Many claim that it is impossible for men and women to be strictly platonic friends unless they are related and even that doesn't deter some cousins from places like Alabama.

I believe both men and women perpetuate this myth. Men who think they can foster romantic interest by being friends for long enough are the main issue but this goes hand in hand with women who will string men along by keeping them as orbiters. The orbiter thing isn't nearly as common as people make it out to be but it definitely occurs. I don't think women seek out orbiters the way men pursue in dating, they really just accept them as they come. But that is because I think women simply being polite is often interpreted wrong by inexperienced men. But the problem with orbiters is that it is almost always a universally onesided "friendship".

After some shitty experiences when I was younger I subscribed to the myth for a long time. Then over time an acquaintance from a class eventually became one of my best friends.

I've found it funny a lot of people will discredit the advice given from a friend of the opposite gender because some of the things this dear female friend of mine has said could have been lifted directly from trp playbook. Those pieces of advice are not an isolated incident. They are often worded more delicately but the sentiment is usually the same.

In my opinion, if a guy is wondering if he is being an orbiter or if it is a real friendship, is determined by how the friend responds when asked for advice on dating. If they are dismissive or badmouth literally everyone you date or who shows interest in you then the girl is trying to keep you in an orbiter position. But if she says something like

"look just because that girl is dumb and doesn't keep you mentally engaged doesn't mean you can't still have fun. She probably makes up for her lack of personality in other ways."

Then she is being a genuine friend. Although that response may be worded a bit more delicately or ambiguously. Also, ladies if you know your male friend is looking for something casual then your not being a real friend by giving him advice that is counterintuitive to his personal goals. The same thing goes for guys.

So with stuff like that in mind how many of you have a genuine friend of the opposite sex and is that friendship different in any way than your other platonic friendships and if so, how?