Can a Friendship Turn Romantic?

I had a conversation with a friend over the weekend who said she hates using dating apps. She prefers to get to know someone as a friend first, and then see if it turns into something romantic.

I commented how that feels exactly opposite of my experience. For me, when someone is a friend, you don't want to muck it up by adding a romantic dimension to the relationship. It's why people have labeled it the "friend zone." My friend said she finds it much easier to ask out someone she already has built trust with. And I said that I would find it much more awkward to do so.

What do you think? Have you ever experienced a friendship turned romantic? If so, how did it happen? Because sorry, I just can't get my mind around it.

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in10RjFox · M

Friendship is primary to any relationship. The onset phase is the flirting phase where both feel the romance. Friend zone is basically when there is no flirting or romance, and when someone proposes all of a sudden. But dating apps are the best to get to know someone's inside, which takes very long in traditional dating. Basically what she means is she gives priority to looks of the person and not the content.

If there is no attraction, it's just an acqaintance.

ShadowSister · 46-50, F

@in10RjFox Hmm, interesting thoughts. I'm not quite following though. So you think dating apps are good for learning someone's inside? Or harder?

ShadowSister · 46-50, F

@in10RjFox The more I think about your answer, the more I'm realizing something. To me, friendship means no flirting. By definition. In my mind, if there's flirting, it's not a friendship. Which sounds silly when I actually put it in words.

in10RjFox · M

@ShadowSister it goes down to the way you may have been groomed or conditioned during your childhood.

ShadowSister · 46-50, F

@in10RjFox I saw a definition of flirting somewhere that said it's just making the other person feel good about themselves. No reason you can't do that in a friendship, I guess.

in10RjFox · M

@ShadowSister flirting is basically one's personality or disposition even amidst others. It's a personality trait. There is nothing romantic or sexual about it. It's how engaging one is. Even if two people of the same sex connect well it's because of their flirting tendency and start to interact or meet, that's true friendship. Else it's just an acquaintance like colleagues or relatives etc. where there is no bonding inbetween. In the case of attraction it would naturally progress to romance.

ShadowSister · 46-50, F

@in10RjFox Well said