>i'd expect.
>
>based on my experience i don't think either of the parties
>involved in the situation can be a true friend to the other.
>

I disagree, and I suppose we'll just have to agree that we don't see eye to eye on this.

I've had women I liked and told them, and they were good enough to let the friendship continue, and I got to continue to hang out with someone whose company I enjoyed. To me attraction usually began after developing a friendship, I seldom approached a woman straight away. So for me, to have a friendship grow into feelings and then be completely cut off because of an empathy that I'm not asking for, that would be disappointing.