[JHromadka]

Saw this interesting article on CNN. I personally couldn't care less what people do in their private lives as long as it doesn't harm others. My favorite paragraph of the article:

"Christie Smith, 40, founded Cousins United to Defeat Discriminating Lws through Education, in 2002 to overturn laws banning such marriages. So far, the group hasn't found much success.

CUDDLE?? If they want to be taken seriously, they should have used a different acronym.

[RonnieoftheRose]

Inbreeding is unhealthy.

[E's Lil Theorem]

Some of my female cousins are very attractive, but I wouldn't want to marry them.

[brapper]

that's some sick sh*t

[cszar2001]

Originally posted by RonnieoftheRose:
Inbreeding is unhealthy.

Second that.

[finboy]

Reminds me of the movie "Joe Dirt":

Memorable quote during the act: "I'm your sister, I'm your sister!!!"

[wdlove]

Personally I would be against the practice. Not at all surprised by this movement, it is just the evolution following the legalizing of homosexual marriage. Once the gates are open, how can others be denied.

[budster101]

Originally posted by RonnieoftheRose:
Inbreeding is unhealthy.

Just look at teh Royals.... there is your answer.

[SimeyTheLimey]

Originally posted by wdlove:
Personally I would be against the practice. Not at all surprised by this movement, it is just the evolution following the legalizing of homosexual marriage. Once the gates are open, how can others be denied.

The article says that 24 states ban 1st cousin marriages. That means that 26 states don't ban 1st cousin marriages. You can't blame this on the whole one-state-out-of-50-and-eleven-states-banned-it-in-their-constitutions gay marriage bandwagon. This is all between you hetero types.

[budster101]

Originally posted by SimeyTheLimey:
The article says that 24 states ban 1st cousin marriages. That means that 26 states don't ban 1st cousin marriages. You can't blame this on the whole one-state-out-of-50-and-eleven-states-banned-it-in-their-constitutions gay marriage bandwagon. This is all between you hetero types.

Oh yeah?

'hetero types'... then that may be were gay people come from...



Take that!

[SimeyTheLimey]

Originally posted by budster101:
Oh yeah?

'hetero types'... then that may be were gay people come from...



Take that!

I'll have you know that some of my best friends are heterosexuals.

[Mafia]

Originally posted by RonnieoftheRose:
Inbreeding is unhealthy.

thirded.

[budster101]

Originally posted by SimeyTheLimey:
I'll have you know that some of my best friends are heterosexuals.

Lucky them...

[SimeyTheLimey]

Originally posted by budster101:
Lucky them...

Merely being my friends doesn't make them that lucky, but thank you for saying so.

[historylme]

Originally posted by RonnieoftheRose:
Inbreeding is unhealthy.

Marriage does not mean inbreeding, maybe they just have a thing for each other. I have cousing that have WOWed me before by their looks, but I wouldn't want to marry them or get busy with them.

However, some of my distant cousing... habaw habaw

[badidea]

I would really like to know what Deimos has to say about that...

[Shaddim]

Originally posted by SimeyTheLimey:
The article says that 24 states ban 1st cousin marriages. That means that 26 states don't ban 1st cousin marriages. You can't blame this on the whole one-state-out-of-50-and-eleven-states-banned-it-in-their-constitutions gay marriage bandwagon. This is all between you hetero types.

So... provided that gay marriage is legalized, should gay first cousins be allowed to marry? Would that be discriminatory to hetero first cousins?

[cjrivera]

Yes. Cause they're so attractive.



Source: The Simpsons

Jebediah: "People, our search is over. On this site we shall build a new town, where we can worship freely, govern justly, and grow vast fields of hemp for making rope and blankets."

Shelbyville Manhattan: "yes, and marry our cousins."

Jebediah: "Yes, and marry our...wha? What are you talking about Shelbyville? Why would we want to marry our cousins?"

Shelbyville Manhattan: "Cause they're so attractive. I thought that was the whole point of this journey."

[RAILhead]

Originally posted by RonnieoftheRose:
Inbreeding is unhealthy.

Fourthded.

[d4nth3m4n]

family tree looks like an elm-

family tree looks like a dead pine -

[SimeyTheLimey]

Originally posted by MacNStein:
So... provided that gay marriage is legalized, should gay first cousins be allowed to marry? Would that be discriminatory to hetero first cousins?

Whoah! Now that is a big if, isn't it.

I'd answer in several steps. First, the states are split roughly 50/50 on whether or not they allow cousins to marry. So it seems to me that this is a contested matter with no consensus and a state law issue that ought not to be decided on a national basis.

