I have to say I agree with you both (ER and ISISTAH)...and I don't know if I was going anywhere in particular with the question, it just hit me as I read some of the reply's. It seems this topic has two sides to it.
1. you are capable of having "friends" of the opposite sex who you either have never been intimate with, or have shared intimacy with in the past but are now strictly friends. you are capable of having these types of friends while maintaining a relationship yourself, or with them being in a relationship.
or--
2. you only see the opposite sex as a "dating/relationship" entity in your life. your friends are same sex friends.
the differences in these polarized stances I think it could be a combination of age, experience and personality.
I think like ER said, if you learn to develop these kinds of friendships (opposite sex) early on, you are probably more adept at maintaining them later in life. you can probably see the opposite sex as having a valuable impact on your life outside of "relationship" or just as a sexual partner. I also think that as you get a little older and wiser, and have a few seriously meaningful relationships under your belt your thought process about relationships (friend or intimate) matures. hopefully, you learn more about who you are and about what makes the opposite sex tick. You may find that it is important to keep friends of the opposite sex to help your thoughts and views on relationships in general. All of that comes with time and experience which could easily play into age.
Good/bad examples set at a young age could also play a factor in younger people either being able to maintain opposite sex friends, or not wanting friends of the opposite sex. If you grow up seeing the opposite sex used for selfish reasons, or degraded, by peers or adults you look up to, it could shape your outlook on men and women when you get to an age to make decisions about dating and close friends.
I think Keylargo's point about just really wanting to date as much as she can right now is valid as well. For her, male friends are a hindrance to meeting potential men, and for me they are a very helpful, who better to introduce you to "new guys" than guys you already trust. who better to give you the low down on possible men in your area than men you know and trust. (i always let a new man speak for himself, but a little bit background info never hurt)

I also want to say Isistah you make an excellent point on the post-intimate friendships. If you end the relationship or sexual intimacy with mutal respect and understanding, and both parties find value in remaining friends then there is no reason a friendship can't continue. That could be a personality trait, or it also could just be maturity. Being mature enough to recognize that something isn't working and to step up--and respectfully discuss it while maintaining a good friend at the same time.
on a personal note--my best male friend is someone I was seriously involved with years ago. he has been married and divorced and has kids just like me. now he is in a serious relationship, and about to pop that question. our friendship stems from a lot of common life experience, and the ability to know that 'people' are sometimes more important than a relationships or sex.

maybe some guys are just better equipped for having female friends.
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[This message was edited by Nykkii on September 16, 2003 at 10:41 AM.]