I have done quite bit of thinking, discussing and studying on the subject of guys and girls being friends the past few years and I am in the process of writing a speech on it and also discussing/debating it with a friend of mine. I'm looking for testimonies, opinions, advice, ideas, etc. that I can use for my speech or just for future reference. The Botkin sisters recently wrote an excellent blog post about it in case anyone is interested. Thank you!

The Botkin sisters did do an excellent write-up!  While guy/girl friendship can be difficult, I find guy/girl courting and dating to be more of a challenging issue.  No one in the Bible dated.  They are either single or married.  Have the Botkin sisters written about dating?  If so, I would like to read their opinion.

 Yes - an excellent article indeed!   Right on!  I'll have to show it to the rest of the Willi...

 (Among other things, the guys can be concerned that their brotherly friendliness will be misconstrued as a mark of intention.)

Our family has discussed this a real lot, especially over the past year.  We try to keep cross-gender friendships in a family context.  This prevents a lot of misunderstanding, easily guards against anything non-kosher, and provides a natural, "brother-sister environment" that I find most comfortable. 

TheWilli:

 We try to keep cross-gender friendships in a family context. 

Walter, may I get on my soap box for a second?  This is no attack on you, I found that the Botkin sisters occasionally did the same.  Henry Watson Fowler, an English schoolmaster, lexicographer, and commentator on the usage of English, once said: "Gender...is a grammatical term only. To talk of persons...of the masculine or feminine g[ender], meaning of the male or female sex, is either a jocularity or a blunder."

For those who are familiar with English and American history, our language is shaped over time.  I think you will not be all that surprised to learn when the word gender took on its new and unfortunate meaning.

(stepping off my soap box) Carry on!

WesleySonofCornelius:

TheWilli:

 We try to keep cross-gender friendships in a family context. 

Walter, may I get on my soap box for a second?  This is no attack on you, I found that the Botkin sisters occasionally did the same.  Henry Watson Fowler, an English schoolmaster, lexicographer, and commentator on the usage of English, once said: "Gender...is a grammatical term only. To talk of persons...of the masculine or feminine g[ender], meaning of the male or female sex, is either a jocularity or a blunder."

For those who are familiar with English and American history, our language is shaped over time.  I think you will not be all that surprised to learn when the word gender took on its new and unfortunate meaning.

(stepping off my soap box) Carry on!

Hah hah, this I know.   I just couldn't bring myself to write "cross-sex" - it brings all the wrong images to mind.