I love how everyone that speaks logically and factually about this has to first overtly announce and apologize that they aren’t supporting this candidate. Like, is everyone here so opposed to actual facts if it looks like there is even one iota of support for the ‘other team’? Even when that’s clearly not the case. Please, someone else has to see the stupidity.
My experience on lemmy is that the facts are secondary. It’s a slight exaggeration, but if you don’t support someone, you have to oppose everything they do or you are some big supporter of them. If you point out some criticism of them is not based in fact, it’s “why would you defend them?”
It’s much easier if the world is black and white and you’re in a bubble that agrees with that. And so they’ll attack anything that upsets this uniform simplicity.
This doesn’t happen just on Lemmy. This happens on all social media. Everyone has their own little bubbles these days, and you must be 100% dedicated to the cause. Even the mere suggestion that the other side may have a point on anything is considered weakness and will get you labelled as a traitor to the cause. This is not only the state of politics these days, but the state of any topic of controversy: Sex, politics, religion, women’s rights, LGBT rights, anything. You either must be 100% for or 100% against. Try to find a middle ground and you’re just likely to find yourself ostracized by both sides.
Like, is everyone here so opposed to actual facts if it looks like there is even one iota of support for the ‘other team’?
It’s an election year in the US, so yes. The amount of people I see get down voted for what people assume someone means instead of the literal words on the screen is absurd. I see people preface critisizm of America with ‘Im euroepan’ so they dont get mobbed by Americans demanding they admit Trump is worse and that voting for anyone but their guy is sure to bring the apocalypse.
Don’t get me wrong I much prefer Lemmy to reddit, but there’s not as much difference in community as some people like to say there is. Basically we just like linux a lot more here.
No, this place is much worse than reddit. You could find a space that had different views on reddit. Here is just one giant echo chamber that you must agree with or else. Democrats have just as much good ideas as Republicans, which is to say pretty freaking close to zero. So it would be nice to get factual information from either side, but that clearly won’t happen here.
HB 269 - “The purpose of the bill is to add “sexual contact” to the incest statute. Currently, incest only applies in cases of intercourse. So sexual touching/ groping by … anyone with a familial relationship is not included in incest. My bill makes that kind of sexual contact a Class D Felony, unless the victim is under the age of 12, then it increases the penalty to a Class C Felony.”
Basically they accidentally left out cousins (and the bill has already been withdrawn) from what sounds like an otherwise good bill and the news media runs wild. Keep this handy when you hear about this for the next ( if <= heat death of the Universe )
People are talking about it like they are saying it’s legal, rather than it just being left out of a list. Which sure, if it’s left out on purpose, that’s pretty telling. But a loophole in a law isn’t always done on purpose. I’m willing to beleive for now it was an accident
imho incest should only be outlawed because of the risk of gene defects during pregnancy. so while nasty I dont think a hanky panky from your first cousin should be outlawed
Beyond the potential biological issues, the biggest problem tends to be coercion and consent. The majority of incestuous encounters are abusive and involve a power dynamic that makes informed consent impossible.
Now, if every party is an adult and capable of informed consent, it is possible to test for likelihood of genetic defects based upon the parents’ genes. So, I can’t think of a non-subjective objection if, for example, they met for the first time as adults and didn’t know of such relation. Still pretty weird to me but I don’t think it’s anyone’s place to interfere with healthy, loving relationships.
Now, if every party is an adult and capable of informed consent, it is possible to test for likelihood of genetic defects based upon the parents’ genes. So, I can’t think of a non-subjective objection if, for example, they met for the first time as adults and didn’t know of such relation. Still pretty weird to me but I don’t think it’s anyone’s place to interfere with healthy, loving relationships.
I was actually thinking more about this when I replied to another comment yesterday. I’d be willing to bet that this happens at the very least more than people think, and I’d be willing to bet there are at least some couples out there who simply do not and may never know they’re genetically related. Think about one deadbeat dad, for example, in a given area. Multiple children from multiple mothers. Do you think anybody in those families have any idea of exactly how many cousins, for example, they have living in the area? Worse, if the father is unknown or out of the picture or whatever, there’s the possibility of people out there who may be sleeping with their half-siblings and not even know it. I’m not saying there are entire towns of people out there who should be singing Sweet Home Alabama or anything, but I’d be willing to bet the number is above zero.
