Poll: I know I'm probably going to hell for this, but...

[Gigano]

...
Incest between consenting, similarly aged siblings? No problem at all.

Incest between parent and child (which I believe is the most common form) is almost always rape - statutory if nothing else. And I always have a problem with rape - as should any civilized society.

I don't see any inherent "rape" aspect in, say, a 30 year old biological son having relations with his 50 year old biological mother. Both parties are well above the age of consent, have full mental and physical maturity, and there's presumably no longer such dependency as to make the relationship inherently unequal.

Pretty messed up, but hardly anything for the law to deal with at that point (unless they create offspring).

 

[WOPR]

Do you think incest should be illegal, no matter the circumstances? Personally, along with polygamy, I don't think there's a problem if everyone involved gives consent to the situation. Of course, there's the heightened risk of disabilities with inbred children, but we don't hate women over 35 having children despite the huge increase in the chance of the children having Down Syndrome, and we don't force people with Huntington's Chorea to take up a vow of chastity, despite the fact that there is a 50/50 chance of a child of the sufferer to inherit this incurable disease. And, many people could argue people who want to have sex with their close relatives are insane, they aren't hurting anyone else, so why do we hate it so much? Is it simply prejudice? What does The Escapist think?

I say "Yes" but not because of everyone's assumption of "EWW!" and all that other crap, but because of the problems it can cause for the kids... example- I don't remember the kids name but he was a royal kid (who was born incest) and had a nasty problem that if he got injured it wouldn't heal...

same problem goes for the animal kingdom (hence why you need 30 of every animal for it to repopulate not 2 like a lot of people think)

so in short, I don't really care WHO the person loves, I just don't want any kids having to suffer major problems in life and have to be more or less bubble-kids

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

...
Incest between consenting, similarly aged siblings? No problem at all.

Incest between parent and child (which I believe is the most common form) is almost always rape - statutory if nothing else. And I always have a problem with rape - as should any civilized society.

I don't see any inherent "rape" aspect in, say, a 30 year old biological son having relations with his 50 year old biological mother. Both parties are well above the age of consent, have full mental and physical maturity, and there's presumably no longer such dependency as to make the relationship inherently unequal.

Pretty messed up, but hardly anything for the law to deal with at that point (unless they create offspring).

That's why I said "almost" always.

Your example would be fine - but very unusual. I was talking about an adult parent and an under aged child, which I believe is the most common (or at least the most recorded) type of incest. It's also illegal for a number of other reasons besides the incest.

 

[funguy2121]

Do you think incest should be illegal, no matter the circumstances? Personally, along with polygamy, I don't think there's a problem if everyone involved gives consent to the situation. Of course, there's the heightened risk of disabilities with inbred children, but we don't hate women over 35 having children despite the huge increase in the chance of the children having Down Syndrome, and we don't force people with Huntington's Chorea to take up a vow of chastity, despite the fact that there is a 50/50 chance of a child of the sufferer to inherit this incurable disease. And, many people could argue people who want to have sex with their close relatives are insane, they aren't hurting anyone else, so why do we hate it so much? Is it simply prejudice? What does The Escapist think?

My one problem with the OP's question is the caveat "no matter the circumstances." Unless by "consensual" you meant "consenting adults," then my response is a big, fat NO.

If they're adult sisters who happen to be porn stars...perhaps I shouldn't continue

 

[Alon Shechter]

Well, considering we're all the offsprings of a long forgotten survivors of the secret zombie infestation 2000 years ago, we are all going through incest.
Well, not me, but some of us.

 

[end_boss]

If they are both overage and consenting then it's their choice to make. Don't get me wrong I find it really creepy but it's their life.

^ Exactly that. It doesn't affect me, so I don't care. To paraphrase a comedian who was originally addressing gay marriage, if you have a problem with incest, then just don't sleep with your sibling.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

1.Abusive parents/older siblings could manipulate their family members into sex. If you raise your daughter up drumming the concept into her, by the time she turns 16(or whatever the age of consent is in your country) it wouldn't be too hard to forge an abusive relationship. It would technically be "consensual" and it would be hard to prove otherwise. I think it would lead to some pretty bad stuff. You could argue that it happens anyway, but at least with incest being illegal there is no place for them to hide and justify what they are doing. How would you prove it is consensual sex? Merely making some guy's 18 year old daughter say "yeah, it's consensual" isn't enough. I'd be wanting thorough psychological profiling on all of the family. Why? See point number 3. Having the power of familial influence in a sexual relationship is dangerous. Whether someone thinks it is consensual or not.

