I'm sure they can, but in my experience, the rule is, if a man and a woman are friends, then the guy is probably a shy, nerdy type who is such a good friend with the girl because he's too shy to ask her or any other girl out and so he becomes her pseudo-boyfriend to get whatever female intimacy he can. And the girl, while probably consciously oblivious, knows on some level, and likes the attention.

Yes, but then eventually you graduate from high school.

True, but I still see it. Mostly though, I just don't see guys and girls being friends. Of course I'm sorta dirt poor and work with and see people who are a bit on the...unenlightened side? And no, that's not necessarily a euphemism for stupid.

I prefer Rohypnol personally. It works a treat.

No, I'm vegetarian

This is just sort of a random question that just popped into my head for no apparent reason, but is there any animal a vegetarian would be okay with eating? You know, an animal that might be so far down on the evolutionary scale that it wasn't even clear if they could suffer.

Ah. Now that makes sense. And, though I'm not a vegetarian, "fishy parts" are certainly one more item on my list of reasons for disliking Guinness.

Et tu, Brute?

*stab stab stab*

I see it all of the time, too. Growing up with misguided religious young people who are striving to "be careful" they don't get "too close" to any of their female friends was entertaining. "Let's be friends (I like you), but let's not do too much together because I'm not ready to date (we might end up having the sex, and that's bad.)" I remember one friend in particular would ask me if I thought a girl liked him after he just met the person. Every. Single. Time.

Eventually people outgrow it as they have more respectful interaction with people of the opposite sex without feeling like a hug or a handshake always leads to humping, or a friendly hello means they "like" you. But you're right, it doesn't click with some people for many, many years.

EDIT: Although I will admit, when a woman is really cool and we get along great, I can't help but have the thought pass through my head. I don't know if it's the same for all men or women, but it's just a passing thought usually.