Mother and son in New Mexico face jail time for incestuous relationship

[Edwardo Piet]

As long as no one is suffering and both people are happy, who cares.

[Excited Penguin]

As long as no one is suffering and both people are happy, who cares.

Nobody should care. And I believe they won't at some point, given enough time. We still have religion. I think it's reasonable to think it's going to take a while to get rid of our unnecessary baggage from the past.

[SteelCurtain]

You are welcome to your opinion and I am welcome to mine. I guess some of us just posses more common sense than others in that regard. There is a reason why we humans are not attracted to our own kin. Are these two consenting adults? Sure. Doesn't make it right though. She's still of child bearing age. Suppose she accidentally gets pregnant? Then what? You are aware that people don't always use protection, right?

But that's not even the point. This woman gave birth to this kid. He came out of her. In who's actual fucking right mind thinks the two of them having sex with each other is normal by any means? It's not. You may not like my opinion, and you may not agree with it, but I'm okay with that. It's not about me or you. It's about the fact that in this country, incest is against the law and they broke the law. And yes, what they did with each other IS gross.

But your argument, once again, is 'ew yuck.' It is the same argument that Christians use about gay sex, and not one that should restrict grown adults from doing as they please so long as there isn't a victimization taking place.

This case is right in that wheelhouse. He never met the woman until he was already 18. I think it's gross, but I also think some extreme BDSM is gross.

[robvalue]

The law seems pretty stupid to me in this regard.

Grooming someone for sex is presumably a crime anyway, so it would apply to incestuous relationships too where it could be demonstrated. And in that case, there would be no need to also lock up the "victim". I'm not suggesting that happened here necessarily.

As far as I know people don't generally need discouraging, certainly not legally, from having (consenting) incestuous relationships. I believe there's some general evolutionary repellant, I forget the name. Westmark or something?

Sure, it has dangers when producing children. But we don't stop people very likely to pass on much more serious conditions from having children, so it seems rather over the top to me. It's always socially frowned upon, regardless of legal status. I think it's all an "eww" law, when it comes down to it.

[SteelCurtain]

That's exactly the point, Rob. Incestuous relationships do not necessarily produce genetically flawed offspring. Incestuous groups are much more likely to encounter problems, but it doesn't work the same way on the individual level.

If we decide to outlaw incestuous relationships based on a heightened risk of birth defects, then we have to talk about people with Huntington's Disease, CF, Duchenne, etc, who are much more likely to pass on genetic diseases.

There is a benefit to society in not allowing insulated incestuous societies to form. But on the personal level, there is no benefit outside of limiting power differential victimization.

[Little lunch]

No doubt the slippery slope argument will come out sooner or later.

[robvalue]

I would be interested to see what would happen if incest between consenting adults was made fully legal.

My guess is that not much would happen. I doubt people would suddenly be doing it any more than they already do.

[Excited Penguin]

No doubt the slippery slope argument will come out sooner or later.

What slippery slope could that possibly be? Now they fuck, tomorrow everyone does it, we all end up being a bunch of retards. Oh, the horrors.

If only contraception and stuff had been invented.

Let people have their fun however they like as long as no one gets hurt because of it(just like Ham said).

[Excited Penguin]

I would be interested to see what would happen if incest between consenting adults was made fully legal.

My guess is that not much would happen. I doubt people would suddenly be doing it any more than they already do.

Some might, most won't. 

I wouldn't in a million years, I'm disgusted at the mere thought of having sex with any member of my family. But that's mere happenstance(I think?). I'm just not attracted to any female in my family, but I don't think it's because of the incest taboo - I don't much care for that kind of thing. Someone else might be in a different position than me, though.

[robvalue]

If it's going to go on, it's going to be almost certainly in private anyway. Like trying to make gay sex illegal, it's rather ridiculous to police.

I was close:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westermarck_effect