Friendship between guys

[thatmusicdude]

Ok everyone, I need a little advice on something and hope you can help me. I've had this friend Brad for over a year and so far he has been one of the bestest friends I've ever had. It's nice to finally have a true friend. But I have a couple concerns, my first has to do with joking around. I have always been the type to joke and mess around with my friends, but when I do that to Brad he does not always hit me back with some form of payback. I really love when people get even with me, but for some reason it's like he is afraid.

 

Secondly, when it comes to doing things I always seem afraid to ask. I guess because I am always afraid of hearing no. Well, last summer Brad always seemed to decline me and my other friends invitations to do things so I kind of got burned out. Well now, Brad is a little more active but I still seem hesitant to ask. Then I see him do things with his one other friend that I figured he would say know to me about doing something. How do I get over this?

 

Here is my final issue, in the past both of us had mostly girl friends and hardly any guy friends. We have become good buds but I think sometimes we have no idea how to act around one another. At first I thought it was me and when I talked to Brad about it he said he was still trying to get use to having an actual guy friend. I wonder if maybe I have the same problem. What I need to know, is how do we get through this. I mean to be honest we have a lot in common as most friends do so it's a given fact we should be friends. But why do we act funny towards one another sometimes. Especially when asking the other to do something or ask for help with school stuff. In fact sometimes Brad drops hints of wanting something instead of asking.

 

First, remember we are guy friends and not gay. So don't get that confused. If that was the case, the answers to my questions would be easy but it's not. I'm just looking for some advice and comments you may have regarding my friendship.

[stratagem09]

Hey thatmusicdude,

 

I'm in the same dilemma as you are. I consider B one of my best friends. We're both guys, but we're not gay. But B seesm to have trouble accepting that fact that we're "good friends." Cause to him, who adopts the supreme male stereotype, guys just punch each other one day, and they're fine the next.