Yeah, all those women knew that their "friends" were actually attracted to them. Thing is, if a guy is visibly attracted to me, I tend to keep them at a distance, unless I'm interested in him as well (and I'm single). I know from first hand experience how painful it can be, to fall for a close friend and not be reciprocated. That's why I pay extra attention to not get myself in a similar situation, on either side.
In retrospect, I now see how the whole thing about the close friend of mine falling "in love" with me could have been avoided. He was going through a very difficult period (he had almost died from a missed suicide, he is bipolar), and I wanted to help him by being there for him, talking with him etcetera. I ended up making him suffer even more in the long run: he probably wouldn't have gotten so obsessed with me if we hadn't kept in contact so often, especially when he was so vulnerable. I know that it's because of his illness that he suffers so much, but still, I could've been more considerate and not get involved in something I clearly was helpless (and clueless) in. At least I know what NOT to do if something similar occurs again (I hope it never does!).
As for now, I remain pretty sure that they aren't attracted to me - I mean, they've even seen me in a bikini and even then they didn't look at me "that way"... it was as if I were a guy, really. I mean, guys are guys, if there's a girl in a bikini in front of them and they like her, it shows..! I just hope it stays this way, I would be sad if our friendship were to change. But yeah, time will tell :-)!I'm with Haxan, but acknowledge we are all coloured by our experiences. Thx may be right, there is his self-fulfilling prophecy point. Perhaps Searock you don't attract, deliberately, male friends of the sort that would be attracted to you. Perhaps that is different from most women, who like the attention but won't admit it (that video). Time will tell, Searock. :-)
I also agree with THX's point about it being a self-fulfilling prophecy. All the people I know who are 100% convinced that men and women can't be friends actually have no friends of the opposite sex. All those (male and female) who believe in male/female friendship, have! It might be just coincidence, but I don't think it is. It's more like denying that something can happen, therefore, based on this belief, you put yourself in a disposition that precludes the possibility of it happening at all.
Obviously I wouldn't go out for an intimate dinner with a guy friend of mine, nor would I invite them over to my place to spend the night, but I would grab a pizza and watch a movie - even drink beer - with them, as I would with a female friend... as long as no relationship boundaries are broken (for example, things like that shouldn't occur frequently), there's nothing wrong (or strange) with it :-).Women/men, don't just go out to dinner, have cookout-movie nights and talk about the intimate and personal details of their lives as 'friends' without someone (or both) wanting it all.