Kissing Cousins?

[5stringJeff]

Just a topic that popped into my head yesterday. What do you guys think about cousins who fall in love/marry?

 

[Said1]

Just a topic that popped into my head yesterday. What do you guys think about cousins who fall in love/marry?

If they're far enough removed or didn't know, I guess it's not the worst thing. I still think "ew" and am reminded of all the sterotypes when I hear about it, though. Dr. Phil said it's ok, so I guess I should "get over it".

 

[Shattered]

Just a topic that popped into my head yesterday. What do you guys think about cousins who fall in love/marry?

I have no idea what the last option means, but I picked that.

 

[The ClayTaurus]

Dare I ask WHY this was being pondered?

 

[dmp]

Depends on the distance between 'em and junk, I suppose.

 

[GotZoom]

Male/Female?
Male/Male?
Female/Female?

 

[Nienna]

I picked fine/legal, depending on how far removed they are. Yeah... change mine to "I think it's gross, but more power to them."

 

[5stringJeff]

Male/Female?
Male/Male?
Female/Female?

The first, not the second, and the third only if Darin gets pics...

 

[5stringJeff]

Dare I ask WHY this was being pondered?

Just curious. I'm certainly not calling up any cousins of mine this weekend or anything.

 

[GotZoom]

I remember reading somewhere that children of first cousins who marry only increase their risk of birth defects by 3% (or right around there). Also, I think about half the states in the union allow first cousins to marry.

I guess it's no big deal then.

I would hope that there would be some genetic counseling before they choose to have children though.

 

[The ClayTaurus]

Just curious. I'm certainly not calling up any cousins of mine this weekend or anything.

You've got a hot cousin, don't you? TTIWWOP

 

[5stringJeff]

You've got a hot cousin, don't you? TTIWWOP

Two of my cousins (both married, so don't ask) run their own business:
http://www.maggienme.com/

 

[Said1]

Two of my cousins (both married, so don't ask) run their own business:
http://www.maggienme.com/

that's really cool, Jeff. My daughter would love the pink chair!

 

[Dan]

I guess theoretically it's not devastating or anything, but my gut reaction is total disgust, so I'd have to say no.

 

[insein]

dunno, never had any hot cousins? lol

Nah i put down gross but more power to them. It doesnt effect me then go right ahead. I wouldnt be announcing it to the world though if i were they.

I don't think its possible to be attracted to your family in that way unless your grow up thinking that way or have a defect. My sister is a pretty girl and many guys think she's hot, but i cant even begin to look at her that way. Its a block that gets built in when you live in a normal family i guess.

 

[Bonnie]

Some people are fixated on the fallacy that cousin couples pose an intolerable risk to their offspring. However it is likely that we are all descendants of cousin marriages. Before civil laws banning cousin marriages, it was preferable to marry a cousin in some communities as it is to this day in many countries. The notion “why marry a stranger is just as prevalent in many countries as the cousin marriage taboo in America today. There is a wide range of opinions on the subject of cousin marriages. This is fuelled by erroneous information, bigotry, and presumptions. Further we have civil laws and religious creeds based on obsolete information.


The facts about cousin marriages are much clearer.


Fears of cousins who marry having children with birth defects are exaggerated. Simply marrying within your own race increases the odds of birth defects. Marrying within your own town further increases your chances. Cousin couples have only a slightly higher incidence of birth defects than non-related couples.




26 states allow first cousin marriages; most people can marry their cousin in the US.
US prohibitions against cousin marriages predate modern genetics.
No European country prohibits marriage between first cousins. It is also legal throughout Canada and Mexico to marry your cousin. The U.S. is the only western country with cousin marriage restrictions.
Children of non-related couples have a 2-3% risk of birth defects, as opposed to first cousins having a 4-6% risk. Genetic counseling is available for those couples that may be at a special risk for birth defects (e.g. You have a defect that runs in your family) In plain terms first cousins have at a 94 percent + chance of having healthy children. Check the links section for more information on genetic counselors. The National Society of Genetic Counselors estimated the increased risk for first cousins is between 1.7 to 2.8 percent, or about the same a any woman over 40 years of age.
Second cousins have little, if any increased chance of having children with birth defects, per the book "Clinical Genetics Handbook”– courtesy of the March of Dimes.

The frequency of cousin marriages in the USA is about 1 in 1,000. The frequency of cousin marriages in Japan is about 4 in 1,000
It is estimated that 20 percent of all couples worldwide are first cousins. It is also estimated that 80 percent of all marriages historically have been between first cousins!
In some cultures, the term cousin and mate are synonymous.
Albert Einstein married his first cousin. And so did Charles Darwin, who had exceptional children.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, the longest serving US president in history married his cousin (not a first cousin, however they shared the same last name).
Leviticus 18 lists all forbidden sexual relationships. Cousin relationships are not included.
God commanded many cousins to marry, including Zelophehad's 5 daughters, Eleazar's daughters, Jacob (who married both Rachel and Leah, first cousins), and Isaac and Rebekkah (first cousins once removed)
It is likely that Joseph and Mary -- Christ's earthly parents were first cousins.
Current studies indicate that cousin couples have a lower ratio of miscarriages -- perhaps because body chemistry of cousins is more similar. The verdict is still out.
We are all cousins. No two people are more distantly related than 50th cousins.

http://www.cousincouples.com/?page=facts

 

[no1tovote4]

I think it is gross. However studies on DNA have shown that even first cousins do not have a significant increase in genetic problems because of their familial relation if they have children. Can't say that I want to participate, but it would be hypocritical of me to go and start making laws because something creeps me out.

 

[Joz]

So what about stepchildren marrying? They aren't biological in any way.
If they happen to be teens when the parents marry maybe. But being raised together from small children, to me, would seem like they were still crossing that incest line.

 

[Dan]

I think I'm overly sensitive to this, but stepkids grosses me out, too. Heck, the end of Clueless, when she starts dating her stepbrother grossed me out even though they have completely different parents.

 

[Nienna]

My mom & dad were step-brother & -sister. Although, they were husband & wife FIRST. My daddy's dad married my mom's mom. Is that gross? When the grandparents marry?