Incest, should it be legal?

If people aren't taught things from their surroundings and the experiences they have throughout their lifetime, how else would you propose they learn?

They don't have to learn. I never had to "learn" to like girls, it just happened. Although we are a more technologically advanced species, we are not above our instincts.

It's perfectly on topic, because it's directly linked to the topic at hand. You're basically saying gays are gay because they were raised to be gay, and that incestuous people are incestuous because they were raised to be. How can you support that with logic and evidence?

I said nothing about gays. And I didn't say that incestuous people are incestuous because they were raised to be. It's usually a result of things that are taught. People apply the things they learn to suit what they want. Everyone does it, for a number of different things.

They don't have to learn. I never had to "learn" to like girls, it just happened. Although we are a more technologically advanced species, we are not above our instincts.

Of course you had to "learn" to like girls. Nothing just happens. How did you learn to like girls? Most likely from experiences beginning back even before you can remember. Of course, it also has to do with hormones, but if hormones were the only factor here, then all men would be straight.

It's perfectly on topic, because it's directly linked to the topic at hand. You're basically saying gays are gay because they were raised to be gay, and that incestuous people are incestuous because they were raised to be. How can you support that with logic and evidence?

I agree. Once you become a self aware person as you become older you define your own tastes and tendancies. Saying that gay parents will raise children that will also be gay is like expecting two students who studied together for the same test will get the same score. Same with incest. Just because your mom and dad are related doesn't mean you won't love some random girl you meet. I knew a guy in high school who was infatuated with his step cousin. (I don't know if the ever acted on their feelings. No matter how well you know someone there is no good way of asking if he's banging his cousin.) He was raised by non incestuous parents who I'm sure raised him with the intent of making him a mainstream person, but that's life. Life lessons and events that shape who you are happen every where, not just in your house under your parents supervision.

Edited by locallegend, 28 July 2008 - 05:34 AM.

Of course you had to "learn" to like girls. Nothing just happens. How did you learn to like girls? Most likely from experiences beginning back even before you can remember. Of course, it also has to do with hormones, but if hormones were the only factor here, then all men would be straight.

How the hell did I "learn" to be attracted to girls? Either way, DNA, hormones and instincts are pretty much what defines our sexuality. Then again, you don't think evolution is a proper theory, so you wouldn't believe me anyway.

How the hell did I "learn" to be attracted to girls? Either way, DNA, hormones and instincts are pretty much what defines our sexuality. Then again, you don't think evolution is a proper theory, so you wouldn't believe me anyway.

I already answered that. Most likely from experiences going even farther back than you can remember. Psychological changes in your brain that occur due to experiences during the first 5 years of your life play a huge role in what you'll choose to do for the rest of your life. And I never said that I don't think evolution is a proper theory. But it certainly isn't the only one, and not one I choose to believe.

This is a no brainer, incest should definitely not be legal if you want mankind to benefit genetically. As for the discussion between you fellow people, it's the combination of hormones, DNA, and genetics that play a role in a persons sexuality. There has been studies of environmental factors but it doesn't seem to play a larger role when it comes to sexuality.

Consider that it creates mutant babies, it's in the baby's best interest to it's life that you don't bring out recessive defective traits like hemophilia that could otherwise be avoided.

First of all the child isn't going to be a mutant but there is a good possibility it will be born with abnormalities. This is due to the mixture of the same DNA. In my opinion incest should stay illegal and should never be practiced, for it is frowned upon in society.

, for it is frowned upon in society.

What, because society frowns upon something, it's wrong?

Of course. If two people want to have sex and be together for the rest of their lives, let them have at it.As for procreation, I would highly discourage offspring. Maybe adopt a child. Naturally there's no guarantee that the child will be "born a mutant," but it's still far more likely with incest.The only real reason that it's taboo is because we have a natural evolutionary predisposition against it, since those who preferred to mate incestually bore more diseased offspring and therefore after a time fell into the vast minority.

Well, yes, the general idea would be that something that is frowned upon is frowned upon because it is seen as wrong. It doesn't mean it IS wrong, merely that the society in question is unready or unwilling to accept it.As for the title of the topic;Yes and no. It should be illegal to have incestual relations with the intention of bearing a child, but obviously that would be rather difficult to enforce. Ideally it would be legal and people's own morals and judgement would guide their hands in the matter, but the state of morals and judgement in society today is deteriorating rapidly

If it were legal, I would prefer it if health benefits and so forth were forfeited for the parents, as they deliberately (considering that abortion is an option if something goes terribly wrong) put a child's life at risk. It's not right that the child should suffer for the parents' mistakes, but there's nothing in the way of the parents suffering for them.

