Can friends kiss?

[SAH]

I have a female friend and when I see her at the weekends, I give her a peck on the cheek as I leave. By kissing her am I crossing the boundary between friendship & love?

[whiskygalore]

No, as long as it's a peck and not a long lingering smooch! You see women saying hello / goodbye like this all the time, so don't worry about it.

[gilf]

SAH I assume your a male. I once knew a girl who was definatly just a friend and we used to kiss goodbye on the lips. It was a bit odd at first but I dont see it as too much of a problem.

[whiskygalore]

Oh dear - have I read the question wrong. Well, anyway, peck whoever you like - there's no harm in it!

[SAH]

Sorry I forgot to mention that I'm male. Thanks for the advice!

[priveet]

It's a nice friendly gesture which I am sure most people would welcome. I presume that you are British, because in most of the world a kiss is not only acceptable but would be expected, whether same or opposite sex.
Warning ...... tongues is a no no.

[woodpam]

How nice that you are sensitive enough to care about the implications of what you do. My close friends of either sex get a hug and a kiss in the cheek area, except for one who just doesn't like touching anyone! I can't help but wonder from your question whether or not you would like to cross the boundary.....

[SAH]

Woodpam - Sorry you're wrong! The reason I asked this was, the other day when we were out my friend told me that I should stop opening the door for her when we were out together and went on to say that I should treat her as a friend and NOT a girlfriend! This really confused me and I began to wonder if she thought I saw her as my girlfriend, just because I wanted to be polite and open doors for her. This is why I asked about the kissing, because I thought she might see this as me thinking I was her boyfriend. Hope this all makes sense!

[templeman]

Oh I do regret the decline of good social skills, good manners and etiquette. SAH you should learn to distinguish between a social kiss and a passionate one. Your friend will quickly appreciate the difference.
I was recently rebuked by a woman for whom I had held open a door. My response to her was rather sarcastic. I said 'sorry sir, I mistook you for a lady'.

[woodpam]

How disappointing to the romantics amongst us SAH! I should talk to her and ask her views and just accept the level of closeness she prefers. Personally, I appreciate having doors opened for me, but I know many women don't so it might be best, in this transitional period that etiquette seems to be going through, to ask what she feels comfortable with.

[OnlyMe]

It is polite and good manners to hold the door open for anyone you are with, regardless of your or their sex. Explain this to her and carry on showing good manners.

[Quizmonster]

As a follow-on from Templeman's response, one of the best put-downs I ever heard of was from a man who'd been loudly and publicly criticised by a woman for patronising her gender by offering her his seat on a train. He replied: "Madam, I did not offer you my seat because you are a lady; I did so because I am a gentleman."

Of course, men should open doors, offer seats, walk on the kerb side of the pavement and do anything else - including offering a friendly cheek-kiss - for their female friends that shows they appreciate women. Should an individual women reject these, you know what to say to her! None of these things is patronising...merely polite.

[Quizmonster]

Oh, dear! I'd better get in here before Spellmaster does - yep, he's back! I should, of course, have written 'woman' in my answer above.

[ANUSHIKA]

No def not all of my male friends kiss me goodbye either on the cheek or lips, even if it you did kiss her on the lips if you both feel the same, that it is just a friendship then tehre is no problem. Unless you fancy your friend of course?