Anyone want to step up and defend consensual incest being legal (but a bad idea)

[Lunar]

Say me and my cousin (or even a closer relative?) hypothetically feel that we love each other, should we be able to bump uglies or should there be a fine or prison time associated with that.

We're both adult consenters.  To what extent should our relationship be allowed?  Kissing?  Intercourse?  Kids?  Marriage (I know..I know..)?


And for those who thing it should be illegal, please describe the penalties and enforcement mechanisms. Will you simply enforce the law when a child is born and issue a fine or what?  Should it simply be technically illegal but unenforced to attempt to discourage the behavior?  Just a refusal to issue marriage licenses?

[Lunar]

I wouldn't particularly care if you guys were just having sex. Where I do end up caring, however, is when you start bringing kids into the world that have terrible genetic problems and are going to lead very miserable lives.

So hypothetically I wouldn't mind the sexual intercourse being legal, but it's really impossible to legalize that and also prevent pregnancies.

So what should be illegal and what should the punishment be?

[Lunar]

Sexual interaction should be a low-level sexual offense.

So, a fine?  If the father is proven to be a close relative in the hospital birth room, slap on a fine and a crime on the record?


And what if neighbors call in a family living next door that is a father-daughter living together (unmarried) happily with kids?  Send them to jail and put the kids up for adoption?

[Lunar]

So you'd be cool with the government tolerating a father-daughter relationship (+18) with eight kids next door?

[Lunar]

So hypothetically I wouldn't mind the sexual intercourse being legal, but it's really impossible to legalize that and also prevent pregnancies.

     Clearly the answer is to only allow homosexual incest.

Actually, that's an interesting point.

Homosexual incest is kind of like a guy having sex with a dead chicken behind closed doors...in many senses.  No reproductive issues, no family issues....

I mean, if me and my sister were to hypothetically watch chicken porn side-by-side, that'd be theoretically ok, right?  Just as long as we don't risk genetic defects among children...

I mean, this subject is PG-13 (sorry everyone).

[Lunar]

Keep the government out of the bedroom.  Once it leaves the bedroom (marriage licenses, kids), I'm fine with it being illegal.

So, what should happen if the neighbors report that two siblings have six kids next door?

Foster family the kids and a fine?

[Lunar]

Keep the government out of the bedroom.  Once it leaves the bedroom (marriage licenses, kids), I'm fine with it being illegal.

So, what should happen if the neighbors report that two siblings have six kids next door?

Foster family the kids and a fine?

Not necessarily. Only if they're in immediate danger, not simply because they're the product of incest. This mentality of biological regulation, and invasive laws are, for lack of a better word, horrifying.

I mean, I don't support it.

Just trying to find out what Inks thinks.

[Lunar]

Unless we get the technology to genetically alter fetuses in the womb(and removing the risks associated with incest) I'm leery of increasing acceptance for incest. Once we get that technology the game changes.

This isn't about acceptance, this about legality.  I think most people here acknowledge there should be a taboo about this just like there is a taboo against landmines.

How do you answer the critiques in this thread about drinking or smoking during pregnancy (which are probably more heavily associated with genetic defects).  We don't have to be accepting of incest, or pregnant drinkers, but what do we do with them when we discover them?

[Lunar]

Good post Earth.

I find this issue amusing since there is no clear-cut answer.  It's a  ridiculous minority of cases, but yet it can easily be used as a strawman or a logical tool to tear holes into any number of socially liberal arguments (that I support).

And I'd like everyone on this thread to discuss the legal extent that incest should be allowed and the penalties.

Stop short of marriage?  If so, WHY?

[Lunar]

The question isn't whether it's sick.

The law is forced to make a decision somewhere.  Should it allow kids?  Marriage licenses?  And if not, on what basis should they be refused?

[Lunar]

What's the punishment for Polygamy anyway?

[Lunar]

What's the punishment for Polygamy anyway?

I voted "No", but what are you going to do, anyway? This seems more like a social thing than a criminal thing. Perhaps convicts of this crime should be dealt with in a compassionate, medical way than a hard and fast criminal way.

I want more than just platitudes though!

Define the exact extent the law should take and why.