In cases where children could be produced, I’d fully support incest being illegal. You are subjecting potential children to the increased risks that come along with being a product of incest, along with putting a social stigma on them that they will never be able to shake. I do not believe a child should literally have to spend their lives literally paying for the sins of their parents. But if there is no possibility of children being produced (Say, for example, a homosexual couple or if the woman is beyond child-bearing age) and there’s no power dynamic influencing one or both of them (For example, a couple who have been together for a while and didn’t know they were related), I can’t really say I’m against it either. I don’t have to agree with their decisions, but if they’re not hurting anybody else, I don’t believe it’s my place to say no to it either.
(And I’ll say again, I’m talking about healthy, consentual relations between two adults who happen to be related. This should not be interpreted to be justification for some 60 year old guy to try to marry his 13 year old niece, or cases where one sibling (or parent or cousin or whatever) pressures another into entering a sexual relationship they wouldn’t have otherwise consented to. Those cases are just straight up rape, and should be treated as such – with the creep thrown in jail to rot for the rest of their lives.)
I’d be willing to bet that this happens at the very least more than people think, and I’d be willing to bet there are at least some couples out there who simply do not and may never know they’re genetically related.
I’ve actually met such a couple who found out after they had been in a long-term relationship for some time. I think it likely does indeed occur far more frequently than we’d think.
Honestly, this reads like someone dealing with the cognitive dissonance of trying to maintain that they believe that adults should be able to have consensual relations with each other, but at the same time supporting laws that outlaw something they’ve been conditioned to believe is icky.
It’s sounds nearly identical to the “we can’t allow gay relationships because they’re recruiting kids!”
I don’t think that you deserve downvotes for this because I don’t think you’re necessarily incorrect. I do absolutely feel cognitive dissonance here. I have a visceral, what I think is instinctual, revulsion at the concept of incest. But, if there is love, consensuality, and no one is being harmed (including possible offspring), I cannot in good conscience say that they do not have a right to be together, regardless of how I feel. It takes overriding that feeling to state as such, which isn’t comfortable and is, by definition, cognitive dissonance.
I do not, however, think that the comparison to homophobia or other discrimination against LGBTQ+ people is a good comparison. The majority of relationships that LGBTQ+ people engage in are consensual and do not cause harm to anyone. The majority of cases of incest involve sexual abuse and frequently pedophilia. Offspring of close relatives are at high risk for significant biological and social harm (in cases of abuse add psychological harm).
I do not, however, think that the comparison to homophobia or other discrimination against LGBTQ+ people is a good comparison. The majority of relationships that LGBTQ+ people engage in are consensual and do not cause harm to anyone. The majority of cases of incest involve sexual abuse and frequently pedophilia. Offspring of close relatives are at high risk for significant biological and social harm (in cases of abuse add psychological harm).
I think the guy you’re referring to isn’t trying to compare incest to gay rights or anything. He’s merely pointing out that the argument against incest among consentual couples is a slippery slope argument similar to the slippery slope arguments used by the far right to deny the LGBT community their rights: “If we let them do _________, then the next thing they’re gonna want is ___________”. It’s a bad argument to make no matter the subject or which side of an issue you’re on. There are plenty of legitimate reasons not to support incest without having to resort to slippery slope arguments.
There’s also the fact that if one were to seriously try to legalize incest among consenting adults, the immediate response from the right would be “See? We told you that if we started letting gays marry, they’d want to marry their cousins next! What’s next, their pets?”. And you and I both know that they would immediately start using this argument to further isolate and marginalize the LGBT community, even if they try to distance themselves from the idea.
Go back some time and see what happened when NAMBLA tried to shoehorn themselves into the LGBT rights movement. The LGBT community immediately denounced the group and distanced themselves from them as quickly and as forcefully as they could, and the far right still shit all over them for it, saying “See? They’re starting already!”. The same thing would happen here – the LGBT community would distance themselves from the idea right from the get-go, but that wouldn’t stop bigots from blaming them anyway even though they have nothing to do with it.
