Do men say, "I love you," to girls platonically?

[Anonymous]

I had a guy friend/coworker say this to me last week. It was following a joke he said to me, and he said "I'm joking, love you really". He never made eye contact and struggled to keep the conversation going after. I never acknowledged it.

He's in a relationship with someone, and it's long term. I don't think he was declaring his love for me but would there be any semblance of truth behind that? Is that something guys say, even jokingly?

[razelove]

Nah, it sounds like he's trying to smother those feelings and be ok with the friendship, settling on his girl, you being with other guys, etc. He wants that ass, and for you to be his. So he's orbiting and low key simping, hoping you come crying to him one night and drop those panties.

It's crazy when men and women don't realize you can't make someone else be attracted to you. Like even if you fuck him once, or even a few times. You're still going to wake up in the morning with buyer's remorse.

Like if an ugly chick treats me real nice, I might throw her a bone, but post-nut clarity I'm going to be gone for a while until I remember that pecan pie or whatever.

[teamvic]

I could see myself saying it. In your scenario

I use to do it to, or say it to girls and never meant anything from it. I also use to say it to the girl I liked, but still never meant it as anything

I'm not quite sure how common that is though. I wouldn't say most guys do that. But I feel in your situation I think he meant nothing of it; to answer your question

[itsannalee]

Sometimes yes, 1 of my friend often says he loves me. And he is married. It’s just a joke.

[Nikki1989]

Of course. You can love your friends just as much as anyone else.

[MisterWack]

I think I have?

I mean it shows respect, “I like” & “I love you” & “I’m here for you” don’t just have to be for relationships. I don't know.

Love ya bro! Is a good example, it doesn’t mean I love you 😘… Means I love ya my man 😎🤜🔥🤛 🤝 sort of thing. I don't know. No reason why it can’t be said to female friends platonically.

[ProbablyClueless]

I can't imagine that any guy with any experience with women would say something like that to a woman platonically. With the way women read into things, you'd have to be insane to tell a woman you love her as a platonic joke. From what you described, it sounds like he wasn't actually joking there.

That being said... I'm forever stunned by how many socially obtuse dipshits we have running around, so maybe that really was his idea of a terribly timed joke.

[Caroline91]

Definitely. Not all men, but at least some do. I have guy friends say that to me all the time and I say it to guy friends. I don't say it the same way I do to my husband.

[Smashingdoozy]

Normal. He probably just felt weird about saying it worried you'll take it the wrong way or over think it.

[osmanthus]

He isn't serious. The guy is just joking. He uses the word "love" very loosely. They're likely various forms of love to this man. Platonic love is one such love.

[osmanthus]

The guy would have to go the whole nine yards of dating you and even getting engaged to you before he even seriously said "I love you" in a romantic sense, but only if you're not coworkers. Don't read too deep into this.

[Telekinetic-Potato]

I do. Love isn't necessarily sexual. Although, I don't usually see other people do it until after they've seen me do it.

[sadstrawberry]

Men are kids these days. Never saw any man woo any woman in current times. Very few I mean. So few omg.

[Grond21]

Absolutely we can. I have said it to several of my friends, both guys and girls, and it's always platonic

[coolbreeze]

He might like you and has a crush on you. In this context it sounds like he was jokingly saying he loves you.

[ManInChains]

They shouldn't. People don't seem to realize how powerful of a word love is which is why so many relationships die

[Decoded93]

Yeah in that scenario it could be platonic, but you could always test him to see if that’s all he feels about you

[Reymundo41]

I haven't met a guy who just uses the word LOVE loosely, unless they were gay. a lot of guys don't just throw that word around cause they know what it really means. I say he might actually like ya

[bolverk]

Rarely, and if they do its to a woman they have know for a very long time, because in this day and age there is too much of a risk of it being taken the wrong way.

[BetaBucks]

Yep, but rarely. I tell my close guy friends I love them all the time.

[Kaneki05]

Of course we do. It's a pretty obvious difference.

[paledreams]

Only to be a piss take would be me "I love you" for giving me that extra cheeseburger 🍔🥤

[Jamie05rhs]

These days dude even say that to each other! (It's a bit much for me, though. It always makes me uncomfortable when one of my friends says that.)

[Anonymous]

Only if the guy is deliberately being misleading or unless he is socially retarded. People (men and women) both know, "I love you" implies.

[Anonymous]

If he’s really outgoing, he probably meant it as a joke. It was probably just word vomit. Lol But if he’s more of the nervous/shy type, then he might. He’d need to get out of his current relationship before he makes a move.

[noohair]

He could see you as a friend, or he was planting a seed. I don't know him well enough to know which one.

[Nifrayu]

I definitely do. I have no hang-ups about telling any of my friends I love them.

[LiamJHayden]

I do to my female friends. No way for us to know exactly what he meant here.

[Anonymous]

Hell no. Never. Even the best and most innocent of intentions will be lost in such strong words.

[RavVid]

We saw it per functionally at times like girls do.

[nawtee_me]

Yes he can love you in a friendly kind of way….

[Agape93]

Yeap

[Anonymous]

He loves you as a friend or little sister.

[FunkyMonkee]

I do!

[SolitarySolace]

Not unless he is gay

[Dongie]

I do.

[Dongie]

Sometimes wires get crossed, but it works itself out.

[In_Trance]

Never

[Bklynbadboy12]

Not romantically