Have you ever found out that a guy you thought was your friend was telling people you «friend zoned» him? The situation is not uncommon. As a thirty-something year old woman, it’s been an interesting time navigating the world of male/female friendships. While I have quite a few good male friends who haven’t shown any sign of romantic or sexual interest, there were plenty who resented their platonic designation. I’d hear about their frustration second-hand, and question the entire basis of our friendships. 

Getting older kind of helped in this department, but I still see memes about and hear tales of dudes who are quick to cry «friend zone,» and it puts a bad taste in my mouth. This Tumblr thread, however, has done a very good job at demystifying why friendship seems to have such a different meaning for some men. While it doesn’t undo the damage, it does help us see this dynamic in a different light. Hopefully we can change things up in this department, and nurture healthy relationships between everyone, regardless of gender. It takes a village, and these days, we need all the friends we can get.