Is one considered 'single' if one has friends with benefits?

[Thoragoros]

I posted in another thread, jokingly, that I have remained happily single except for a couple of 'friends with benefits.'

Then I wondered, quite seriously, 'Am I really single?'

So, if one has a couple of these kinds of 'friends,' is one still single? Or is single a guy or girl is who isn't getting any from anyone?

I mean, yes, you are single if your 'adventures' amount to one night stands, but if the person/people are people you see regularly and are relatively close to as far being friends go, is that still single?

Or is a person single so long as they are not what one would call a 'relationship?'

Your thoughts on the matter.

[Stavroforos]

I'd say that such a person would still be single, considering they're not in a relationship if it's just friends with benefits.

[♔Lord Stason♔]

In your case like me i also have those close friendships with some people often feeling like a relationship at times.

Judging how i see it all having those benifits yeah you are single, unless the friends with benifits makes you devoted to that one person for action of what ever you both share.

For me i don't have those relationship tie downs so that clearly makes me single.

[Magic Man]

Depends how you both feel about each other.


Ive had friends with benefits where we've both thought of each other as literally a good **** and a nice body, whereas ive had friends with benefits where we've been boyfriend + girlfriend in all but name, and then there have been relationships in which one of us had strong feelings for the other when the other just wanted to ****.

Its all relative.

[Thoragoros]

I guess that sort of cuts into when does 'friendship' become more than just friendship, and from my vantage point (which I admit is skewed), I don't think so.

I mean, yeah, we enjoy being around each other, I never have to worry about not having someone to do stuff with since they are just friends, and I don't need to worry about it getting complicated.

I will admit that I have occasionaly felt those odd 'cingy' feelings before, but whenever I feel clingy I just think about the broken home I came frome and ask myself 'Do I want to risk going back to that crap?'

I answer no, and the clingy warm feelings are gone.

Is this wrong?

[Manco]

Between the two I'd say. You're not attached like in a full relationship, but you still have to have some consideration for your 'friend'. I mean, you're free to for example pursue another relationship, but you're pretty much obligated to tell your 'friend' that it's over at that point.

Though from what I've seen, friends with benefits is usually one person who sees the other as just a friend, while the other probably is in love (perhaps not fully aware of it her/himself. Not too say it isn't possible to both know it's just sex, I've seen that happen as well.

Personally I don't care what people do sexually and relationally (is that a word?), as long as they make it clear from the get go what the situation is.

[Delenidas di Warlord]

Of course you're single!

[rusina]

You lucky bastard, I hate you.

[Thoragoros]

You lucky bastard, I hate you.

Since that has been the reaction of some of my guy friends, and since my sister regards me as a 'helpless man-whore,' I must be doing something right...

But to be serious again, most of you say 'Nah, you're single,' and that what I think as well. But I'm definitely not 'alone,' and when I hear someone say they are single, the whispers that follow are usually 'Oh too bad he/she is alone.' But that's definitely not me.

I guess that means there is in fact a middle ground between being single and being in a relationship, right?

Or am I just overanalyzing this?

[John F. Kennedy]

I'd consider you single if your saying you just have friends you have 'fun' (wink wink) with.

[Copperknickers II]

Depends how many you have.

[Thoragoros]

Depends how many you have.

So if I have more than one such 'friend' I can consider myself single?

[Eastern Roman]

So if I have more than one such 'friend' I can consider myself single?

yep, know i hate you too

[Nazgūl Killer]

As far as I'm concerned, it depends on whether or not your 'friends with benefits' know they're just that and nothing more. From first and second hand experience, I must say that sometimes they know, just don't want to believe it and thus ignore it. So, someone's going to get hurt.

But, generally? Yes. You are.

[gambit]

Depends how you both feel about each other.


Ive had friends with benefits where we've both thought of each other as literally a good **** and a nice body, whereas ive had friends with benefits where we've been boyfriend + girlfriend in all but name, and then there have been relationships in which one of us had strong feelings for the other when the other just wanted to ****.

Its all relative.

Yup.

Me and a friend of mine have feelings for eachother and everyone thought we were dating but shes always gonna be away to college and we decided we both want to go have wild fun and not be tied to one person, so we're friends with benefits. Its impossible for either of us to say we dont care for eachother, but we're not dating and if she did anything with another guy I wouldnt care.

[Copperknickers II]

So if I have more than one such 'friend' I can consider myself single?

That's my view. If you have more than one, then you can have as many as you like so are effectively single. If you only had one, that is together imo.

[John F. Kennedy]

So if I have more than one such 'friend' I can consider myself single?

Yes, consider yourself single, and damn lucky too!

[PGeo36]

I believe facebook has an open relationship status, so I vote that.

[Thoragoros]

I believe facebook has an open relationship status, so I vote that.

I know that this might make me sound a little...'backward,' but I don't have a facebook account. I just never felt the need for one.

I mean, I know who I know, and we keep in touch. Like I said earlier, I am never lacking for people to do stuff with. And if I want to socialize on the net, I go to my choice forums.

I don't know, when I think of MySpace, I think of young teen making statements, and when i think of facebook, I think of my 'elders' catching up with peoeple from high school they haven't seen in years.

But as to your post, I guess that means you would consider me single as well? Hmm.

[Battlerager]

...as long as she doesn't try and trap 'ye!

I had a good buddy in a similar relationship, until we overheard his female "companion" make a comment similar too..."I'd fake being pregnant to keep...