I would never date a cousin, no matter how hot they are, but I did throw a temper tantrum when I was a kid wanting to see my older cousin showering. 
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Would you date your cousin?
- Thread starter Hastings101
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Question for the 120 who voted "no" was this because of moral or health objections, or both?
If there is no adverse health consequences, I see no real issue in doing so. Royalty used to marry their siblings, until they figured out it was bad for the families health. Is there some other reason floating around?
Poll taking 101: Always include an undecided vote. I'm undecided at this point and have not voted.
If there is no adverse health consequences, I see no real issue in doing so. Royalty used to marry their siblings, until they figured out it was bad for the families health. Is there some other reason floating around?
Poll taking 101: Always include an undecided vote. I'm undecided at this point and have not voted.
I'm married, but I answered this question honestly (3rd cousin or higher). Odds are, if they're my third cousin, I don't know who they are and I probably would date them without ever checking if they're my third cousin.
Are we discussing morality or the best way to avoid a weakened DNA pool?
Way back when, brother and sisters in royal families wed. So there was no moral issue. However the physical results became the issue and are still the issue today. Otherwise why would it be wrong?
Ok, so no one wants to talk about this...
My rule of thumb is, if I can trace the family link between me and them(without tracing genealogy at a library, for those who insist everyone is everyone else's cousin), then they are too close to be with. Yes, it is a moral issue, AND a health issue.
HOWEVER, I don't judge others for their choices. If they want to swim around in the shallow end of the gene pool, more power to them.
HOWEVER, I don't judge others for their choices. If they want to swim around in the shallow end of the gene pool, more power to them.
Ok, so no one wants to talk about this...
Whats to talk about. It's documented history along with the in-breeding that occurred.
As far as marrying your cousin, I see nothing wrong with it as long as they could guarantee there wouldn't be children.
A quick search on the internet found this
Are we discussing morality or the best way to avoid a weakened DNA pool?
Way back when, brother and sisters in royal families wed. So there was no moral issue. However the physical results became the issue and are still the issue today. Otherwise why would it be wrong?
Eh, the risks are still quite low among first cousins.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/04/u...ren-of-1st-cousins.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm
That said, I probably wouldn't.
Well, the exact genetic risks introduced by such consanguinity are far from fully understood today, over ten years on from that news article. To arbitrary choose a recent article of primary science to serve as an example, I might cite Keller, et al. (2012). The July 11th issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics has recently published a few items of general relevance too, and there has been lots of other relevant work done from many angles over the last decade.
As most phenotypes appear to have complex genetic underpinnings, it is difficult to say that we know everything about the risks induced by consanguinity. What we do know is that the offspring of first cousins have approximately double the risk (from ~2% to ~4%) for many obvious Mendelian birth defects, and there is mounting evidence that consanguinity may have a more subtle effect too.
Food for thought.
The moral vs health issue. Is there a moral issue or is it a taboo based on health only? I get the feeling that alot of the no answers are based on a moral repugnance, but I could be wrong.
----------
Thanks for the info!
I would, but she's related by marriage, and we're both women, so no worry about reproduction.
We've actually talked about it, because when we were both in high school there was a bit of attraction. Even tho we're not blood related, we just felt there would have been far too much family resistance. Today, she's still my best friend, and I was her maid of honor when she married her college girlfriend, and she'll be mine when ever I get married.
We've actually talked about it, because when we were both in high school there was a bit of attraction. Even tho we're not blood related, we just felt there would have been far too much family resistance. Today, she's still my best friend, and I was her maid of honor when she married her college girlfriend, and she'll be mine when ever I get married.
Seeing as how my girlfriend would probably hurt them for taking me from her, probably not.
In all seriousness, if it were a thing between me and a cousin and we had feelings for one another, I would give it a shot.
In all seriousness, if it were a thing between me and a cousin and we had feelings for one another, I would give it a shot.
This thread is like herpes... Or athletes foot. Or some other recurring, embarrassing, and incurable malady.
I don't believe that most of the people who said "no" did so for moral reasons. I think that they are more concerned with what others would say about them.