I don't think it should be legal. Children become more sickly when imbred, I know a girl who is just not right mentally because she is the result of an incestual rape. It's just not right to bring a child into the world with that type of problem purposefully, I believe if we were to make incestual marriage legal, the parents should have vasectomies or have their tubes tied, because their children would suffer because of mixed genes. If you want to marry family, you should adopt your children, there are plenty of kids who need good homes.

WOW really? incest? legal? not only does that creep anyone out, its pretty much morally wrong, legally wrong and it takes advantage of family love. not only that but it makes like mutant babies with more of a double chance of a family disease to happen to those babies. POINTS were deducted for this post by KHRSPlease refer to the forum rules to find out why your points were deducted.

Please explain how it is morally wrong and how anyone is taken advantage of. We're talking about potentially pregnancy-less CONSENSUAL sexual relations between family members.

All i gotta say is man unless its you 3rd cousin removed or something thats just gross.POINTS were deducted for this post by Kimihiro WatanukiPlease refer to the forum rules to find out why your points were deducted.

Now, this is the bit I don't understand, so if anyone would provide an answer that would be great;People have decided it's "gross" or "obscene" - why? Where does this (apparently) instinctual response come from when presented with something that isn't common opinion?

Now, this is the bit I don't understand, so if anyone would provide an answer that would be great;People have decided it's "gross" or "obscene" - why? Where does this (apparently) instinctual response come from when presented with something that isn't common opinion?

The only answer I have would be a biblical one, and from there, it would've spread on as tradition.

Doesn't the Bible actually support incest? What with the Ark and so forth?I think it's fair to say we have a genetic imperative to NOT like our siblings, and that's why we find it so obscene.

Indeed, there are rare genetic disorders that could cause massive problems because they would be passed down so much.

Yes, but that would require generations of incest. You're automatically assuming that because someone's parents were related, that that particular someone would also end up reproducing with a relative. That was a huge problem with royal families trying to keep their bloodline "pure." I doubt it'd be much of a problem today though, due to the unlikeliness of several generations in a row reproducing incestuously.

Doesn't the Bible actually support incest? What with the Ark and so forth?I think it's fair to say we have a genetic imperative to NOT like our siblings, and that's why we find it so obscene.

Not just the ark either, if we're to take the Bible literally, all of that family banging fun started with Adam and Eve's kids. I'm pretty sure there was a part in the Bible where God went, "alright, enough with you guys making babies with your immediate relatives, you're gonna start ending up retarded or something." I'm pretty sure he said something like that.

Doesn't the Bible actually support incest? What with the Ark and so forth?I think it's fair to say we have a genetic imperative to NOT like our siblings, and that's why we find it so obscene.

Incest was "outlawed" (for lack of a better word) later on in the Bible. Obviously, if humanity started off with only two people, you would need to start with incest and that would probably continue for centuries until the gene pool would get too deluded for that to continue, which is where God "stepped in" and told them that incest was no longer to be practiced. He was more specific than that, I think it said something about fourth cousins, but anyway, that's sorta what happened, and from that point, like I said, it was passed down as a tradition.

Edited by trancebam, 13 August 2008 - 11:56 PM.

If a genetic imperative to reproduce causes us to resist incest as something that could be acceptable, would we not also all be genetically inclined to be against homosexuality?

There are some countries that do regularly practice incest,

Hey! Guess what! When you make outrageous claims, you need to back them up with facts!

Hey! Guess what! When you make outrageous claims, you need to back them up with facts!

True, and considering I don't really feel like looking for whatever it was I read/saw or whatever, I'm just going to cut that part out. Instead, I'll point out that there are many people that, if they didn't know that someone was their close relative (say a brother and sister both got adopted by different couples, then met later on), there's a much higher chance of incest arising. Again, I don't think it has so much to do with genetics, because if you were really attracted to someone and then someone else told you that you were related, most people would get some sort of "gag" reflex. I think it has more to do with tradition.

Again, I don't think it has so much to do with genetics, because if you were really attracted to someone and then someone else told you that you were related, most people would get some sort of "gag" reflex. I think it has more to do with tradition.

Uhm, scientifically; opposites attract. Different immune systems and different DNA is basically what "attracts", along with a range of other things that we don't know a lot about yet. Naturally it has something to do with tradition, but I still don't think that's the primary cause.