I think I'm on the topic here. Where are we off topic?

I did back down going from "all" to "rarely" by the way....



And I dont think internet friendships count. I am also keeping this to friendships where the people actually hang out together.
(I say this so no one here thinks I'm staulking them! )

I disagree with you on this juliacernat.

If Turkey were in the EU currently, it would not be able to deal with such issues as the PKK, Cyprus, secularism, and Kurdish nationalism the way it can being independent. It would be forced to conform to EU standards that quite frankly will not work in all of these circumstances and actually would jeopardize Turkey's long term position in the world rather than elevating it.

There is really only one question that needs to be asked.
Would Ataturk accept the EU's current requirements being placed upon Turkey in order to join the EU? Of course he wouldn't.

Agreed Trudy, it may be an old-fashioned opinion.
But I think the friendship you are speaking of is soooooooo rare.

And I dont mean that one of the two wants the other as a boyfriend or girlfriend. I am taking the lowest viewpoint on this and asking, given the chance, would the guy sleep with his female friend given the opportunity (at least once). And I am sure there are friendships out there where it is the woman who would sleep with the guy.

I would accept that there are business relationships out there where this is not the case.

Very sorry if I have offended you or worded this wrong...

I think in all close male-female friendships, one of the two has romantic interest in the other.

Very rare I think. I strongly disagree.

I'm not sure if the original question has been answered correctly yet. I can honestly say that I don't know one Turk that has left Turkey because they hate it here (or love the country they are going to).

They go so they can make money, come back, and buy a flat. Additionally, they can avoid military service if they do this. If you go abroad to work, when you come back, you pay a large sum of money (I think between $5,000 and $10,000 USD). You still have to serve a short time in the military, maybe 3 months and then use the work experience you received abroad to get a better job here.

If this looks familiar, its because I posted this last summer.


I want Turkey to join the EU but not at a cost of losing its Turkish identity and secularism.

5 years ago, joining the EU meant something. But now, look at the impoverished nations that have little to offer that have been granted entrance before Turkey. It disgusts me.

The Turkish economy is growing at over 7% without being in the EU. Turkey is not a begger that needs to get on its knees to join the EU.

Key items that are not negotiable for entry:
Secularism, Cyprus, PKK, Armenia and internal military operations.

As long as these items are not on the table, I welcome it.