

By beamingscribe

Falling in love is probably one of the most mystical phenomena one could ever experience. When you fall in love, you succumb to a gamut of human emotions--joy, sorrow, excitement, and sometimes, even depression. Falling in love becomes a bit more perplexing if you find yourself falling in love with a close friend. Now, this is where denial and rationalization enter the picture. Initially, you become confused as to what you are feeling. Then you ponder whether what you’re feeling is only an extension of the platonic love you feel for a friend.

The key here is self-introspection. There is a need to confront yourself, look in the mirror and ask yourself the following questions. Honest answers, however, are necessary for you to gauge if the platonic feeling you have for a friend is blossoming into something romantic.

1. Have you changed?

Did you suddenly become self-conscious on how you look, what you wear and what you say in front of your friend? Have your feelings changed? Does your friend’s presence suddenly becomes enough to make you feel ecstatic? Do you find yourself putting your friend under a microscopic eye, pondering and extracting meanings on what he or she says or does?

2. Do you think of your friend 24/7?

One always keep a friend in mind; however, thoughts about a friend does not perpetually cross one’s mind every second of the day and every day of the week. If you find yourself thinking of your friend practically all your waking hours and before dozing off to dreamland, then it might be a sign that you are falling in love with your friend.

3. Do you long to communicate with your friend every day? Do you feel upset if your friend does not call or send messages daily?

There is a bond between friends that transcends distance. Friends may not call each other every day, but still remain friends. Think about it! Some of your friends do not call you every day, and still, you consider them friends. So what is the reason behind this longing to hear from a specific friend every day of your life? This is something you might need to think about.

4. Do you find yourself wanting to be alone with your friend?

If your friend invites you to hang-out, does it upset you to know that your other friends are tagging along?

5. Do you put your friend’s interest above your own? Does making your friend happy makes you happier?

Do you give up your favorite chocolate bar for your friend? Do you lend the person your last centavo when he or she is in dire need? Do you buy the person insurance when you don’t even have your own? To sum it up, if it makes you happier to see your friend happy, then it might be a signal that you’re falling in love with the person.

Falling in love is an emotion and therefore, not rational. You just feel it. In case you have discerned that your love for a friend is blossoming into intimacy, the next question is, what are you going to do about it? Whatever you decide on, you will never run out of options. You can try to forget about it, bury it deep within or kill it. The flipside is you might want to let the other person know how you feel. Either way, it’s your call.

http://cupid51.hubpages.com/hub/Platonic-love-the-divine-interpersonal-relationship-does-it-exist-A-short-story

By cupid51

Platonic love - the divine interpersonal relationship

In this twenty first century, the term “Platonic love” is seemed to have lost its relevancy. But it is a fact that thedivine interpersonal relationship between a man and a woman still exists in some part of the world. You may judge yourself when you will go through the short story bellow (although I term it a “story”, it is a fact and it is about a friend of mine!)

Manik used to like Mita (changes manes) when he was in high school. Mita (a friend of Manik’s younger sister) was a student of primary school. Mita’s family was very poor and unfortunately her father also died at that time. It became difficult Mita’s widow mother to bear the expanses of her education and decided not to send her to school any more.

Manik noticed that Mita was not coming to School and he asked her sister the reason. He was from a rich family and used to get a handful of money to meet his personal expenses. He decided to bear the expenses of Mita’s education. The same was conveyed to Mita’s mother. She was little hesitant at first, but finally agreed. She might have dreamed the futurerelationship of her daughter with Manik.

All these I came to know when Manik was in final year in a Engineering college. I was one year junior to him but yet we were good friend.

I used to notice that Manik was a different kind of boy. He had very few friends. In the hostel two to three boys had to share a room. But Manik was alone in a room. I was very curious to know how he could manage that.

That was the starting point of our closeness. I came to know that Hostel Superintendant had allotted several students to his room, but nobody could stay with him. Because he used to study when others prefer to sleep. As a result those students flew away to other rooms. The Super also couldn’t take any action against him because studying more time is not a violation of byelaws of the Hostel.

It was very amazing to me. But at the same time I was eager to know the reason why he was behaving like that. I found that sometimes he used to be cruel to himself. He was skipping meals very frequently. Finally one day he told me the whole story.

It was when Mita got a job in a primary school as a teacher. She as well as her mother were almost sure that Manik will marry her. But neither of them ever talk about their marriage. Finally Mita’s mother Manik’s family and put up the proposal. They also knew everything and accepted Mita as their daughter-in-law.

Then what was the problem? What lead to this situation? It was none other than Manik himself. Manik had no other girlfriend, he still loved her.

Manik had a funny (I thought in this way only) feelings. Do you know what was that?

He explained this to me when I repeatedly asked. He had helped Mita from the bottom of his heart and he had no intension of getting any reward for that. Now if he would marry Mita, it would look as if he liked the girl and took the opportunity of their family tragedy and financial situation to compel her as well as her family to persuade the relationship.

This is a story when I was in college, and now I am almost an old man. I don’t know where Manik is now. I lost his address when we shifted our home to a different place. Manik also left his old house. Now there is no way to know whether Manik and Mita were still waiting for each other, or they have been married (which seems impossible as far as I know Manik).

Still I am unable to give some name to their love. Is it platonic love? I don’t know. Can anybody tell me?

Stories of Platonic Love

http://www.pictorymag.com/showcases/platonic-love-stories/

Sharing our affection for the people who make life worth living.

These platonic love stories aren’t about the girl you’ve known since high school and always had a secret crush on, or the guy at the video store your partner doesn’t notice you checking out. They’re about the folks who laugh at the same dumb jokes you do, have been there for you through thick and thin, and are still friends with you despite your seventh grade yearbook photo. Enjoy, and happy Valentine’s Day to you and anyone you (friend) love.

Laura Brunow Miner