What is it about good friends of the opposite sex? You might talk every day, or a week could go by without talking to them at all.

But you know you can always count on them for pretty much anything. And the relationship is completely platonic.

You've probably had some of the best times with them, and it seems the joke is only funny when they are the one who's telling it.

When you're having a bad day, you can hang out with them for a while, and somehow your day seems to get brighter.

Why is it that you care so much about them, but only as a friend? Although when another person comes into the picture, (as in dating) things seem to change.

In the relationship with my good guy friend, we rarely talk about relationships, and anytime I don't call him for about a week, he figures I'm seeing someone.

I have dated quite a few guys (nothing serious), but I wouldn't necessarily say I stopped calling him for a week because of that.

I hardly ever hear about the relationships he has with girls. But when I do, why is it I become É um É what's the word? No, not jealous.

Well, maybe I'm just trying to tell myself that "jealous" isn't the word.

OK, so maybe I am (just a little bit), but that is besides the point. The point is why do I feel this way when he has a significant other?

I can date guys all the time and not call him for a week or two. But why is it when he does the same thing I act this way? I'm really not being fair am I?

As horrible and self-absorbed as this may sound, maybe it is because he isn't spending as much time with me.

Maybe it's because I want to be the person he calls when he just wants to hang out or get something to eat, or maybe it just all boils down to the fact that I feel he isn't paying as much attention to me.

I've spoken with a lot of my friends, girls and guys, and most of them feel the exact same way.

So are we all into these relationships deeper than what we thought?

As many times as I have argued over this, can guys and girls really "just be friends"?

This age-old question runs through the minds of several people who share a similar friendship.

So many people believe guys jump at any chance they have to get their hands on a girl, yet no one ever thinks it could be the girl.

I believe my relationship with my good guy friend is completely platonic; I just have a few issues maybe I should be more up front about.

And that works both ways.

I do believe members of the opposite sex can just be friends.

You may always have different perspectives of things because, hey, you are experiencing the world through opposing realities. And there will always be people who sneer at the idea of having friendships of the opposite sex.

But just remember they are the ones losing out, not you.

Jennifer Reynolds is a senior journalism major from Shreveport and serves as associate editor for The Tech Talk. E-mail comments to jmr035@latech.edu.