To tell you the truth I have no idea why it's such a big thing for couples who become exes to be friends. It's usually best to move on and meet new people and date new people. Most of the time one of the two that have split-up are still in love with the other and by being around them it's like pouring salt into an open wound. I've dated and split-up with guys before (who were very nice, but it didn't work out) and a couple of times I was heart-broken but moved on. I didn't want to be friends (I had enough friends.) I was also first married to a mental/physical abuser and although I did not want to be around him, his brothers and one sister were wonderful people that wanted to keep in touch with me, but again I moved on because it wasn't good to be so close to the problem I just left.