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It's okay to marry your first cousin. Discuss.

Hello TSR, time for something a bit controversial today.

The science shows that for the children born to first cousins, the risk of genetic defects is no more than the risk of a woman over the age of 40 having a baby. It is around 1.7-2% higher than the average risk for non-cousin couples. This is double the average risk, but because it is so low in the first place, scientists contend that it is still insignificant.

Also, around 80% of all marriages throughout history were probably between second cousins or closer, according to anthropology professor Robin Fox.

Marriages to first cousins are stigmatized in UK society, but with the facts above I argue that they should become socially acceptable, and that the stigmatization of the practice of marrying your first cousin is based more on prejudice than on any scientific proof that it it causes harm. Discuss.

Sources:
News articles
(1) http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/theres-nothing-wrong-with-cousins-getting-married-scientists-say-1210072.html
Journal articles
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2605922/#pbio-0060320-b013
(3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26141656

This is a serious thread. The views presented here are genuinely supported by myself.

Scroll to see replies

Original post by cosmic angel
Hello TSR


Hello :biggrin:
Original post by cosmic angel
Hello TSR, time for something a bit controversial today.

The science shows that for the children born to first cousins, the risk of genetic defects is no more than the risk of a woman over the age of 40 having a baby. It is around 1.7-2% higher than the average risk for non-cousin couples. This is double the average risk, but because it is so low in the first place, scientists contend that it is still insignificant.

Also, around 80% of all marriages throughout history were probably between second cousins or closer, according to anthropology professor Robin Fox.

Marriages to first cousins are stigmatized in UK society, but with the facts above I argue that they should become socially acceptable, and that the stigmatization of the practice of marrying your first cousin is based more on prejudice than on any scientific proof that it it causes harm. Discuss.

Sources:
News articles
(1) http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/theres-nothing-wrong-with-cousins-getting-married-scientists-say-1210072.html
Journal articles
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2605922/#pbio-0060320-b013
(3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26141656

This is a serious thread. The views presented here are genuinely supported by myself.


It's wrong really. You're blood related.
Morally speaking, it is wrong.
Original post by TimeTravel_0
Morally speaking, it is wrong.


Whoms?
Original post by Gaya Ramanathan
It's wrong really. You're blood related.


Original post by TimeTravel_0
Morally speaking, it is wrong.


I'm neither agreeing with you nor disagreeing with you, but would you like to give some rationale to back up why exactly it's wrong?
Come on fam that is disgusting. This isn't Jeremy Kyle.
Technically it's fine for me because we're not actually related but still... Ew no
[video="youtube;4nsKDJlpUbA"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nsKDJlpUbA[/video]
Original post by anosmianAcrimony
I'm neither agreeing with you nor disagreeing with you, but would you like to give some rationale to back up why exactly it's wrong?


I agree, i would have thought having 2 new blood lines (i.e. the non-blood related parents from either side) wouldn't cause an issue but i aint no biologist, i want to see proper reasons for peoples views on it rather than 'yeh omg its fine' or 'ew its disgusting'
Original post by anosmianAcrimony
I'm neither agreeing with you nor disagreeing with you, but would you like to give some rationale to back up why exactly it's wrong?


I already did. You're blood related.
Original post by anosmianAcrimony
I'm neither agreeing with you nor disagreeing with you, but would you like to give some rationale to back up why exactly it's wrong?


It's something called incest.
Original post by Gaya Ramanathan
I already did. You're blood related.


Usually when one gives a moral explanation for why something is wrong, it has to do with who that act harms.

In any case everyone is blood related, more or less distantly.
Original post by Manz too smooth
It's something called incest.


Why is incest wrong? I'm not saying it's not, I'm just interested to hear you explain it.
When repeated over generations, inbreeding causes serious health risks. Islamic consanguineous marriage is a prime example.
I think it's legal, it's not harmful to your future children, if that's what people want to do, then they should go for it. At least there would be less trouble with the in-laws!
Half the family, half the wedding presents...
Original post by anosmianAcrimony
I'm neither agreeing with you nor disagreeing with you, but would you like to give some rationale to back up why exactly it's wrong?


Don't feel the need to explain myself. But, you have to draw the line somewhere. If it's something that increases the likelihood of birth defects then it should be avoided altogether. Why take the risk when you can avoid it?
No marrying your cousin is disgusting!
(edited 7 years ago)
If it risks harming the child, it's wrong

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