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?

[Meeker]

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.

[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?

[Meeker]

Sexual interaction should be a low-level sexual offense.

[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?

[Franzl]

Oh..I guess there's no logical way to prevent it....people should discourage it...I think, but I see no reason to criminalize it.

Yes, incest increases the risk of birth defects.....but so does drinking alcohol during pregnancy, and most people advise against that as well.


So my answer is no...there are many things in life that can increase the risk of a negative result...but to reduce those risks, in many cases, would require the loss of a great deal of personal freedom.

[Lunar]

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

[Meeker]

I suppose a parent/child relationship is significantly different than a brother/sister or cousin/cousin relationship because of the traditional views of authority in our society.

[MK]

Oh..I guess there's no logical way to prevent it....people should discourage it...I think, but I see no reason to criminalize it.

Yes, incest increases the risk of birth defects.....but so does drinking alcohol during pregnancy, and most people advise against that as well.


So my answer is no...there are many things in life that can increase the risk of a negative result...but to reduce those risks, in many cases, would require the loss of a great deal of personal freedom.

Have you ever seen a baby born to incest?
Sickening to even think about.

It should be treated like other serious sexual offenses.. we currently already have rape and incest laws that vary from state to state.

There is also laws that prevent in- laws or should I say you can be jailed for having intercourse with non blood relative.  I'm going to take the libreal side on this one and say you shouldn't be..non blood is non blood, no healthrisks there. I personally think its sick, although that's between the 2 adults. Now as to real blood incest,  there should be more then just a fine.  If you ever seen a incest baby you'd understand why its in the best intrest of the public that we have those laws in place.

[Associate Justice PiT]

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.

[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).

[DownWithTheLeft]

Disgusting and awful but certainly should not be illegal.  Victimless crime

[danny]

I don't think consensual incest is a bad idea at all (of any kind), the only thing I'd advise against is having babies together. In any case it shouldn't be illegal and they should be allowed to marry (like same sex marriage).

[Mint]

I think there is a distinction between having relations with cousins and immediate family members. The former is generally socially acceptable. The latter is not and we are very fortunate that is the case, for a variety of reasons (biological, psychological, etc.). It might not cause immediate birth defects (statistically speaking) but it opens up the door to abusive situations, decreased genetic diversity, etc. For that reason it should not be tolerated.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

It should be noted here that while defects are much more common among children of incestous relationships they are still rather unlikely.

This is a cultural issue, rather than a legal one anyone. The best way to prevent is making people feel disgusted at the idea. Which works (mostly).

[danny]

I think there is a distinction between having relations with cousins and immediate family members. The former is generally socially acceptable. The latter is not and we are very fortunate that is the case, for a variety of reasons (biological, psychological, etc.). It might not cause immediate birth defects (statistically speaking) but it opens up the door to abusive situations, decreased genetic diversity, etc. For that reason it should not be tolerated.

But this is all statistically speaking and nowadays we can test for whether there genetic problems. would you support a ban on sex amongst unrelated people whose genetic makeup shows a high propensity for defects/illnesses and vice versa?

[Mint]

No, but that's not why I primarily oppose it.

[danny]

It should be noted here that while defects are much more common among children of incestous relationships they are still rather unlikely.

This is a cultural issue, rather than a legal one anyone. The best way to prevent is making people feel disgusted at the idea. Which works (mostly).

I suppose I'm the exception since it doesn't disgust me at all (not that i plan on being in such a relationship).

[danny]

No, but that's not why I primarily oppose it.

So what is the primary reason?

[??????????]

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.

Cousin/Cousin shouldn't be illegal and its' been proven that any genetic problems are very minimal. As for sister/brother, it's revolting and dangerous for any offspring. The second one is good enough reason to ban it. As for the punishment? Basically a fine and getting their names in the paper is punishment enough.

[Franzl]

Oh..I guess there's no logical way to prevent it....people should discourage it...I think, but I see no reason to criminalize it.

Yes, incest increases the risk of birth defects.....but so does drinking alcohol during pregnancy, and most people advise against that as well.


So my answer is no...there are many things in life that can increase the risk of a negative result...but to reduce those risks, in many cases, would require the loss of a great deal of personal freedom.

Have you ever seen a baby born to incest?
Sickening to even think about.

It should be treated like other serious sexual offenses.. we currently already have rape and incest laws that vary from state to state.

There is also laws that prevent in- laws or should I say you can be jailed for having intercourse with non blood relative.  I'm going to take the libreal side on this one and say you shouldn't be..non blood is non blood, no healthrisks there. I personally think its sick, although that's between the 2 adults. Now as to real blood incest,  there should be more then just a fine.  If you ever seen a incest baby you'd understand why its in the best intrest of the public that we have those laws in place.

As I said...incest does increase the risk of birth defects...absolutely correct.

Does drinking during pregnancy? Does smoking during pregnancy? Is it possible that they may even be more dangerous than incest resulting in a baby?

If your arguments is to be any bit plausible...you would have to simultaneously argue for a strict ban on pregnant women smoking and drinking...(I'm not sure of the exact probability of birth defects...but I'm willing to guess that drinking is just as likely to cause birth defects or even more likely)...then...as in other debates....you're being inconsistent.

It's absurd to say incest should be treated as any "serious sexual offense"...

[Earth]

If the incest is consensual, then legalize it. No fines, no jail time. If two related people feel that way, then no law should stop them.

[SPC]

Disgusting and awful but certainly should not be illegal.  Victimless crime

Plus, if you're going to arrest incesters based on the chance that they might have birth defects, are you going to put the parents of Trisomy 21 chilren in jail for actually producing a birth defect? (Though I must say it is absolutely disgusting to imagine.)

[Workers' Friend]

Ewwww no, Incest is disgusting, immoral, and pointless.

[Franzl]

Ewwww no, Incest is disgusting, immoral, and pointless.

SOOOO WHAT??? That's your personal opinion....why do you religious right people think your religious opinions should be turned into law?