asking out friend but remaining friends regardless of outcom

[evol]

just for reference here is my original thread describing my relationship with this girl:

link removed

 

anyways, I want to ask her out but i want to make sure that even if she says no that we can remain friends, because her friendship is so important to me...any advice on how to ask her out while making sure she wants to keep the friendship if she says no would be helpful....

[Ariba]

Ask her out like you'd ask any woman you're interested in. Make sure you treat her as a girlfriend -- not as a friend (ie, kissing, holding hands, and all that jazz). Treat her as a friend and she's destined to become just that.

 

The *instant* she uses the "f-word" ("friend") in ANY context, back off and take it to a friendship level. I'll say it again because it's so important. The *instant* she uses the "f-word", BACK OFF.

 

Accept the following reality: you might lose her as a friend. Don't worry -- you'll make more friends. The reason she seems so important as a friend is because you're romantically interested in her.

 

There's a pretty good chance of losing a friendship here. It sucks, but it's reality. But if it does work out, you've got the best of both worlds.

 

Good luck.

[evol]

you evidently didn't read my previous post