Day Thirty One-Friends?

So now I've been mulling over the age old question of whether men and women can truly be friends.  Friends as in the purest meaning of the word.  Not friends with benefits...not friends who at one time saw one another naked...not friends as in mere acquaintances...but friends as in you can have meals together...talk about serious issues or trivial daily drivel...go to the movies or the beach...talk on the phone about something or nothing.  Basically things that you would do with your girl friend (or guy friend).
I do have male friends, but only a couple who aren't gay and who (as far as I can see) fall into that category.  We can hang out with no expectations other than our friendship......at least that's what I thought. After hearing a few male perspectives on the subject I'm not so sure now.
I have gone on a few dates with men who I had no romantic attraction to but who I thought were really interesting and would make a great friend. That suggestion generally doesn't pan out too well.  I totally understand why.  It's that equation that dictates that in every relationship there is always one person who cares more than the other person.  The scale can (and often does) tip in either direction throughout the course of time, but as it is in life, nothing is completely symmetrical.  The odds of running into someone (especially off of a dating site) and both of you feeling that you have no romantic interest but still find the other party to be a potentially compelling friend.....well it must be akin to the odds of finding the love of your life.
I'm under the assumption that it IS possible to have a platonic male/female relationship if:
#1.  You're both not physically attracted to one another and...
#2.  (for whatever reasons) You recognize that the other party would not be a suitable partner (ie: Yes, Jody, you're fun to hang out with but I would rather have my fingernails ripped off one by one than be in a relationship with you).
According to my male poll, if both #1 and #2 are not in effect and other factors are (ie: alcohol, feeling lonely because it's the holidays, just saw the ex with his/her new partner)...a rift in the friendship continuum could result which of course, would then change everything.....
Life would be so much simpler if everyone came equipped with those cartoon bubbles over their heads explaining exactly what is transpiring in their minds....