I have a visceral, what I think is instinctual, revulsion at the concept of incest.
Incest is, by definition, sexual relations between people too closely related. The question here is whether or not first cousins should count as incest.
But next time you debate with someone opposed to homosexuality, ask yourself if they think their revulsion to it is a visceral, instinctual response.
The majority of cases of incest involve sexual abuse and frequently pedophilia.
Well, I’m really not comparing the two, I’m comparing the arguments. But that being said, where are you coming up with the claim that the majority of first cousin sexual attraction is pedophilia or sexual abuse?
Incest is, by definition, sexual relations between people too closely related. The question here is whether or not first cousins should count as incest.
I suppose I should better clarify terms here:
incest is a social/legal term
inbreeding is a biological term
It would make sense for the legal definiton of incest to encompass situations where harm is likely, whether it be social, psychological, physical, or biological, due to relation. So, it would make sense for first cousins to fall into a “possible” category.
But next time you debate with someone opposed to homosexuality, ask yourself if they think their revulsion to it is a visceral, instinctual response.
While you have a good point on perspective, I would say that evidence points towards homophobic behavior being conditoned and inbreeding-phobic behavior being instinctual. Homosexual behavior is seen with statistically-significant frequency throughout the animal kingdom. Familial recognition and its use in mate selection (and rejection) and other behaviors is seen even more widely, occuring in even insects, plants, and microbes.
Well, I’m really not comparing the two, I’m comparing the arguments. But that being said, where are you coming up with the claim that the majority of first cousin sexual attraction is pedophilia or sexual abuse?
I should likely have been more specific in scoping that. I was referring to the superset of cases of incest there, rather than the subset of cousins. I would have to look at data in that subset in order to make a factual statement.
I think something got lost in the shuffle here. The top level comment of this chain was (which is also what the article is about):
imho incest should only be outlawed because of the risk of gene defects during pregnancy. so while nasty I dont think a hanky panky from your first cousin should be outlawed
So in my mind it was always about whether or not first cousins fall into the realm of incest and/or inbreeding. We both agree that there is probably a instinctual component to the rejection of incest. I think that, just like with the rejection of homosexuality, the aversion to first cousins because they’re incestual is also conditioned, which is why it shouldn’t be outlawed. Although I could be convinced otherwise.
I read something in passing a while ago and didn’t care to investigate the claim so I’m sorry this is just heresay, but the claim was the amout of variety in the modern genetics of humans makes gene defects from incest less likely than it has been in the history of the species. Obviously this one’s gonna be case by case but I’d assume if it holds true it’s for more diverse populations probably from nations with lot’s of immigration and probably still really risky if you share parents. But again, I really didn’t feel like spending time investing that.
Years ago in KY there was an anti-bestiality bill which was defeated. Reason was that it was so vaguely worded that animal husbandry and certain veterinarian practices would be technically illegal.
So I do not endorse this guy or any GOP member in any way. But if you read the article he says dropping the first cousin from the list was an error of omission and not intentional, and he is re-filing the bill to include it. The intent of the bill was to expand the classification of incest beyond just intercourse to include any type of sexual contact. Which seems like its actually progressive, just not clickbait worthy.
you could argue that accidentally making cousin fucking legal, like accidentally making weed legal in minnesota (was that minnesota? I think so) is part of an ongoing issue where republicans don’t actually know what the laws they’re implementing do.
I wouldn’t call that “progressive” but it’s not exactly libertarian freedom either. The actual law seems weirder than trying to deregulate cousin incest.
Not that I really feel strongly about it but I don’t see the state interest in specifically banning cousin blowjobs. Seems like one of those things that should be in the dustbin of overtightened sexual restrictions like sodomy laws.
I’ve seen some compelling arguments for decriminalizing incest. Basically rape is already illegal [citation needed], the genetic risk is pretty small for the average person, and ultimately regulating what weird stuff consenting adults might choose to do in the bedroom is generally not a good thing. There is of course the problem of social/power dynamics and how that might play into consent but that’s another issue not exclusive to incest.
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