This possibility does exist, but it only accounts for some possibilities. What about twins - same age, with neither one older to attempt to influence the younger?

2.I personally think it is wrong to be sexually attracted to a close family member. Incredibly sick.

3.It isn't a healthy mindset. I'd encourage anyone to find someone who wants to fuck their sister or their mum that isn't a total crackpot. I think those that do seem to invariably suffer from a mental illness or a personality disorder to begin with.

4.The obvious health risks of reproduction. How would you police this? Make only same-sex incest legal? What about heterosexual couples who are infertile - are they allowed to have intercourse then? Whatever the decision it - it's going to be lots of fun trying to police it.

The rest of these are just personal bias. You think it's sick - sure, so do I. You think it isn't healthy? Yup, neither do I. Is there a health risk? Sure. How does any of that differ from, say, suffocation play? I think that's sick, dangerous, and strange - but I don't think it should be illegal. I just have no interest in it.

I have no problem with taking the conservative side here, even if it is technically the minority. I think many members of this forum are way too socially left-wing anyway - the forum is filled with idealists. I think we can all agree on that.

Actually, the forum seems pretty middle of the road to me.

Besides, idealism =! left-wing. I'm bitter and jaded, and I am left wing. I don't think the world is ever going to get better. It should, but it won't. A right wing person who believes that he can make the world a better place is far more idealistic than I am.

Feel free to go mental and passive aggressively try to imply I'm an idiot. I don't really care. I don't expect more than 50% agreement on anything, nor do I seek it.

Actually, you presented your argument in a very logical fashion. Point 1 is really well considered and very well presented. This last bit was a bit passive aggressive (where you imply that we think you're an idiot just for disagreeing), since you mention it, but still very intelligent.

I disagree with you, but you present your argument very well. I'm quite willing to agree to disagree, particularly since, as random people on a forum, neither of us has any power to affect change on this issue one way or another.

Edit: fixed a typo and added a clarification

 

[steeple]

[HEADING=1]WON'T SOMBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN?!?!?!?[/HEADING]

oh but they were...
[sub][sub]bow chicka bow wow[/sub][/sub]

I can never decide in this argument for one side or the other, but I tend to lean towards the more liberal aproach...

with that in mind, I will not explain anything, since every argument that can be made on this subject can be negated, and it just turns into a cycle... intersting, yes, but an endless cycle nontheless...

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

Did you know that in most Muslim societies it's absolutely acceptable to marry a Cousin? (That's technically considered incest too, right?)

Actually it's perfectly legal in most western countries too, or at least it is in the UK. Cousins are distant enough apart that there's not any greater risk of congential defects than for a woman aged over 40 giving birth (approximately 2% higher than average). It's certainly frowned upon to varying degrees, but it's not considered incest which really implies direct blood relationship. The practise is much less common than it used to be but is not unheard of.

The trouble with incest, which it's surprising to see such an overwhelming number of people here have no issue with, is that aside from the questions about morality, that there's a significantly higher risk of birth defects in children. All of us have recessive genes that we inherited from our parents and *could* pass to our own children. However, being recessive they do absolutely nothing unless a person has two of them (one from each parent). Children have a 50% chance of any given gene being shared with either of their parents and a 25% chance of sharing it with a sibling. Thus the odds for subsequent children having both recessive genes for any genetic "defect" that could run in the family is pretty high (albeit not guaranteed).

I personally think the idea of parents having sex with their children, or siblings getting it on amongst themselves, regardless that all parties are over the age of consent pretty repugnant, and I would extend that to half-siblings (one common parent). Nothing to do with any religious view, nor even a Darwin-esque gene-protecting thing, I guess it's the morality of it. I would have no trouble with cousins or step-siblings (assuming both are above the age of consent) hooking up.

And on the briefly mentioned issue of polygamy, I think it's still illegal today because of marriage's legacy left to us from its place within a religious institution. The traditional marriage is between a man and a woman. Modern society has (quite rightly) given us civil partnerships for homosexual couples but we cannot conceive of the idea of anyone loving more than one person.

