Varitek
Blue Crack Addict
This thread is dangerous, it is making me giggle at work. I mean the blue background on the website has me paranoid enough, no work-related website should look like this.
I think once you get out to 3rd cousins, they are related through 2 out of 8 great grandparents, so 1/4 (but a lot less due to random genetic variation) and 4th are 2 out of 16 so 1/8.... the numbers start getting a lot smaller. I don't think I'd have much of an ick factor with 4th cousins or more. And if someone is adopted, I think the ick factor disappears at 2nd cousins. The problems with incest are twofold: the genetic issues and the fact that they screw with family power dynamics and relationships (it is an abuse of power for an older sibling to have relations with a younger one). So once you go beyond cousins, I really don't think the power dynamics apply, because who spends that much time with their 2nd cousins, and it's only genetic issues.
Related gross story: My cousin confessed to me a few years ago (she was 15 I think) that when she was visiting our second cousin in california, she gave him a hand job. In the back of the family minivan. While his mother drove her to the airport. THAT is gross. Even more so when I finally met him a couple years ago - he's not the slightest bit attractive in any possible way. Of course, this cousin of mine is now 19 and living with a 30+ year old in an open relationship because she is "polyamorous" .......
I think once you get out to 3rd cousins, they are related through 2 out of 8 great grandparents, so 1/4 (but a lot less due to random genetic variation) and 4th are 2 out of 16 so 1/8.... the numbers start getting a lot smaller. I don't think I'd have much of an ick factor with 4th cousins or more. And if someone is adopted, I think the ick factor disappears at 2nd cousins. The problems with incest are twofold: the genetic issues and the fact that they screw with family power dynamics and relationships (it is an abuse of power for an older sibling to have relations with a younger one). So once you go beyond cousins, I really don't think the power dynamics apply, because who spends that much time with their 2nd cousins, and it's only genetic issues.
Related gross story: My cousin confessed to me a few years ago (she was 15 I think) that when she was visiting our second cousin in california, she gave him a hand job. In the back of the family minivan. While his mother drove her to the airport. THAT is gross. Even more so when I finally met him a couple years ago - he's not the slightest bit attractive in any possible way. Of course, this cousin of mine is now 19 and living with a 30+ year old in an open relationship because she is "polyamorous" .......
