I have a small group of male friends that I consider like brothers.  I’ve known them long enough to trust their judgment and definitely listen to their advice on dating!  I don’t always like what they say, and I definitely don’t always love the way they say it.  These guys mean well but they aren’t real big on tact.  It’s pretty straight, no chaser kind of feedback I get from them.

When I asked one of them to go to the Nightline Face-Off debate earlier this month, I somehow got a dating  lecture.  Vince didn’t understand why I needed to go to any debate/forum about relationships.  He seemed to think that a lot of women (read: me) sabotage our own chances with potential matches because we don’t like being happy.

I, of course don’t agree and prepared an impressive rebuttal with evidence of my concerted efforts to get coupled up.  He counter argues (he’s finishing law school, a clear advantage over me) with my line up past of seedy characters and bad selections.

In my defense, I truly believe that I haven’t had major dating misadventures in the last three years. At the same time, Vince made me wonder about the little things I subconsciously do that probably are counterproductive.  Such as having a crazy busy schedule and not making time for the time-worthy men I meet.

This is why it is good to have boy “space” friends.  Ladies, they call you on your stuff when you need it.  They do not sugarcoat no matter how much you threaten them using blackmail. Do you have people in your life who you trust to give you sage advice?  I don’t just mean dating advice, but self-improvement in general?  How did you come to trust this person so much?

Who do you seek out when  you aren’t able to recognize the bad dating habits that are interrupting your dating life?  I recall dating a man that literally had no close friends.  At the time, I found it really odd but I think men are totally different in that they don’t require the same friendship connections that women do.  What do you think?

Guys, do you have little to no male friends you consider your to be in your “inner circle”? Is it pretty common for a man to have no close friends? How healthy can that be emotionally? Or do you guys even think of that kind of thing?

One disclaimer about having boy “space” friends: Do not. I repeat. Do NOT ask them about sex.  Men bring a totally new meaning to the phrase TMI (too much information) on that topic.