General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Eve Ensler on the passivity of men [View all]ProudToBeBlueInRhody
(16,399 posts)LOL....what a shock that the various crackpot bloggers you cite for all your important research don't know where the term "friend zone" actually came from. If they did, most people would realize it's an innocuous pop culture reference like the guys screaming "Waaaassup?" on the old Bud Light commercials and the Spice Girls, not a turgid phrase containing the treachery of entitlement and patriarchal control you want to build it up to be.
From Wikipedia:
The term "friend zone" was popularized by a 1994 episode of the American sitcom Friends, "The One with the Blackout", where the character Ross Geller, who was lovesick for Rachel Green, was not only declared being "in the friend zone" by their friend Joey Tribbiani, but was also labeled "mayor of the Friend Zone".[11] The question of whether a man can ever "escape the friend zone and begin dating one of his female friends" was a prime ingredient in making the Ross and Rachel pairing interesting to watch; one writer described the two as a "geek dream couple".
Mind you, I never watched the fucking show, I'm surprised they came up with something that clever honestly.
But of course, WTF am I talking about....you 'splained it for me.