Current Events > Why do Americans consider cousin marriage as incest?

(+) Yeah! (+)

And are they aware that the rest of the world doesn't? I just find it curious that in a lot of Asian cultures, cousin marriage is quite common and applauded (for their own various reasons) but in American tv shows and movies it's seen as this super disgusting thing compared to actual incest.

Just wondering about what was told to lump cousin relationships with incest.
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I can't speak for everywhere, but in terms of NZ laws, it's only one degree further than what would constitute incest (as an aunt / uncle would), so it's still going to be kinda iffy in terms of social attitudes.
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Because banging your mom's sister's kid is indeed family
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I don't know. There's barely any increased risk of birth defects from first cousins. Maybe if it's been going on for several generations already but otherwise it's massively exaggerated.

I've started to think of "incest" as nonconsensual relationships where an older relative is abusing a child they're related to. I get that in anime it means brother/sister and that sometimes happens IRL but it's not that common or even a problem, some people just like to focus on the titillating possibilities rather than what actually occurs IRL
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It's funny because I remember the first time I saw the godfather part 3 and was so confused over why the whole cousin relationship was this big taboo in the movie. It's only years later that I found out why (and that the movie had much bigger problems besides that)

But that was my first big exposure to the concept in movies
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some families go to the reunion like it's an ass buffet.
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Because it is incest.
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TC confirmed cousin fucker
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HighOnSolar posted...

Because it is incest.

most cultures throughout all human history didn't consider it that really. I think even the bible doesn't include it in their list of incest bans

the concept of cousin sex being counted as incest is a fairly modern idea

First cousins is definitely incest. Any further than that and it's less iffy to me. The really big thing is whether or not you're raised as family. I remember watching a show where everyone was making a huge deal of an "incestual" relationship that was way farther apart than that.

google definition of incest

the crime of having sexual intercourse with a parent, child, sibling, or grandchild.
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Isn't TC in Venezuela or something

Zikten posted...

HighOnSolar posted...

Because it is incest.

most cultures throughout all human history didn't consider it that really. I think even the bible doesn't include it in their list of incest bans

the concept of cousin sex being counted as incest is a fairly modern idea

It does seem like a modern concept because now that I think about it, even in America it wasn't always banned or whatever; the president FDR and his wife were apparently cousins or distantly related in some way.
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I'm American and have slept with cousins, also Americans. I'm not married though.

I've gotten plenty of disgusted looks from people over it, but I don't really care.

I would but id be quiet about them being my cousin. Yeah, around the world this isnt a thing.
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Zikten posted...

HighOnSolar posted...

Because it is incest.

most cultures throughout all human history didn't consider it that really. I think even the bible doesn't include it in their list of incest bans

the concept of cousin sex being counted as incest is a fairly modern idea

1 Sexual relations between people classed as being too closely related to marry each other.

1.1 The crime of having sexual intercourse with a parent, child, sibling, or grandchild

HighOnSolar posted...

Because it is incest.

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i think we're probably more attracted to our cousins than the rest of the population tbh because we're attracted to genetically similar features
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HighOnSolar posted...

people classed as being too closely related to marry each other.

you can marry your first cousin though, in most states. plus marriage is made up compared to biology.
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rikasa posted...

HighOnSolar posted...

people classed as being too closely related to marry each other.

you can marry your first cousin though, in most states. plus marriage is made up compared to biology.

HighOnSolar posted...

Zikten posted...

HighOnSolar posted...

Because it is incest.

most cultures throughout all human history didn't consider it that really. I think even the bible doesn't include it in their list of incest bans

the concept of cousin sex being counted as incest is a fairly modern idea

1 Sexual relations between people classed as being too closely related to marry each other.

1.1 The crime of having sexual intercourse with a parent, child, sibling, or grandchild

HighOnSolar posted...

Because it is incest.

Topic is asking why do people consider incest incest, the answer is because it is defined by the dictionary as incest. Thats just how language workswe have words and give them meanings. I understand you want to feel justified in boning your cousin but it doesnt really matter because the dictionary is what it is as are normal peoples reactions to incest. Bone away, you can continue to feel good about it and the normal person can continue to feel grossed out by you.
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my cousins hot AF, it's definitely part of what resulted in me having an accurate and non-sheep opinion about it
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Americans might tend to be closer to their cousins and extended families, thus finding it weirder.

If I see you at any sort of family gathering, we're not fucking.

And imagine being on the parental side of that talking to your brother or sister and going "oh hey our kids are fucking".

Imagine how messed up your brain must be to change your opinion about fucking your family because theyre hot af Maybe that wiring up there was never right to begin with and your parents felt the same way in the past that you do right now
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Your assumption that a person's wiring is wrong if they're attracted to their cousin is the absolute definition of "feels over reals" and there's no arguing with that. Just an irrational low IQ opinion. Dime a dozen
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rikasa posted...

