I haven't always loved the girls or guys my friends have dated, but there have been very few that I didn't at least give the benefit of the doubt to until I knew better. I recently received a mass email article from a social entertainment website on "The 8 Reasons Your Friends Don't Like Your Boyfriend." The list gave reasons like, "He Hit On Your Friends" and "He Tried Too Hard," (honestly? He tried too hard? Now we're hating on the overachievers?)

I agree with a few of the eight but speaking from experience I've got a few of my own and they apply to girlfriends as much as they do boyfriends.

He or she is a jealous psycho: If your guy/girl cannot stand to be away from you for two seconds or gets jealous when you want to hang out with just your friends for a night, that's cause for serious reconsideration on your part. Someone that gets ultra jealous, paranoid or pissy when you want to hang with your friends is someone that you don't want to be dating. This is a serious controlling and manipulating behavior that will either ultimately end your relationship or will leave you attached to this person's hip forever, literally. Don't go planning a golf game on your three year anniversary, but time apart to catch up with friends is a good thing and you shouldn't feel like you're asking for permission when you want to do so.

You two can't keep your hands off each other even when you're out to dinner with friends: A little kiss, hug, affection in public is kinda cute. Long stares into each other's eyes, deep French kisses or drawn out conversations using pet names is enough to warrant a fork in your thigh. When you're out with friends, whether they're his friends or hers, they want to be part of the conversation, they don't want to be on a foreplay date with the two of you so either fake food poisoning and go home to grope each other or get with the program. If you keep it up with the PDAs, your friends won't just dislike your significant other, they'll dislike you.

When one of you has everything to lose: Your friends shouldn't be thrilled for you when they find out the person you're dating is married, is your boss or employee or is fifty-grand deep in credit card debt, unless that debt came from medical or law school payments. Your friends want what's best for you and when they smell a rat trying to weasel its way into your life because they have everything to gain and you've got everything to lose, the best friend you've got is the one that's going to tell it to you straight. You might think you're in love, but your friends that aren't looking through rose-colored glasses can see the jig is up. You might not want to hear what they have to say, but don't dismiss this priceless perspective.

When socially awkward doesn't even explain it: Being shy or a little awkward in social situations isn't all that rare or off putting. However, blatant rudeness is a completely different animal. If your boyfriend or girlfriend has so little tact that they can't even function in a social environment with your friends or worse yet is outwardly rude to them, get rid of this idiot now. Anyone that claims to care about you will be willing to be, at the very least, friendly to your close pals. And the same applies vice versa, if your friends are cruel, rude or obnoxious to your girlfriend or boyfriend without merit; it might be time to rethink your crew. You are who you hang with, so if your friends are a bunch of pricks, it might be time to cut ties.
I have to say I agree with this point in the article, I too do not want my boyfriend to hit on my friends. Whether it's in front of or worse yet, behind the back of your girlfriend or boyfriend, deliberately flirting or hitting on the friends of your S.I.(significant other) makes you an instant sleaze ball. Any suggestion I have for solving this issue involves swift violence so I'll let your imagination come up with a solution.

Friends can easily get jealous of your new relationship because the time you had to spend with them in the past is now taken up by your new love interest and the resentment can often be aimed at your S.I. It's easy when things are fun and new and exciting to want to spend every waking minute with your new boyfriend/girlfriend, but don't forget about the people that were around for you before your brain was full of birds and bees. And don't just assume your friends will like your S.I. just because you do. Everyone might need a little guidance from you initially before deciding how to tread on each other's territory. Having the harmony of friends and a significant other that all get along is not something to take for granted. Like so many things in life, it's all about striking a balance.