It is really up to you what you feel is an acceptable boundary in your relationship.

However, a blanket request by your boyfriend to not talk to other guys is, without doubt, a red flag that another issue exists (control, past betrayal, projected self behavior, etc).

More important is how how he reacts to the situation. If he becomes explosive, violent or abusive at the notion, you really need to get away; not judging here, just have a lot of personal and professional experience in the aftermath of the "last straw" confrontation which will eventually come.

If he gets fearful, despondent or hurt (yes, tears and sniffs), then there is likely an opportunity to really help him get over the core issue once and for all. Demonstrate trustworthy behavior and help him work through it either between the two of you or with the help of counselling. This route is a lot of work and will require patience, but if you are willing to do it, you may ultimately end up with a very strong relationship.

Remember, choosing to work with him getting over the issue should involve a lot of "give" on your part in the beginning. A great gesture of good faith would be to agree to not talk to other guys for a while (including myspace and other web-buddy groups) on the condition he honestly and actively works on getting to the heart of the matter and gets to have REAL input on when and how that boundary gets expanded and, ultimately, abandoned. It also places the majority of the burden on you in the beginning. Secretly continuing to have guy friends or e-mailing/social-networking with other guys WILL blow up in your face and continue to damage his already unhealthy relationship issues not to mention deeply tainting the trust in your current one.

If you are not willing to go down that potentially long and hard road, then walking away is probably the best choice and not one to be ashamed of.

Or, if having guy friends is not that big a deal to you, you could simply honor his boundary and not do it. It won't do much good to "fix" the root problem, but, hey, if you are otherwise crazy about him and love the relationship, it's ok to do that. It doesn't make you a weak, subservient and/or repressed woman, it simply means that you choose to accept his boundary, regardless of its social "correctness".

Don't forget what I said about the violent or explosive behavior. That is a "do not pass go" flag to get out now! Unless you like playing Russian roulette (like, really; with a real gun), do not stick around if that is the way he manifests his "enforcement" of the issue.

It's difficult sometimes to understand why men have thier views. In most cases he's probably insecure and controlling, but maybe somethine happened to him previously and now he takes pause when his girl communicates with other men. I'd bring it up to him and ask him what exactally he feels and why he feels that way. By no means should you stop communitcating with your friends and if he can't try to accept that, it's probably time to go. I told my guy before we started dating that although I'm slow to make friends, many of the friends I already have are men. I drink with them, we'll go out to dinner, and I'll come over Sunday and watch the game, but I was doing this before we got together. He also has his friends that he goes out with and that's where our trust comes in. If your man can't trust that you love HIM and only want to be with HIM even if you are around other men, it probably won't work out for the better.

Sugar, when a guy starts telling you who you can and cannot talk to, it's time to DTMF. Controlling behavior and isolating YOU are the hallmarks and first red flags of what could end up being an abusive relationship.

Been there, done that. Get rid of him.

he may be insecure but if you love him and care for him you will compromise on the problem you shouldnt have to give up your friends but if its ever bein anything more than hanging out i can understand his consern

I agree with MsHeartBeat and QVerb. You do need to uncover why this man is so insecure. He could just be very immature. If so, reassure him and let him grow up a bit. If it is something deeper than that and he can't get over it immediately, then you really do need to worry. You have a right to live your life and to be trusted. If you don't get these things, move on, and fast. Because jealousy is potentially dangerous.

He's an insecure control freak. Tell him to get over it. That dating him does not mean you are going to live your life in a cage and that you are going to have friends and associate with people of both sexes. If he doesn't like it, you know he is not the man for you. Your partner has to trust you, and if they don't you don't want that. Nothing worst than a jealous controlling person trying to tell you what to do, who you can see, what you can wear, what you can or cannot say, etc.

I am one who is good friends with my ex's. I will not tolerate any interference with the few friends I have. If she is insecure then tough,Grow up!! Slavery is illegal tha last time I looked.
Plus, this is your cousin!! What you don't have relatives? I don't have close ones but it would be unrealistic to expect that others do not have friends relatives lovers etc. long before i came along. I do not need to like them either. She can have her friends and I mine and we ours. It is emotional maturity. In your case be strong and tell him that he does not have to like it but you will have friends that are males. You are not a possession!!

I would have to agree with him to a degree,because if he doesn't do it then nither should you.In the end you may regret it.So you really need to ask yourself could you handle him doing the same thing

Oh and no one should EVER give up talking to ANYONE because of a significant other. I have been down that road before, and I lost many friends that way.

Sounds immature and/or controlling to me.

Tell the guy what you wrote here...

It sounds like he is pretty insecure, and this may actually be a good chance to get a better "look" at the type of person he really is. Some people are extremely insecure about their SO talking with people of the opposite sex. My GF is like that because of all the really crappy boyfriends who cheated on her before me. Your BF may have a similar history...or he may have done the cheating in his past.

I'm not trying to stir up more trouble between you both with this...there as many reasons for insecurities as there are people on the planet. This is actually a good place to stand your ground and defend your views.

Like I said, my SO is extremely insecure, and the fact that I'm actually really good friends with a couple of my exes and on good terms the majority of the rest of them doesn't sit well with my GF...but she also knows she can trust me because she feels like she is a priority in my life, a pretty high one at that, and that I don't hold back or hide anything from her. I've never had ex-sex. My exes are great friends because we started out that way. Occasionally my GF has a mini-burst of insecurity where she starts accusing me of literally nothing. Because I know her past and how she can get I know how to deal with those situations and not get upset myself.

Talk with your BF, find out exactly what his issue is with not wanting you to speak with or make friends with other guys. DO NOT let him keep you from those friendships. If your friendships with these guys are in no way disrespectful of your relationship then there is no reason for you to be required to give them up. This won't be an easy discussion, but it can lay the foundation for how you both communicate with each other when future problems arise...or it can show you the type of guy your BF is and that you may want to find someone better for you.

Best of luck to you.