What I find bizzarre is that adultery isn't frowned on any more. If a man or woman cheats on their spouse with another, they can keep it secret and it's perfectly fine and breaks no laws. The couple might divorce with no recriminations for the one who lied, deceived, cheated and broke their wedding vows. However if three (or more) people all genuinely love and care for each other openly and want to be together, it's absolutely illegal and unacceptable. On that basis alone, I have no issue with polygamy (though I personally subscribe to the romantic notion of the traditional marriage being something special and to be cherished and honoured, etc, etc.)

 

[Eijarel]

not this shit again...
illegal or not, here we are, asking the government to decide on a personal choice.

 

[Tourmeta]

Don't see why it should be illegal if both are mature and want to do it, their fun.

 

[game-lover]

So it looks like I'm a liberal. Fine. No shame here.

To me , incest is probably one of the grossest and wrong sick things to ever happen. But... if they're consenting people, I don't see any real reason why they shouldn't. I mean, any reasons I do have are pretty much selfish and self-absorbed. It's hardly going to affect me.

Granted, this is usually for siblings or cousins. I firmly say no to parent and child incest.

 

[dancinginfernal]

Honestly, yes.

It's just not a good idea.

 

[spartandude]

If they are both overage and consenting then it's their choice to make. Don't get me wrong I find it really creepy but it's their life.

^ Exactly that. It doesn't affect me, so I don't care. To paraphrase a comedian who was originally addressing gay marriage, if you have a problem with incest, then just don't sleep with your sibling.

I cant argue with this point

 

[UltraDeth]

I believe incest can be legallized provided...

A) Use Protection/Contraception

B) Both partners must be willing to do it

 

[Jacob.pederson]

Despite the trollish nature of the post, it did remind me of something. The biological anti-incest drive is actually not triggered by the relatedness of individuals, but the amount of time you spent with them as children. I believe this was discovered in communist orphanages, where children refused to marry those they had been raised with. Incest between brothers and sisters who were not raised together is actually MORE likely because of all you're likely to have in common with each other.

You can also see this effect in High School classes that are small enough that you all know each other . . . and stable enough so you've been in almost every grade together. Sexual relationships between classes (or with recent arrivals) are much more common that those within the same class.

 

[Rofl-Mayo]

No. I'm personally against it because that's how disability babies are born, plus I find it as many other things that I won't say, so as not to offend anyone who does it, but no, it definitely shouldn't be illegal.

 

[Gigano]

...

That's why I said "almost" always.

Your example would be fine - but very unusual. I was talking about an adult parent and an under aged child, which I believe is the most common (or at least the most recorded) type of incest. It's also illegal for a number of other reasons besides the incest.

I think the whole discussion takes place under the presumption that it go on between consenting adults (or at least persons above the age of consent), that's kind of the prerequisite for any sex acts being acceptable in the real world.

 

[Torrasque]

I wasn't aware of it being illegal. Maybe in some cultures, but I am pretty sure its not illegal here in Canada; its just massively social taboo.
I said "no" in the poll because it doesn't really seem to be something that should be legal or illegal, or even mentioned when law comes into play. As for social law, I have no say in that, so /shrug.

What do I think of incest?
I've had a few cousins that I wish weren't cousins, lol...
But either way, I think incest is inherently wrong. The whole point of life and procreation is to spread your genes and achieve genetic immortality (as far as I see it, when boiled down to the bare facts). When you mate with someone who shares many of your genes (enough to be considered family, and to be considered incest), you are not really spreading your genes at all. Besides that, your child will likely have alot of birth defects, and have to deal with people knowing that they are the product of incest (unless the child is raised in a society where incest is ok)
Psychologically, I still think incest is inherently wrong. Why? Because when you join a relationship with someone, both of you should grow and develop into better people because of each other. This can't really happen if you are related to them. Hell, I know alot of people that have dated/married the person they grew up with, and very few of them are happy, lol.

This post sums up my TL;DR post:

Having a sexual relationship? Knock yourself out.
Having children? No.

Edit: Forgot to mention the consent part.
If they are both adults, and they both consent, then why the hell not.