Yes, very often. I sort of feel that once I've invested in you and created memories with you I will always care for and want you in my life. My ex of a very long time is now my best friend. The transition took some time but we worked hard on our friendship and have successfully made it work. I am still in contact with most of my exes in one way or another. With a few I have tried and it just never worked out or was healthy. But I agree with you, if they cared for you and intentions are good, friendship should be possible.

No, unfortunately many break up for a reason and normally one takes it more badly than the other, so trying stay friends and hearing about someone you still care about move on would be hard!

It's a sad thing someone who once new you better than anyone is now a stranger.

A friend of mine seems to still be friends with all or most of his exes, and he's been married for years! He's a happy-go-lucky guy with a very positive attitude, and very romantic, and if I was his ex I'd probably still want to be his friend! :)

One of my exes tracked me down years later and we are email friends again, and when I'm in her part of the world again (hopefully next year) we plan to meet and I'll stay with her. She's older and probably mellower, but maybe still a bit psycho! My wife says she probably is! 🤣 However, we'll see. I don't expect any romance to be rekindled, but I think perhaps she realises she lost something when we split. 🤷‍♂️

I am friends with a few people I used to date. Not close, but still able to joke and get along. There was a reason we got close initially and it turned out we were better off as buds

Not exactly a friendship but we have been able to talk without awkwardness. We don't hate eachother.

We both have our own families now so it would be kind of weird to start a friendship back up after so many years.

it very much depends on the other persons attitude mental maturity by that I mean how many times have you read about the Ex who stalked, turned into the Monster from Hell

Immediately after the break up, no I couldn't.

A long time down the road, yes, I could and have.

Emotions are too high and we need to sever the relationship, like tear it completely down and walk away, then later, depending on the person, I would have to rebuild something totally different and new. Otherwise, we'd just fall into the same patterns we were in before. I think sometimes that is too much effort for someone who I have history with. Why not start off new with a clean slate, with a new person?

Never been just friends with some who I have slept with…

I never could.
And when something that was truly intense and strong.. can't be recovered it's better to part ways.
Just polite. But never friends.

In my humble experience, both parties have to want it, own up to their parts that made it bad, sincerely apologize to the other and have grown from the experience enough to not only forgive but also want the best for you at all times. You will still need the boundaries you already stated and keep it platonic..(imho) Mine has been successful for roughly 15 years now and I feel very blessed to have her as a best friend and can talk about anything.
Good luck, take your time and don’t rush it.

Ofcourse. They don't love you but won't leave a chance to destroy you.

Didn’t work for me and I’ve finally given up.. I’ll pretty much only wish them happy birthday and merry Christmas now..

I don’t even expect a conversation at this point..

I don’t think I could ever hate them though.. but I just don’t have energy to waste on people who don’t care anymore

I agree with your point. Unless we prefer to process and operate our relationships in binary there is absolutely no reason to hate our ex. People seperate due to some reasons and those reasons needs not always be static, it can be time bound as well.

[quote]Especially if their intentions are good.[/quote]

That is the "million dollar question".

I have exes that honestly, I wouldn't cross the street to say hello...

OTOH, I have exes that are on my Facebook friends list and we chat (type) regularly.

Most of the exes that meant something to me ended up becoming my friend later on. I was actually surprised how often that’s happened

Never have! Never will! No kidding! Past must be left behind and I would never let my past be a part of my present in any way.🙂

I am friends with most of my ex's and those that I'm not its really just because I lost track of them and I don't know where they are.

for me when I think about an ex , sex had a big part in it and without that part theres no point

That's a recipe for disaster, pain, unnecessary suffering if you ask me.

I believe it is possible but takes two, and one to open communications.😊

I keep in occasional contact with all my ex's. Except one👎

Never had one so no

I’ve done it. Worth it.

Yes - didn’t work well lol

😢I’m too scared

Does a one week relationship count?

I never tried to rekindle but every attempt to keep my exes friends has failed.

And if they aren't good, then there is nothing to build off of.