I remember seeing a special on this years ago, something like 10% of marriages in the U.S. are cousins.
I ask now, because I know someone who's doing this.
What do you guys think?
2006-09-04 14:18:28 · 35 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Actually not me.... A friend through work. In fact the only reason she told me--I should say, I've met the guy, he's a great guy and they seem to be in love, but again the only reason she told me that it's her cousin is because wedding invites are coming out and she was trying to explain the same last name thing....
Only a couple of us got invited, so she asked that we not share the details with other people-I guess there's a certain level of shame. She's planning on telling people that she wants to keep her own last name after marriage.
2006-09-04 14:26:10 · update #1
If they live in arkansas it is cool i guess
2006-09-04 14:20:10 · answer #1 · answered by Purp_slinger 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know 5th cousin marriages are legal, but just plain cousins, its definitely taboo, but its not biologically amoral. Love is love. Inbreeding happens after generations of doing it. Lets say a great grandma is 100% pure family, a grandparent is 50% pure from her mother and her father mixing. Your father is 25% of her DNA after two generations, and three generations later, here are you and your cousin at 12.5% apiece. You're each only 1/8 gt.grandma in common, MAYBE. Everything else is all the dominant traits you've gotten from each successive generation. If they were siblings, it'd be much worse, but I'm sure "interbreeding" that close in family lines happens in the wild with other animals all the time. Once can't hurt.
In any case, its their business.
2006-09-04 14:31:03 · answer #2 · answered by valoriousblue777 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, and 90% of those %10 of marriages take place in the deep south in small towns. As for the issue being taboo, It depends upon if it's a first cousin or an eighth cousin. BUT IT IS JUST PLAIN WRONG TO HAVE SEX WITH A COUSIN THAT ISNT A FIFTH COUSIN OR LESS RELATED. YOU WILL END UP WITH A BABY WITH A BRAIN OF MUSH.
2006-09-04 14:22:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No its not that bad, taboo is only when a society shuns something, but it is allowed by Islam. (just putting that in for example)
The only reason it is not so much is because cousin usually have similar genetics. And if they were to have a baby, the baby would also be very similar, but if this goes on for generations, your likely to develope some sort of genetics problem such as disabilities, diseases or so on. At other times, they are genetic diseases which are uncovered.
2006-09-04 14:22:40 · answer #4 · answered by ~*Prodigious*~ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's very wrong. If the cousins are like wayyyyy far down the line, maybe like 6 or 7th cousins then there really isn't any relation, so that would be more acceptable - but I don't agree with 1,2,3rd cousins getting married because there is blood relation between them.
2006-09-04 14:20:51 · answer #5 · answered by Rawrrrr 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends.
If they are first cousins then I would have to say no but thats just my answer. I think its wrong to marry someone your that blood related to!
If they are seconds cousins its better because only your parents are cousins. But still a little wrong and nasty.
Third cousins is weird but you are so distantly related that it doesnt matter and only your family would freak out.
But these are only my opinions
2006-09-04 14:23:55 · answer #6 · answered by zooogirll 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in the olden days, they marry their brothers or sisters.
in some cultures, they marry people blood related. most of the time to protect family wealth.
i think the reason they are not allowing marriages of close distant relatives has something to do with the recessive genes. and most of the defects are in those. if both are of the same blood line, the recessive gene will most likely come off of the off spring. i think its more of a biological thing. but i don't think its proven 100% .
2006-09-04 14:25:18 · answer #7 · answered by takipsilim 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Amish of Penna. are living proof of what happens when children are born to first cousins, which is a common thing in their communities. Crooked, deformed teeth, the hollow-eyed look, a constant grin or laugh on their faces, and possibly a bit of retardation too.
2006-09-04 14:30:06 · answer #8 · answered by Schroder 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In some societies it is taboo , in some other societies it is not. In real and virtual sense we are all cousins. If out cousin marriages diminishes all physical defects all the defects will have been eliminated by this time in some societies.
2006-09-04 14:32:52 · answer #9 · answered by mfi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends. Blood realated First Cusions, isn't a good idea. But second and on the blood realtion is generally to thin to make a difference.
Though, I'd stay away from it for the most part.
2006-09-04 14:22:45 · answer #10 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok.. I'm in arkansas and yes I married my 2nd cousin.. come on joke .. anways I don't think its too taboo most people that know me and my husband just shrug it off b/c they know us as people first realitives later.. when me and him got married the big deal with us was religion b/c we didn't want to do anything that was *bad* and there is nothing in the bible that states that you can't marry your cousin.. if you know someone that is about to do this then support that person you knew them as people always and that will be what they always are.. people..
2006-09-04 14:24:26 · answer #11 · answered by crystal s 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