First, I have to admit that I only read
Mr Bishop's initial post.
Yes, I do believe it is possible for a man and woman to be strictly platonic whilst sharing a certain kind of intimacy. One of my very best friends is male. We've been through a lot together. We hang out, discuss intelligent topics, discuss sex, discuss stoopid topics, sleep with each other, go camping together, help each other out, etc. Everyone (
ku'u included) says we should get out of denial and just be together. The thing is, it's not like that with us. We're great friends. I'm not saying nothing sexual would ever happen between us (though it's highly unlikely), but within our friendship, it's just not like that. I don't know how to explain it except that the only difference between my friendship with him and my friendship with someone, say,
ku'u, is that he happens to have a Y chromosome.
Now, I'm not saying this is possible for everyone. Some people can't distinguish between intimacy and sexuality; friendship and friends-with-benefitsship; etc.