Also, as I think about it, what if it partially stems from people politely rejecting others, after a date, by telling them they just want to be friends when they don’t actually mean it?
I’ve had that shit happen to before and it kind of blows. Went on a date with a cool, attractive girl in a new city where I didn’t know anyone, and she let me know afterwards that she thinks I’m cool but just wants to be friends. I was like ‘fuck yeah, I don’t give a shit’ but we never spoke after that :( Don’t say it if you don’t mean it, but then again maybe I should have put in more effort into staying in contact with her.
What if it partially stems from people politely rejecting others, after a date, by telling them they just want to be friends when they don’t actually mean it?
Unfortunately, that can happen, but keep in mind that rejecting men is often very dangerous for women and they have to be very careful not to seem unfriendly. It's probably not personal or intentionally cruel, but rather an automatic defense mechanism.