Lithose
Buzzfeed Editor
So first friend zone dude calls or texts me every day. Other friend zone dude brought me coffee...to my office...I have been up front with both of them about friendship with no additional benefits or romantic future...more than once and directly with "I will eat lunch/dinner with you...but only as your friend, I have no intention of a romantic or sexual relationship with you." I apparently not good at this & must be doing something to project a possibility of pants action/romance for them. I do not want to be mean or considered a cunt but fuck. Do I just stop replying? I have known the one since grade school, the other h s. and will see them often enough for them to be uncomfortable...are women just not that up front? BTW...I am super friendly with everyone ...men, women, whatever gender identity... just don't feel I should have to change that for someone not figuring out I mean what I say. Guess I will just accept food and beverages without guilty feelings.
I think I just answered my own question, but feel free to comment at your pleasure.
The dude bringing you coffee? He won't be helped. Unless a guy is bringing you some food during a traumatic time, its almost always a romantic gesture. Real ape brain shit; he's already hard wired you for possible romantic involvement. If you have no interest, need to cut it. Other one sounds like you need to let texts hang. From everything in your posts you seem like the type that has to respond, even if you only respond with 'yes' or very simple answers (Let me know if I'm wrong). For 90% of well adjusted guys? We will stop once that happens a couple times because its obvious there is no interest in continuing the talk. If he continues texting you even when you do that? Probably need to cut him out, but you can try not responding to him every day and he will get the message better, might moderate him.
However, if you're a very friendly person who likes touches and hugs? I don't think you're doing yourself any favors with guys. Touching is a pretty big deal for most men. I think a far bigger deal than it is for women. Guys don't touch each other casually in social groups without a level of roughness. So most men take touches as very very affectionate. I've always found this to be a huge disparity for women and men who want to be friends. Even really well adjusted guys who aren't trying super hard for it will notice touches and general proximity. Keep a decent distance from men you want to be friends with. Ask the guys here how awkward it is for us to get 'soft touched' by a guy, I'm sure most when they think about it will realize it doesn't happen. You can do a slap, playful punch, hand shake and maybe a hug once in a while, but casual touching? Nope. Big green light for most men, I think.
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