Is it okay to date a friend's ex?

I think this is always a touchy subject, even if the ex and your pal weren't dating very long or were not in love. It takes some very special people to pull this off, and a good deal of communication. You can just do it behind your friend's back.

I caught this great article about dating a friend's ex where they said:

"Permission was also a key factor in deciding whether or not to date a friend's ex. Guys tend to be honest and open when they communicate with each other, so not going behind each other's backs is very important." ?

Women communicate differently. Sometimes they compete with each other, sometimes their need for a relationship goes beyond the bond of friendship. I think women will get to the point where they are just about to go out with a friend's ex before they finally tell the friend. ?

The key, of course, is to be up front about it. If you like someone your friend used to date, ask if it's okay to call them up. If your friend balks or says they aren't sure, then back off. After all, there are plenty of people in the world to date, you don't need to upset your friend to find someone special to be with. ?