Is it possible to let someone down gently?

yes.

I was let down once and it was very gentle and we are friends to this day. He said “I feel like if we get together we may have something interesting for a year or two but if we stay friends I really believe we can stay friends forever and maybe one day I can cheer for you at your wedding and vice versa and I would really like that”.

Nobody likes to hear “let’s be friends rather than partners” but I feall like this was as considerate as possible and seeing what types of girls he goes for I understand it wouldn’t probably work out between us and to this day (and it has been many years since then) we remain close friends.

It’s kinda like Phoebe said in friends “boyfriends and girlfriends come and go but this (friendship) is for life”



But obviously it depends on the context, maturity of both parties and also their self awareness and genuine interest in the well being of each other.