A week or so ago, a friend called me, frantic. She was sure she was in love. Absolutely positive. She'd known him for years, they had so much in common and she'd always felt a little chemistry between them.

“Tina” dragged me through the intricacies of “Will” with excruciating detail. The giggling and random bouts of nostalgia alone lasted at least 45 minutes.

Will had sent her a friend request “out of the blue” on MySpace (forever the culprit) days earlier — and she was positive that he was feeling a little more than friendly.

Matter of fact, Tina saw this as her second chance, ordained by the powers-that-be.

One problem: Will used to date a close friend, “Shannon.”

Ahhhh, l'amour, in all of its labyrinthine glory. Many of us have faced this sticky predicament. I can count a least three off the top of my head. It sucks. Every time. It really sucks if there really is something there.

Shakespeare had it all wrong: To date or not to date? That is the question.

There's always a catch in the game of love (usually a catch 22). She's the perfect woman, but she's married. He's the perfect man, except he's gay.

I took an informal survey of friends on MySpace (see, it's good for something) and asked them for input, advice and anecdotes on similar experiences: Is it OK to date a friend's ex?

The majority answered that the object of affection was off-limits and to take that cruel joke of the cosmos and laugh.

Others suggested degrees of dating a friend's ex. If you and the friend are really close, then it's probably not a good idea and, as one friend put it, “he or she is probably an ex for a reason.” If you're more like associates, then maybe — but proceed cautiously.

Some of the more diplomatic said that if you cleared it with said friend, then you had the green light. (A verbal agreement isn't going to cut it; I would recommend a written contract. Signed in blood).

Still others urged all you lovebirds to go for it. You can't control whom you love or whom you're attracted to, they said. You only live once (just as a side note, these responses overwhelmingly came from men).

I'm a conscientious objector. Though often achingly tempting, I've never felt like the battle that would ensue was worth fighting.

I'm not saying I'm right; I usually just like to play it safe.

But there is something to be said for those who do follow their hearts (let's hope this is the liable organ), for those who throw caution to the wind and go after what they want.

Needless to say, Tina is entertaining the possibility. And though I advised against it, something in me secretly hopes this is her happily ever after.

Or maybe that Shannon will read my column and have some pity.