Should Marriage Between First Cousins Be Banned?

[dave50]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-14173033/risks-inbreeding-marrying-cousin-genetic-conditions.html

[New Judge]

"I was adopted so I can categorically say I will almost certainly have cousins I have no knowledge of.

My wife was the 24th of 24 single births; she only knew the eldest (who was married by the time she was born) and one in the middle."

I think you'll agree, bhg, that your circumstances are exceptional.

The overwhelming majority of people are not adopted and he overwhelming majority of mothers are not one of 24 children.

I would hazard a guess that the majority of people know of all of their cousins and even if they didn't, they would probably discover that they were related if they planned to marry.

[Arksided]

Yes. but goo... I've being to Cornwall and Coventry.

[Old_Geezer]

I think it wise fir cousins not to breed. But one can breed outside of marriage, or not have kids inside marriage; so it isn't really tackling the cause of the problem.

 

An argument can be made that it is unenlightened cultures that most practice cousin marriage, and they tend to be keen on couples getting married before breeding, so a law could have a minor effect.

 

But ultimately how will it be policed anyway ? Folk can get married outside of the UK. Is the law going to arrest those who go on to have kids ?

And what of those not needing a certificate and ritual to be in a relationship ? Is PC Plod going to be stationed in each bedroom making sure cousins don't get up to hanky panky ?

 

It seems good idea initially but I think it's a bit awkward trying to get it to work. Better off, maybe, educating citizens so that they act responsibly ?

[jourdain2]

Education won't work, O_G, you are up against culture. Believe me, I've tried - given so many sex and personal relationship lessons.....I am not believed or, rather, it doesn't apply to them.

[douglas9401]

I suppose as long as somebody else picks up the care tab families can get on with the breeding programme with fingers crossed.

[dave50]

Those cultures where this practice is common dont care about the consequences, only money matters to them.

[Peter Pedant]

only money matters to them.

well spotted that  man. Cousin marriages conserve the dowry and  bride-price in the family - lulu to ABreaders

AND if you marry your cousin in a area/culture which burns brides ( still) you are less likely to get burnt

But h as  anyone read / er calculated the %age of DNA that is shared in a cousin marriage? I think it is 1/16 ( 6%)

so cousin marriages are only bad if you do it a lot ( Habsburgs and pharoahs)

 

[Peter Pedant]

Now Darwin no less ( er 1859 that one, not the city in Oz or the town in Lancs)worried about marrying his deah wife

so he looked at the  marriages of all the Senior Wranglers for 20 yrs and satisfied himself that cousin marriage had no effect on the bright kids

AND

He looked at the first VIIIs of both unis for god knows how long to see if the gladiators were attenuated by  cousin marriages  - and they were not

 

[douglas9401]

Perhaps they could be nudged toward dating apps.

[fender62]

douglas9401 /Perhaps they could be nudged toward dating apps. or better still move back to the mother country where it's rife with cousin marriages, that way they will not become a burden on the uk tax payer after having disabled children, it's bad enough we have jihadis and child abusers living here.

[Peter Pedant]

this discussion is a bit eugenic-innit

[MandyMooMoo]

The communities where marrying cousins is common will see any genetic disabilities in their children as 'gods will'. If the practice is banned they will marry abroad.

[MandyMooMoo]

The communities where marrying cousins is common will see any genetic disabilities in their children as 'gods will'. If the practice is banned they will marry abroad.

[dave50]

Yes mandy and the taxpayers will pick up the bill of looking after these deformed children for the rest of their lives but they don't care, its their right innit? First in the queue to claim, last in the queue to contribute. That's why they go through their whole lives always paying for everything in cash, usually among themselves, no paper trail, no tax to pay.

[david small]

Yes.

[benisfroms]

You’re absolutely right—bhg’s circumstances are quite unique, and most people likely have a better understanding of their extended family. However, I’d agree that relationships, whether between cousins or not, can be a chance to reflect on personal values and goals.