Liking as a friend, yes; but not as a long-term romantic partner.

I agree, that may intentionally hurt someone

actually no because i keep cancelling on him

Ours was a "mutual" sympathy date. So, it was consensual and it was clearly stated (by me) that we were not a match for life-partners prior to that.

yes

Dude, I'm 55.

like, duh, do you think I could remember?

just to hang out

Sympathy date? How pitiful is that for everyone involved? I don't pity me, or the wheelchair bound or the homeless; duh?

No. It is a complicated situation and the first time I have ever experienced anything like that.

He had His heart broken a year earlier when his fiancee returned the engagement ring (which He still wears on a chain around his neck). He was devastated and very cynical about finding love again. Also, He is a short man; very short. And, I need a tall man. As for me, well, I was feeling down because I had just asked my Partner to move out a couple months prior and was miserable about having to start all over again. A bunch of casual friends (acquaintances, really) got together and we went to OBX, NC for a week.

We were both shafted and betrayed by our "friends" while there. He went out of His way to make reparation for his friend's behavior and also to help me and mine out.

He had a serious crush on me, but I had made it very clear that we weren't a match. I guess we were both needy at the time. I accepted the playdate as a sympathy to Him and to myself. We used each other for comfort, mostly. He decided to try to seduce me in hopes that it might change my mind. He decided to gamble anyway. I reminded Him that it most likely wouldn't work. It didn't.

We still remain platonic friends to this day and check in on each other on the phone once in a while. However, we maintain distance because we both realize this is platonic friendship only now.

Yep, kinda' like that.

But, it's not something I'd make a practice of.

<----- Tall Man

That He is. And cute, smart, sexy, skilled, and caring, too.

I'm a lucky gal and He was by no means a sympathy date!

See, I could not do a sympathy date, cause I sure as hell would not want to be one. I want up front honesty, and if I ask a woman out, I want to know the truth. If she wants to accept, awesome. If she doesn't, then just say so and we can go on our merry way.

If I am down, or upset, and a girl wants to hang out just to go and have some laughs, then I don't consider that a date..nor would I want to. That is just two friends hanging out, and I have done that several times with women.

What's a date?

i went on a date once when i was about 18 with a lad my mum really liked...never ever again ..he proceded to tell me that i was wrong in every thing we talked about ..i left him standing in the pub

Honestly, if you don't have an ounce of self-esteem, I don't even like talking to you. I could not go out with someone just because I feel sorry for them because I would not want that done to me.

Short..sweet...but oh so very true. I second this.