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

[Ekonk]

You're not going to hell because it doesn't exist.

You're also not going to hell for saying this even if it did exist. Now if you banged your mother/sister/daughter, then you would. Although God didn't give two shits about Lot getting it on with his daughters, so who knows!

But I digress. I don't endorse it, but making it punishable is a bit extreme as well. That said, a lot of incest coincides with rape. Which is illegal and with good reason.

 

[Yopaz]

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.

It is illegal in Canada. It may result in 14 years in prison, but there are a few countries that allow it (not surprisingly Japan is on that list), but ion most cases it is illegal. In Germany a couple that are siblings have 4 children (3 of them have severe birth defects) and he's been thrown in jail because it violates the law. They see it as a case about rights so they refuse to give up despite their 75% of birth defects.

 

[Torrasque]

It is illegal in Canada. It may result in 14 years in prison, but there are a few countries that allow it (not surprisingly Japan is on that list), but ion most cases it is illegal.

Oh ok /shrug.
Its not something I talk about that often, so its no surprise I don't know much about it.

 

[Irriduccibilli]

I don't think you are going to hell for this thread, in fact, christianity is actually based on incest. Don't believe me, then sit down and let me tell you are tale.
God created Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden
They ate the fruit of the fobidden tree after being tempted by a snake
God threw Adam and Eve out of Eden
Adam and Eve had two children, two little boys, Kain and Abel... two boys
Now excuse me, but the only way I can see those two have kids is by either have sex with their mother Eve, or Adam and Eve had another child, a little girl, but no matter what they are still family, and therefore it's incest.
I believe thats a "plot hole" whoever wrote the bible didnt really think of when he later said that God is against incest.

 

[Phoenixlight]

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?

It should be illegal because it's morally wrong, it's just sick. And while it may not be illegal to spew out 35 children or for terminally ill adults to concieve it really should be.

 

[Dags90]

Not to mention birth defects are created through this kind of thing.

Wrong. Incest has to do with with the proliferation and expression of various genetic goofs. Those genetics goofs are caused by chance, due to the sloppiness of replicating an entire genome at a rate of 50 nucleotides per second.

Incest isn't as inherently bad as most people think. Lab mice/rats, which have been bred to be healthy, are made by repetitive consanguineous mating.

Would the same people aiming to ban incest have all women over 35 forcibly sterilized or some such because of the risks of mothers above that age?

 

[DoubleTime]

I feel there's too much potential for grooming or training, which would remove an individual's ability to truly consent and not just be manipulated into it. Also there's the issue of imbalance of power between individuals in the relationship, similar to a teacher/student or patient/doctor relationship, or the chain of command in the military.

I think there's less issue with people in an equal power standing (like brother/sister) as long as they know the consequences.

 

[NickCooley]

Nahh, socially it's awkward but two adults wanting to bonk each other isn't anyone else's business.

 

[Thundero13]

Hmm well obviously everyone's gonna say no, I mean this is the Escapist, everyone here is sensible *clicks no* wait its 50-50?! and slightly more people say yes?! Seriously escapist, I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but seriously?! You can love whoever you want, and if you say "yeah but inbred children have a 25% chance of having down syndrome" well I have two words for you, Condoms & Adoption, and if the condoms don't work, abortion, also if two people are any further related then first cousins there's only a 1% chance of down syndrome, any further than, I think third cousins and it's exactly the same as everyone else.

Thats my two cents.

 

[GUYWITHAGUN]

I'm sorry but I'm against this. *Waves gene-diversity flag*

 

[Kraj]

Wow, this was a great topic to wake up to. Thanks OP. "I mean that in all seriousness, I spent all of ontology class thinking about this in the back of my head."

Here's what I've come to, and it's probably wrong.
So far as mankind is concerned, it shouldn't have any problems as far as non-reproductive enjoyment. Siblings are allowed to play chess together to stimulate and appease their cognitive cravings, why not have sexual relations together to stimulate and appease their physical cravings.
I can't see a problem with that, even though it makes me kind of ill to think about doing it myself.
-> PRE NEXT LINE PLEASE KEEP INTO MIND I SAY THIS ONLY FROM AN ONTOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE <-
When reproduction comes into play, it's not healthy for the species, and no, neither is allowing people with huntingtons or other genetic disorders which carry over through birth free reign over reproduction.
now THAT previous statement is going to get me sent to hell lol.

of course, the moment you start stepping on peoples rights of what to do with their bodies, you start arguing morality and maybe ethics... so I'm going to sit the rest of this out. peace!

