I agree it's an interesting question. I think that in either case, especially in the context of a growing romantic relationship between the questioner and the soldier, the question would have had implicit romantic overtones, regardless of the answer, and the justifying answer would have been a refutation of the idea that men and women can't love each other except in a romantic or familial contexts--which is a whole 'nother kettle of fish.

And now I'm thinking about the interesting things Stargate: SG1 did with Sam and Jack's relationship.