Your assumption that a person's wiring is wrong if they're attracted to their cousin is the absolute definition of "feels over reals" and there's no arguing with that. Just an irrational low IQ opinion. Dime a dozen

So do you see a problem with a dude fucking his sister? Not much of a difference between that and a cousin he grew up with after all
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the inbred fellow advocating for inbreeding is talking about iq, thats adorable, and still disgusting.
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Well there's a big difference, in the definition of the word and its biological and familial consequences. Not being attracted to someone you grew up with is different than your biological relation, which should be obvious since it happens all the time with people who aren't related by blood.

There was a story about a while ago about an 18 yr old girl who was adopted, and she found her real parents on Facebook. When she met her dad they... pretty much instantly started a sexual relationship. They were father and daughter but never met their whole lives and it basically confused their bodies and resulted in intense sexual attraction (i already mentioned we're attracted to genetically similar people). They ended up having a baby and then the dad murdered them all and killed himself I think. I guess she was 18 and it was consensual but I see him as having a great deal of power over her that doesn't exist between siblings or cousins, and that power differential is what makes incest criminal abuse.

If 2 siblings want to fuck they can and do. I read Quora. It happens a lot. I don't get anything out of insulting them.
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Yea I remember that killer dad story. Sad

it's kind of icky tbh. a little too close
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I know you cant understand that first cousin is different enough for healthy children....
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This is such a CE topic.
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But in America, id just blatantly lie if i hooked up with my cousin. I have no intentions though.
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HighOnSolar posted...

Because it is incest.

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Marriages and sexual relationships between first cousins are stigmatized as incest in some cultures, but tolerated in much of the world. Currently, 24 US states prohibit marriages between first cousins, and another seven permit them only under special circumstances.[119] The United Kingdom permits both marriage and sexual relations between first cousins.[120]
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LordMarshal posted...

Marriages and sexual relationships between first cousins are stigmatized as incest in some cultures, but tolerated in much of the world. Currently, 24 US states prohibit marriages between first cousins, and another seven permit them only under special circumstances.[119] The United Kingdom permits both marriage and sexual relations between first cousins.[120]

thank goodness the uk is such a shining example of society or else youd look real dumb about now. Though honestly Id prefer dumb to cousin fucker.
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Chugguhchugguh posted...

Though honestly Id prefer dumb to cousin fucker.

Noooooo shit.
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Chugguhchugguh posted...

LordMarshal posted...

Marriages and sexual relationships between first cousins are stigmatized as incest in some cultures, but tolerated in much of the world. Currently, 24 US states prohibit marriages between first cousins, and another seven permit them only under special circumstances.[119] The United Kingdom permits both marriage and sexual relations between first cousins.[120]

thank goodness the uk is such a shining example of society or else youd look real dumb about now. Though honestly Id prefer dumb to cousin fucker.

You should take what you can get.
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Kitt posted...

This is such a CE topic.

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Im sorry I can hardly hear you two over the sounds of your childrens dna crying.
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Chugguhchugguh posted...

Im sorry I can hardly hear you two over the sounds of your childrens dna crying.

Its too hard to explain to you. But you could literally google how the dnas different enough for healthy children.
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Lol why are americans so religious?
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In a review of 48 studies on the children parented by cousins, the rate of birth defects was twice that of non-related couples: 4% for cousin couples as opposed to 2% for the general population.

Literally a 2% difference......
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I read that cousin inbreeding only increases chances of defects in the babies by like 2%. people act like it's much bigger. of course it's a bad idea if at least one of the cousins already has some problems. like my autism for example. but 2 healthy cousins probably would have a healthy baby

This is the sort of quality topic the site wouldn't have without CE.

My cousins used to be hot but then they got all fat.
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Typhon posted...

I'm American and have slept with cousins, also Americans. I'm not married though.

I've gotten plenty of disgusted looks from people over it, but I don't really care.

o.o

Are people with fewer cousins or more cousins more likely to be pro-incest?
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rikasa posted...

I don't know. There's barely any increased risk of birth defects from first cousins.

That's hilariously untrue.
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LordMarshal posted...

In a review of 48 studies on the children parented by cousins, the rate of birth defects was twice that of non-related couples: 4% for cousin couples as opposed to 2% for the general population.

Literally a 2% difference......

Erm, hey champ, 4% is TWICE AS HIGH as 2%. Literally twice as much of a difference.
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that moment you remember that all humans came from adams and eves kids fucking each other
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rikasa posted...

that moment you remember that all humans came from adams and eves kids fucking each other

in the Koran they mention a sister to Caine and Abel and supposedly the reason for the murder is cause the 2 brothers were arguing over who gets to have sex with her