I find it very easy to have a platonic relationship with women I have one female friend I have known for forty years quite often she will meet up with me when I am out on a date just as long as she doesn't try to steal him away

Yep.
People hve made assumptipns we're a married couple...I guess because we joke around and are very comfortable with each other...

Most of my friends, are women. *Surprise!*
Perhaps a very small few, I could see someday boinking,
However, the majority of whom, I wouldn't screw, if I lost
a bet, and was being held at gunpoint.
Just not gonna happen.

I quite enjoy social time with friends,
without the burden of making a sperm donation.

Yes I would , you never can have enough friends.

So if you go out with your social friend one on one and people assume you are a couple, how do you show others that you are single and available?

Do you expect your social partner to help facilitate your meeting of other people that you may be interested in?

I seem to have a hard time understanding how this dynamic would work in real life. It is easy to be friends with someone of the opposite sex if they are married and/or your social interactions are always in a group setting. One on one social outings present a problem to me. I tend to see them as having more negative implications than positive.

Okay, this is how it works for me.

When I go out with my male friend, it's always just us together. We may go for a drive, go to a restaurant, go for a coffee or whatever. We do that because we enjoy each other's company and we are friends. We have known each other for too long for it to be anything other than platonic.

If others mistake us for partners we just tell them we are good friends. No need for further explanations. It's not their business after all.

My male friend has been single longer than I have and he does not interfere with my relationship with whomever I date just as I don't interfere with his relationships. The guy I previously dated knew about my male friends (I had 2 but sadly one took his own life) and he never had a problem with either of them. It all comes down to trust in the end. I don't have a problem with my friend dating either.

My concern isn't with someone else you already date, it is with the ones you meet that you want to date and their assumptions. If I see them again and try to get acquainted, they will assume I am taken and trying to get something going on the side - end of that getting acquainted idea! This is especially a concern in an area with a smaller population.

The thing is though, when I'm out with my friend I'm not looking for any potential partners, my focus is on my friend as that's who I'm out with.

I see what you're saying but that hasn't happened to me.........yet. Besides, if I was approached and I didn't take to the potential partner, I could always use my friend as an excuse and say that I'm attached!

Yep..the times i have been out with a male friend, we have been doing something...I was not on the lookout for potential partners..

And, as no one approaches me when I am alone (and dressed nice, at a social function), I cannot imagine this would ever happen when I am with them...

I dont care what other people think when im with either male or female friends out socially. Im to old to care. I had a female co worker one time hit on me at a corporate party and im straight. My coworkers started a rumor about it and thought i was gay. Well they got there shock when my boyfriend picked me up at work. Lol. It was funny at the time.

Agreed word for word

I would definitely be interested in social relationships with members of the opposite sex, with no sex involved.

People are multi-faceted and have a lot to offer and share with each other,
Whether sex is involved or not

I guess it really comes down to if sex is important to you or not and if it is, what is your availability of a willing sexual partner.

i can do yoga without sex being involved.

Friends are friends, and always great to have .
When sex comes in to equation, it's even better if you are friends.
Friends without sex is fine , in Aus we call them mates..

For sure. Relationships are about much more than just one activity. As long as both people are on the same sheet from the start, there will be no misunderstandings.

on the same sheet? is that a freudian slip or is my mind just in the gutter? :)-

Your mind must be in the gutter, how could anyone bring up sex on such a sensitive topic??
Where did you say that gutter was???

yes I would and have several times in my life . truth be told I would prefer a female friend over a male . it is totally different different vibe different conversations different everything. you get to see a different perspective of the other side and how they say it see it through their eyes