Second: while I think gay marriage ought to be legalized, I don't hold out much hope it will become legal in many states soon. I would, however, keep pushing for legal equality in civil unions.

Third, it follows from that principle that if heterosexuals who are first cousins can marry, then homosexual first cousins should be able to marry or enter into a civil union as well. Or vice versa of course.

That doesn't mean I would necessarily advise or recommend first cousins to hook up. Personally, I think it sounds like a recipe for family disaster. But as a legal matter, as long as the playing field is even, I don't really care.

[budster101]

Originally posted by SimeyTheLimey:
Whoah! Now that is a big if, isn't it.

I'd answer in several steps. First, the states are split roughly 50/50 on whether or not they allow cousins to marry. So it seems to me that this is a contested matter with no consensus and a state law issue that ought not to be decided on a national basis.

Second: while I think gay marriage ought to be legalized, I don't hold out much hope it will become legal in many states soon. I would, however, keep pushing for legal equality in civil unions.

Third, it follows from that principle that if heterosexuals who are first cousins can marry, then homosexual first cousins should be able to marry or enter into a civil union as well. Or vice versa of course.

That doesn't mean I would necessarily advise or recommend first cousins to hook up. Personally, I think it sounds like a recipe for family disaster. But as a legal matter, as long as the playing field is even, I don't really care.

There really isn't any comparison here. Maybe in law only.

If gay anyone marry, there is no reproduction values to consider.
Unless, one gay man uses a first cousin to be a surrogate mother for their (gay couple's) child...

Right?

[SimeyTheLimey]

Originally posted by budster101:
There really isn't any comparison here. Maybe in law only.

If gay anyone marry, there is no reproduction values to consider.
Unless, one gay man uses a first cousin to be a surrogate mother for their (gay couple's) child...

Right?

Hypothetically speaking, if the ban on first cousins marrying in states that don't allow it is based on biological concerns to do with inbreeding, then that rationale obviously wouldn't apply to homosexuals.

But you could easily come up with other valid rationales not connected to biology not to allow marriage licenses within a certain degree of kinship. For example, incest is not allowed between adopted siblings or adopted children and their adoptive parents just like it is with blood relatives. Biologically speaking, adopted people might not be related by blood at all. The reason for the continued prohibition is because of the emotional harm that incest causes. That's a valid concern and it applies even where there is no concern about inbreeding.

I agree though that bringing up gay marriage in this context is really bringing up something that is quite unrelated. I think it only came up because it triggers the same ick factor in some.

[OldManMac]

Did anyone actually read the article? The chances of first cousins having a child with birth defects is only a couple of percentage points higher than that of an unrelated couple, and it's still low in either case. The real issue seems to be the "ewwww" factor, which is based on nothing more than emotionalism. Unfortunately, that's being used a lot these days to attemtp to deny people civil rights and liberties.

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by KarlG:
Did anyone actually read the article? The chances of first cousins having a child with birth defects is only a couple of percentage points higher than that of an unrelated couple, and it's still low in either case. The real issue seems to be the "ewwww" factor, which is based on nothing more than emotionalism. Unfortunately, that's being used a lot these days to attemtp to deny people civil rights and liberties.

But what happens if first cousins of the children of first cousins marry and have children? Does the rate of birth defect remain the same?

[budster101]

I think the real problem, if the bean counters in here are correct in the minute differences of birth defects, would be the generational problems, should this continue...

You know. Like the Royals.

[AKcrab]

Originally posted by KarlG:
Did anyone actually read the article? The chances of first cousins having a child with birth defects is only a couple of percentage points higher than that of an unrelated couple, and it's still low in either case.

And often lower than a woman in her 40's having a baby.

I actually know two cousins that got married. He got fixed, so people would shut up about mutant children.

[Albert Pujols]

"You know you're a redneck when your family tree doesn't fork."

How true.

[RAILhead]

Originally posted by Albert Pujols:
"You know you're a redneck when your family tree doesn't fork."

How true.

Don't roads fork and trees branch?

Maury

[budster101]

Originally posted by RAILhead:
Don't roads fork and trees branch?

Maury

Watch your language.

[Albert Pujols]

Originally posted by RAILhead:
Don't roads fork and trees branch?

Maury

You're right, but that is what the joke is.

[Eug Wanker]

From a scientific point of view, it's not really a great idea (although it isn't the end of the world). ie. If you can avoid marrying a 1st cousin, that would be advised.

