Let's jump in here with a really controversial topic, eh?
So, incest. Our immediate reaction is disgust, for most people. But isn't that what people felt about homosexuality, when it was less acceptable in society? Aren't we only disgusted by it because society tells us to? If you think about it, isn't it just two people in love?
Let's have some good arguments here, pro and against. Firstly though, 1. I don't practise incest myself, so lets not have accusations - I don't have a crush on my brother even though I think incest is fine, just as there are straight people who think homomosexuality is fine. 2. I know there are risks of birth defects etc, but lets imagine a responsible relationship where the couple uses contraception and adopts if they want children.
What do people think?
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Re:Incest
Date: 2008/02/19 13:48
By: euthanasia
Status:
Although highly taboo (I myself regard it as indecent), I believe that as long as it's consentual, and the two parties involved are of a reasonable decision-making age (lets say 12 to 14), then go for it... I still think it's gross (much as so many straight people think anal sex is gross) and would never consider doing such a thing (and not only because I don't have any brothers lol), but as long as it's not harming anyone else, I say let them be-I'd have nothing to say against them, as long as they're happy...
(But honestly, eww!)
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Re:Incest
Date: 2008/02/19 14:12
By: Epona
Status:
I know - it's strange we have such a disgust reaction to it, when we should be open minded to 'different' forms of love...I reckon it's all society.
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Re:Incest
Date: 2008/02/19 23:10
By: MooYak
Status:
Personally I don't care what two consenting individuals do in the privacy of their own homes. (is there such a thing as privacy anymore?)
However, I can understand the motivation behind keeping it illegal. The fact is that humans, being the fallible and irresponsible animals we are, would sometimes fail to keep our load where it belongs. We would very likely have little mutants running around. And not the good kind that have superpowers, but rather the ones that think they have super powers even when they are 17 and older. The human gene pool is fucked up enough (just look at those bloody southerners! lol) so I would prefer we don't destroy it even more.
But whatever, honestly I feel rather ambivalent towards it. It might be a pathology for all I know, but I don't care about other people's sex lives until it directly effects mine. (the little mutant brats, for instance) "Where we have strong emotions, we're liable to fool ourselves." - Carl Sagan
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Re:Incest
Date: 2008/02/20 02:46
By: BravoLima
Status:
Having no consciounce helps .
The only issue I have with it is procreative sex. I'm not totally sure, but I believe there has been research finding that the rate of problems in children of incestuous couples was higher (as in physical, not necessarily social, economic, or psychological etc. though psychology would likely play a large part). If this is the case, then I think this alone validates the illegality of sex acts aimed at procreation (there are just so many ways to do it). However, non-procreative sex acts are illegal due to underlying religious morals, and I feel are legally unnecessary.
I disagree with you MooYak, it should not be illegal outright just because there's a chance that irresponsible couples will accidentally have children. That's like illegalising alcohol because some people get way too drunk. It should be conditional, yes, but I think it is currently too 'tabooed' against for any major progress to happen notably soon. You should always respect one's religious beliefs, however imaginary friends, delusional behaviour, a belief in a two thousand year old folk-lore should be treated by a professional.
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Re:Incest
Date: 2008/02/20 15:04
By: Exovedate
Status:
As long as both individuals are consenting, I don't see any problem with it. It's sort of silly how taboo it is.
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Re:Incest
Date: 2008/02/20 21:29
By: sailorearth
Status:
the only problem I have with it is when you form a crazy cult like westboro baptist church. As long as your not breeding then it's fine.
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Watch it, it's painfully beautiful. And incestuously wholesome. Love = Freedom
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Re:Incest
Date: 2008/02/21 04:45
By: MooYak
Status:
Now if only we could all read Chinese, I'm sure we could learn to love it...
Anyway, provided society gets past it's disgust with the concept, what kind of conditions do you put on such a relationship? Does one make it illegal for a incestuous couple to have unprotected sex? How do you determine the conditions? "Where we have strong emotions, we're liable to fool ourselves." - Carl Sagan
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Re:Incest
Date: 2008/02/21 05:12
By: Epona
Status:
I guess that's the only difficulty I have with it, cos if it were made acceptable you'd have to make laws or you'd get mutant kids all over the place. It'd be incredibly difficult to rule that you can't have unprocted sex, cos how do you enforce that? I guess you'd probably have to concentrate on raising awareness, as they do nowadays but focussing on the outcomes if you have kids.
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Re:Incest
Date: 2008/02/21 06:53
By: esantiago7292
Status:
I think incest is wrong. Other then the fact that people can confusing their feelings of family love with actual love, and the fact that it results in many birth defects in infants, a lot of situations it's the male taking advantage of the female. Like older brother, younger sister. Father, daughter. As far as cousins go, I still think it's wrong.
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Re:Incest
Date: 2008/02/21 08:50
By: Jaye
Status:
Did the link not work? It's on a Japanese website, but it's in English. Or it's supposed to be in English. Meh. Tudou doesn't wark for everyone I guess.
Anyway, everyone is talking about incest as if it incestuous relationships were only happening in straight couples. What about homosexual brothers? Pretty much impossible to have children. What would you say to it then? Love = Freedom
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