Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help!
  Advanced
Register  |  Log in  
   Ask    
 Answer  
  Help  

Ask QuestionsprogressAnswer QuestionsprogressBuild ReputationprogressBecome an Expert
 
Free Answers in 3 Easy Steps

Register Now
3 Steps

At Ask Me Help Desk you can ask questions in any topic and have them answered for free by our experts. To ask questions or participate in answering them you must register for a free account. By registering you will be able to:
  • Get free answers from experts in any of our 300+ topics.
  • Accept money for answers that you provide.
  • Communicate privately with other members (PM).
  • See fewer ads.

Home > Family & People > Relationships   »   What is “friends with benefits”?

 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Question
 
 
#1  
Old Oct 4, 2006, 12:50 PM
pathfinder616's Avatar
pathfinder616
New Member
pathfinder616 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 14
pathfinder616 See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
What is “friends with benefits”?

What is “friends with benefits” about and why do some women want these kind of relationships? Are they healthy relationships? What happens if the guy falls in love with a woman who only wants this kind of relationship?

Reply With Quote
 
     

Answers
 
 
Old Oct 4, 2006, 12:58 PM   #2  
Computer Expert
ScottGem is offline
 
ScottGem's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: LI, NY - USA
Posts: 26,169
ScottGem See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.ScottGem See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.ScottGem See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.ScottGem See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.ScottGem See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.ScottGem See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.ScottGem See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.ScottGem See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.ScottGem See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.ScottGem See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.ScottGem See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
Pay to call ScottGem for advice ($.75/min)
Call ScottGem via Skype™
Last time I looked this generally meant sex priveleges. The idea being that you are friends who are initmate sexually, but are not monogamous.

Some woman want a sexual partner they are comfortable with but who doesn't represent a committed relationship. The danger of such a relation is that one or the other party may start to feel more strongly.

Comments on this post
Depressed in MO agrees: Well said.
Wildcat21 agrees: Perfect - yes.
pathfinder616 agrees: Yes, this definition is helpful but I have reached the "danger point".
  Reply With Quote
 
     
 
 
Old Oct 4, 2006, 01:45 PM   #3  
Full Member
Depressed in MO is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Missouri
Posts: 489
Depressed in MO See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
"What happens if the guy falls in love with a woman who only wants this kind of relationship?"-Unless you have been lied to in the beginning and led on for some time during this relationship, i don't see how you COULD fall in love with a person like that. If they told you up front, then you brouht it on yourself. You can't change a person. If you think you are falling in love with someone like this, back off, and go a different direction in life. No use in continuously hurting yourself by loving someone you may never have.
  Reply With Quote
 
     
 
 
Old Oct 4, 2006, 02:09 PM   #4  
Full Member
SINGLE4 is offline
 
SINGLE4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 191
SINGLE4 See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
"Friends with Benefits" is just that! Friends... Sex only... no emotions involved...!!! This is understood by both individuals involved! Like Depressed in MO said... if emotions develop (which alot of the time they DO) then... it is time to confront the other person about your "unexpected" feelings or... BACK OFF!
  Reply With Quote
 
     
 
 
Old Oct 4, 2006, 02:11 PM   #5  
Ultra Member
Wildcat21 is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,623
Wildcat21 See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Wildcat21 See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Wildcat21 See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Wildcat21 See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Wildcat21 See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
I highly advise against these - as YOU are already emotionally involved.

I really have never heard where this works. Sex doesn't work that way at all.
  Reply With Quote
 
     
 
 
Old Oct 4, 2006, 07:07 PM   #6  
Ultra Member
s_cianci is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Eastern Seaboard - USA
Posts: 4,545
s_cianci See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.s_cianci See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.s_cianci See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.s_cianci See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.s_cianci See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.s_cianci See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
In my opinion, "friends with benefits" is just a big cop-out, and a very unhealthy one at that. It basically means "I want all of the pleasures of a relationship but none of the responsibility." It also means "I want to be free to bail out if the going gets rough." I feel the same way about couples who shack up without getting married. Essentially they're saying "I want all of the pleasures of marriage but none of the responsibility" ; also "I want to keep one foot out the door just in case the going gets rough." In my opinion, people with that kind of mindset ought to be bold enough to go all the way and make the commitment, for better or worse, and be prepared to work out the problems that will inevitably arise. I'd say all or nothing ; none of that "friends with benefits" crap. Either have a committed relationship or don't have one. Either get married or stay single ; none of that "shacking up" crap.

Comments on this post
jgj6331 agrees: Agree - there's no way such a relationship can be a healthy one...
talaniman agrees: NO commitment ,no relationship
  Reply With Quote
 
     
 
 
Old Oct 4, 2006, 09:38 PM   #7  
New Member
pathfinder616 is offline
 
pathfinder616's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 14
pathfinder616 See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Depressed in MO
"What happens if the guy falls in love with a woman who only wants this kind of relationship?"-Unless you have been lied to in the beginning and led on for some time during this relationship, i don't see how you COULD fall in love with a person like that. If they told you up front, then you brouht it on yourself. You can't change a person. If you think you are falling in love with someone like this, back off, and go a different direction in life. No use in continuously hurting yourself by loving someone you may never have.
Dear Depressed: I feel your comment "Unless you have been lied to in the beginning and led on for some time during this relationship" is competely accurate in this case. The recent development of her wanting a "friends with benefits" relationship is her idea and one that I am not at all comfortable with. I think I will take your advice and back off this is