However, from an ethical point of view, the guy has a point. Children from first cousin marriages usually are normal. Furthermore, in certain towns, locales, etc, it's sometimes difficult to find a suitable mate who isn't a relative of some sort.

His organization's name is very stupid though.

[macaddict0001]

while we are on the topic what do you guy's think about siblings.

[effgee]

Originally posted by JHromadka:
Should 1st cousins be allowed to marry?

Originally posted by RonnieoftheRose:
Inbreeding is unhealthy.

As evidenced around these parts (more or less) frequently, it is not a good thing when your family tree forms a perfect circle.

[OldManMac]

Originally posted by Kilbey:
But what happens if first cousins of the children of first cousins marry and have children? Does the rate of birth defect remain the same?

I don't know, but that's why laws and regulations should be designed based on the best scientific evidence available at the time, not because somebody thinks it's "disgusting" or "icky." Unfortunately, there are too many who want to prevent certain events from happening, just because "It isn't right," or "That's the way it's always been."

[historylme]

Originally posted by macaddict0001:
while we are on the topic what do you guy's think about siblings.

LOL

[E's Lil Theorem]

Originally posted by badidea:
I would really like to know what Deimos has to say about that...

Heh, he'd prolly say, "Yessssss!" and pick up the phone to dial a certain someone

[LeftWingLock]

Originally posted by Eug Wanker:
Furthermore, in certain towns, locales, etc, it's sometimes difficult to find a suitable mate who isn't a relative of some sort.

West Virginia - One Big Happy Family ... Really.
Kentucky - Five Million People; Fifteen Last Names

[memory-minus]

Originally posted by E's Lil Theorem:
Some of my female cousins are very attractive, but I wouldn't want to marry them.

Just bang them?

[E's Lil Theorem]

Originally posted by memory-minus:
Just bang them?

No, no, I wouldn't bang them either. No hanky panky at all, thanks

[Zimphire]

Originally posted by SimeyTheLimey:
Merely being my friends doesn't make them that lucky, but thank you for saying so.

[Zimphire]

Originally posted by LeftWingLock:
West Virginia - One Big Happy Family ... Really.

Here in WV, we say that about IA.

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by KarlG:
I don't know,

So, we should base laws upon our ignorance?

Originally posted by KarlG:
but that's why laws and regulations should be designed based on the best scientific evidence available at the time, not because somebody thinks it's "disgusting" or "icky." Unfortunately, there are too many who want to prevent certain events from happening, just because "It isn't right," or "That's the way it's always been."

You're right about that, but maybe we should also make laws that lean on the side of caution when our ignorance is evident.

[ASIMO]

Fine in my book.

So fine, in fact, that I will head a new group called Fine Unions of Cousins and Kins Eradicating Discrimination. So better than CUDDLE.

[Socially Awkward Solo]

Do they do blood tests in the US before you marry to make sure you are not related?

[E's Lil Theorem]

Originally posted by Socially Awkward Solo:
Do they do blood tests in the US before you marry to make sure you are not related?

No, but that's not the problem. The problem is the law, meaning that if you marry your first cousin that marriage is not valid. Kind of like what happened to all those gay couples who attempted to get married in San Francisco last year. They went through all the motions but in the end the law said their marriages were invalid.

[Cipher13]

Who cares what these people do? Let them go for it.

It's nobody's business but theirs, and nobody has the right to forbid it.

Personally, I think it's great; the more people that breed with their cousins, the sooner their genetic material will start to deteriorate, and hopefully the sooner they'll be ejected from the gene pool.

More oxygen for me and mine.

[Mastrap]

1st cousins can marry in more than half the states in the US (IIRC) and in pretty much every country in Europe. There is very little risk from a genetic point of view, especially with today's society being as transient as it is.

It has nothing to do with inbreeding, which means the continued mating of closely related individuals.

[Zimphire]

Originally posted by Mastrap:
1st cousins can marry in more than half the states in the US (IIRC) and in pretty much every country in Europe. There is very little risk from a genetic point of view, especially with today's society being as transient as it is.

It has nothing to do with inbreeding, which means the continued mating of closely related individuals.

]

So how long have you been married to your cousin?

[pooka]

I personally don't understand why they WANT to get married in the first place. No one in my family felt the need to tie knot before bangin' away.

And is seems to me that marriages are turning out to be a huge pain in the ass for the goverment to deal with. How bout we just ban them for everyone and call it a day.

Oh, and I'd like to see a tax credit based on the number of people you sleep with.