 

[Irony's Acolyte]

*Poll is tied when I enter, without me knowing*
*Untie it with my vote*

So then, in case you were wondering, I voted "No". I don't see anything wrong with a bit of incest if both of the people are consenting. Obviously, several generations of incest can lead to some problems, but if two people want to get freaky, why should they be limited due to their blood? The main reason why we're so opposed to incest right now is social programing that goes back for quite some time.

 

[spartan231490]

I don't like the idea of incest, and it's for a reason that I guarantee you've never heard before.

Siblings are nice and all but I see enough of them as it is. I kind of got over the whole "sharing my life" thing with them when I was growing up, I wouldn't want to be emotionally tied to them in adulthood as well. Seems to defeat the entire purpose of becoming an adult, which is to break away from the family unit and forge your own path. That, to me, is the real damage that incest does - it keeps people emotionally stunted. It's against growth and change, but in an ever-growing, ever-changing world it's good to learn to adapt to those things and not live in a bubble.

That's flawed logic. The relationships still change and grow, just not along the usual path. We are talking about over the age of consent, so the relationship still evolves and doesn't stagnate, and still results in emotional growth of the individuals involved. It's not the change that most people experience, but that doesn't mean it's not change.

 

[crudus]

I see nothing innately wrong with it. Having a family grapevine would be frowned upon by me, but that is just me.

When it comes to incest, as long as you don't reproduce and create some retarded offspring, only do it recreationally, go right ahead. Absolutely no problems with that.

Polygamy I also have no problems with, but only if it works both ways.

If you want to create a genius off-spring go right ahead. There are plenty of cases of that happening.

I'm sorry but I'm against this. *Waves gene-diversity flag*

It sounds like you are just against siblings reproducing rather than just forking.

 

[ComNetCom]

I'm sort of confused. When is it considered incest?

Are cousins considered incest? At what point is the blood relation far enough to be considered a "seperate bloodline"?

 

[JochemDude]

I was half expecting to open this and see the OP being banned, but I think it's kinda sickening. As well are the counterarguments of the OP, but they don't give a reason to justify it.

 

[PureLocke]

I've a foot in both camps, incest is something I find disgusting but I, above many things, hate legalized morality. If someone wants to do it with a sibling just be don't tell me about it, which is the normal thing as it'd be odd to hear someone going on about the specifics of their sex life even if they weren't with their sibling. Getting with step parents I don't see any problem, mostly applicable where a parent remarries later in life and is hopefully dead by that point. Parents and their kids (after becoming adults) boggles my mind.

 

[Brandon237]

If they don't reproduce, but rather adopt or anything along those lines, then sure, the government shouldn't say who is not allowed to screw who if they are consenting adults. Children though... too high a risk of problems.

 

[Gigano]

...
And the unreal world as well it seems (just bringing up the loli thread in R&P no real reason)

I thought that one largely landed on the opposite view, with the view of a fair majority being that as long as it's clearly discernible as being a fictional depiction, absolutely anything goes in way of legality?

With incest concerning real people though, it's a bit more tricky [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.280342-Poll-I-know-Im-probably-going-to-hell-for-this-but?page=4#10956301] even with nominally consenting (young) adults; I find her first argument quite persuasive (if not enough to fully sway me).

 

[GUYWITHAGUN]

I'm sorry but I'm against this. *Waves gene-diversity flag*

It sounds like you are just against siblings reproducing rather than just forking.

well, I'm more against relationships with siblings and parents/children. (and yes re-reading that makes it sound pretty stupid) I mean sexual relationships. I can imagine it being very difficult to remain in a "Friends with benefits" situation with a family member. (I don't count cousins) in theory simple bonking should be just fine, but sooner or later someone's feelings are gonna get involved. the participants are already emotionally connected due to being brother/sister etc. It's a very fine line to walk.

and the people who keep saying, "It's alright as long as you don't reproduce". you have NO idea of the anguish a person feels, being with the love of their lives and not being able to have a child with them. It's rather unfair, It's like having a delicious chocolate cake, but someone took away to cake itself, leaving only the icing. Icing is good, but ultimately unfulfilling.

remember the first 10-20 minutes of "UP"? well that was when she COULDN'T have children, imagine how much worse it is when you CAN technically, but aren't allowed or are too afraid of the consequences.