Comments on this post
Depressed in MO agrees: Good for you, I know it's hard but now you know you have people to talk to when times get tough.
  Reply With Quote
 
     
 
 
Old Oct 5, 2006, 07:20 AM   #8  
Computer Expert
ScottGem is offline
 
ScottGem's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: LI, NY - USA
Posts: 26,169
ScottGem See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.ScottGem See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.ScottGem See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.ScottGem See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.ScottGem See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.ScottGem See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.ScottGem See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.ScottGem See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.ScottGem See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.ScottGem See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.ScottGem See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
Pay to call ScottGem for advice ($.75/min)
Call ScottGem via Skype™
Quote:
Originally Posted by s_cianci
I feel the same way about couples who shack up without getting married. Essentially they're saying "I want all of the pleasures of marriage but none of the responsibility" ; also "I want to keep one foot out the door just in case the going gets rough." In my opinion, people with that kind of mindset ought to be bold enough to go all the way and make the commitment, for better or worse, and be prepared to work out the problems that will inevitably arise. I'd say all or nothing ; none of that "friends with benefits" crap. Either have a committed relationship or don't have one. Either get married or stay single ; none of that "shacking up" crap.
While I don't totally disagree with what you said above, I would like to add my own comments. I do believe its possible to be deeply committed to someone without formalizing it with a piece of paper and a ceremony. In fact, in today's climate (consider the divorce rate), that piece of paper and the ceremony don't make much of a committment. I don't believe that a blanket statement can be made that a couple living together are not totally committed to each other.

On the flip side, I believe that one cannot know what living with another person will be like until one does it. And I believe that it may be a good idea to fully experience what one is committing to before one commits to it.

Comments on this post
Krs agrees: right on Scott!
  Reply With Quote
 
     
 
 
Old Oct 5, 2006, 07:34 AM   #9  
Ultra Member
NeedKarma is offline
 
NeedKarma's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Online
Posts: 6,385
NeedKarma See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.NeedKarma See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.NeedKarma See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.NeedKarma See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.NeedKarma See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.NeedKarma See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.NeedKarma See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.NeedKarma See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
Hi Scott,

Just wanted to pipe in to say I agree with what you have said. Then again I do originate from Quebec which known as the land of the shacking up.

I live with a girl for about 3 1/2 years and we were committed to each other but marriage and lifelong wasn't in the cards for us. Actually the next person I dated I ended up marrying. We did live together for a while and she mentioned that she enjoyed how "broken in" I was and how easy it was to transition to living together and marrying.

Like I always say : to each his own as long as no one gets hurt in the process.
  Reply With Quote
 
     
 
 
Old Oct 5, 2006, 07:39 AM   #10  
Krs
Ultra Member
Krs is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,756
Krs See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Krs See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Krs See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.Krs See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
Quote:
Originally Posted by s_cianci
.I feel the same way about couples who shack up without getting married. Essentially they're saying "I want all of the pleasures of marriage but none of the responsibility" ; also "I want to keep one foot out the door just in case the going gets rough." In my opinion, people with that kind of mindset ought to be bold enough to go all the way and make the commitment, for better or worse, and be prepared to work out the problems that will inevitably arise. I'd say all or nothing ; none of that "friends with benefits" crap. Either have a committed relationship or don't have one. Either get married or stay single ; none of that "shacking up" crap.
Im sorry but i SO disagree!!!!

I lived with my hubby before we got married for 5 solid years! We did this not to have the pleasure BUT no responsibilty, thats quite a contraversial saying, because when 2 people live together and are not married they still are as committed to eachother and responsible.
I believe that you dont need to sign a paper and be materialistic to make such commitments.
We love eachother and always have and our pact, commitment and responsibilty started as soon as we moved in and shared everything a married couple do.

I think (this is my opinion) that it is VERY important for a couple to live together before tieing the knot. When you live with someone is when you get to them through and through a 100%, and sometimes i believe this could be the reason for some failed marriages, expecting too much etc.

While if u live together from before then when these issues arise its not a matter of getting seperated or divorced but learning how to compromise and learn how eachother really works.

Its abit closed minded to say "either get married or stay single", but i know many people who think this like you, which is fair enough.

Comments on this post
Depressed in MO agrees: I agree. I would want to live with someone for a while before I decide to marry them.
  Reply With Quote
 
     

Bookmarks


Thread Tools
Display Modes

 
Similar Sponsors

Similar Threads
Question Asker Forum Answers Last Post
Friends with benefits? JamesCH Relationships 20 Nov 7, 2007 09:40 AM
501C3 and recipient benefits tj75 Philanthropy & Charity 5 Aug 23, 2006 12:47 PM
Treaty tax benefits rohitkumar_garg Taxes 3 Mar 4, 2006 10:34 AM
401K Benefits terrigirl Corporate Law 1 Feb 23, 2006 11:36 AM
Confusing Friendship/Friends with Benefits mechanicaleden Relationships 2 Oct 28, 2004 02:41 PM




Copyright ©2003 - 2007, Ask Me Help Desk.
All times are GMT -8. The time now is 06:57 PM.