This, take it from me, the one guy who has pretty much exhausted any dating potential out of any female acquantance ever.

Coworkers, bosses, friends of girlfriends, strangers, cousins (almost) and even friends of my parents (and it was good).

This.

I guess it depends on the circumstances. Some gals try to take certain guys and complain about their boyfriends to them, however, the guys they're complaining to sometimes don't have any real shot at hooking up with the girl themselves, and they have some relationship where the gal dumps her problems on the guy and the guy won't move on to other gals.

At least, I've heard of situations like that.

yes I have a ton of girls who are just freinds

Your reply is my reply. The only way that you can have a meaningful relationship is to get to know the person for a very long time, which would be a friendship. I have girl friends and we feel no sexual tension between us. So yeah it is both.

Yes, BUT...

In a long-term friendship between a healthy, straight, reasonably okay-looking pair of a guy and girl, eventually there's going to be some sort of sexual tension, especially in younger (late teens to late twenties) years.

Why?  Well, why wouldn't there be?  Chances are, they'll be in and out of romantic relationships, they'll experiment more or less when it comes to... lots of things, including sex.  And sooner or later, they'll each start wondering: I really like this person and we get along so well--why not try it with them?

Or maybe it's just been that way with every single long-term guy/girl friendship that I've been in, or been aware of.

Of course, I'm sure there are exceptions to it, especially if they know that the other is "off-limits" (already have significant others).  But like I say, people tend to be in and out of relationships enough, so if the timing is right... look out! :)

They can but it's kinda rare.

Usually guys claim they are only friends with a girl but in secret they're dreaming of having sex with her, and he walks around with a hard on when they hang out together.

I have allot of girl friends both straight and lesbian and they are all fun to hang out with though I prefer to be with guys as they like to do stuff like fishing and all kinds of sports. Most girls I know prefer to go out shopping which I find kind of boring as they take ages to look at stuff and try them out :P. Some of my male friends do that to though :P

haha, oh dear god no lol.
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My best friends in high school were girls. We hanged out a lot, had few temptiog moments and dirty thoughts, but nothing big. Its wierd but girls are easier, and dare I say more fun to hang around...for me anyway.