Continued: Reading Between the Lines

[Nomad]

I wanted to make this reply to Alio, but it is obviously not really appropriate for the normal Rants & Raves atmosphere, so I'm putting it here.

Heh, how primative. Not as bad as Texas banning sodomy or Alabama banning sex toys, but still bad.

That is kind of an interesting subject, though. Obviously the government shouldn't regulate morals, but to what extent? Enforcing laws against adultery and sodomy isn't right, but what about bestiality? Incest?

Those are both disgusting topics by most of our standards, but unfortunately they happen. Bestiality isn't always abuse (especially when people are on the receiving end), so although I find it appalling, I can't think of a good reason why it should be disallowed.

Incest has a little more substantial reason for being condemned, mostly being the obvious biological risk of offspring from such a relationship, and the possibility of being abuse. But where do we draw the line?

Quite taboo subjects, I know. But I think we're all mature enough to have a reasonable discussion about them.

[Aliotroph?]

Those offspring can be aborted. Problem solved in my book. Though who gets to pay for that could become an isue and so could all the anti-abortion people.

[Nomad]

Abortion is another topic completely, and we've already discussed that. I think people engaged in incestuous relationships should at least be required to be sterilized (which vasectomies and tubal ligation can both be reversed). I think that would be a little less morally ambiguous.

[Aliotroph?]

Yes, because people in relationships go and register them with the government. While we're at it we should charge more health insurance to people who drink beer rather than wine!

Incest is one of those things that's a crime because the law made a bunch of conservatives feel better. If it wasn't on the books you wouldn't likely see much more incest or many more babies from such relationships. Ironically, the closest thing I can think of are the same type of conservative communities that push for laws against anything not sexually normal, only these are the ones that are usually pretty isolated.

[Nomad]

Bah. That's not what I meant, but whatever.

[BeTaNoL]

Pardon my complete stupidity in English language. But what would "incest" mean? And you mean bestiality like zoophilia?

[Nomad]

Incest is the act of having sexual contact with another member of your family. And yes, bestiality is parallel with zoophilia.

[Pieter Enis]

Might I also point out that incest increases the chance that your offspring will be flawed.
I think pygmy's did nothing else.

[Monkey]

Incest is a funny subject. Should the government regulate what two consenting adults do?

[JohnnyRancid]

Gay marriage is the same subject

The government says: It's weird.

[Nomad]

Well, the difference between gay marriage and incest, is that inbred children aren't a danger in homosexual relationships. :P

[blood imp]

Incest is a funny subject. Should the government regulate what two consenting adults do?
That's a good point. As said before, the biggest problem with incest is birth defects, which are rather bad. Gay marriages are inproductive, but thay don't cause birth defects. But should it be up to the government what two adults do in bed?