Best Friends with the Opposite Sex?

I would like to know what you guys think about being best friends with the opposite sex.

I have never thought about this question as I have always assume that there were no problems in fostering close friendships with the opposite sex until I came across a few articles on Boundless in regard to this.

I started by reading an article serving as a reply to a reader's question entitled 'Stuck in the Just-Friends zone'. Its about the reader being close, emotional friends with this girl he likes, and somehow thats all there is... friendship between the both of them. The writer, John Thomas, replied by saying that having best buddies with the opposite sex isn't a good idea adding that Boundless has written about this issue extensively (Biblical Dating: An Introduction, Not Your Buddy, Biblical Dating: Just Friends) to name just a few. He went on to say that there's a difference between emotional friendship and masculine chivalry adding that emotional friendship should be between friends of the same sex. His reason for suggesting so is that masculine chivalry (for example walking a girl to her car) is something God uses to help her realise her need for a spouse whereas a guy 'being there' as a friend for her extensively might be enabling her lack of interest for a serious relationship.

I went on to read the other articles and they pretty much reinforce the point that Best Buddies of the Opposite Sex isn't recommended. They did elaborate though, clearly stating that most 'Best Buddies' scenarios are those where both parties are 'convinced' that they are merely close friends without having intention to take the friendship to the next level. However,

the simple reality (that most people are aware, whether they admit or not) is that in the vast majority of these types of relationships, one of the parties involved either began the "friendship" with romantic feelings for the other person or develops them along the way. Either way, that person is now hanging on to the "friendship" in the hope of getting something more despite the "clear words" from the other person that he or she wants nothing beyond friendship. In other words, its almost always that a close friendship with the opposite sex would result in one of the person developing feelings for another, there's no such thing as close opposite sex friends. And more often than not such friendships cause confusion and frustration.

The writer also explained his views from Bible verses,

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 admonishes us not to wrong or "defraud" our brother or sister by implying a marital level of commitment (through sexual involvement) when it does not exist. As I've discussed before, a broad (but sound) implication of this passage is that "defrauding" could include inappropriate emotional — as well as physical — intimacy.

Romans 13:8-14 calls us to love others, to work for their souls' good rather than looking to please ourselves. More specifically, verse 10 reminds us that "[l]ove does no harm to its neighbor.

Romans 14:1-15:7 offers a discourse on favoring weaker brothers and sisters above ourselves, valuing and encouraging that which is good in the souls of others.

I've taken bits and pieces from the articles in writing this post, to get more details on this click here, here, here and here.

Back to my question, what do you guys think about such friendships? Is it okay to be best friends with the opposite sex without the intention of courtship, or leave such emotional friendships until you're ready to be in a relationship? Oh and if Ps. Benjamin has mentioned anything in regard to this please please share.

Thanks =)