German ethics council calls for the legalization of incest

[Teallaura]

I agree with this. I just wonder how an allowance like you described could be written in legal language.

Unterabschnitt a.234: das obige nicht anzuwenden, wenn die Menschen heiraten in gutem Glauben im Glauben, sie sind nicht miteinander verknüpft und sind keine Geschwister.*


It was Germany, after all...

This is why we pay staffers - it's not that hard, really.






















































*Subsection a.234: the above doesn't apply if the individuals marry in good faith believing they are unrelated and are not siblings.

[Psychic Missile]

It seems to be an example of 'ack, bad thing happened, let's toss out bathwater, baby and all!'. Germany is being stupid - just amend the existing law to allow a humanitarian exception for adults who don't know they are siblings until they've already been married/sexually active. That protects the tiny minority from being victimized for an honest mistake and doesn't open the flood gates to 'anything goes'.

Alabama still has pocket communities where incest is prevalent. The rates of mental impairment are astronomical and the chances of any of the kids getting out of those areas without assistance are negligible. Only an idiot would think legalizing incest was a good idea.

I agree with this. I just wonder how an allowance like you described could be written in legal language.

[Teallaura]

Is it illegal in the USA? I mean I know they can't get married or anything, but if two siblings wanted to live together in incest, and were caught, would they be arrested?

Depends on the state, in some, yes, it's illegal but prosecution is rare. Now, whether its rare because it rarely occurs or rare because prosecutors don't bother, I do not know.

[Sparko]

It seems to be an example of 'ack, bad thing happened, let's toss out bathwater, baby and all!'. Germany is being stupid - just amend the existing law to allow a humanitarian exception for adults who don't know they are siblings until they've already been married/sexually active. That protects the tiny minority from being victimized for an honest mistake and doesn't open the flood gates to 'anything goes'.

Alabama still has pocket communities where incest is prevalent. The rates of mental impairment are astronomical and the chances of any of the kids getting out of those areas without assistance are negligible. Only an idiot would think legalizing incest was a good idea.

Is it illegal in the USA? I mean I know they can't get married or anything, but if two siblings wanted to live together in incest, and were caught, would they be arrested?

[Teallaura]

It seems to be an example of 'ack, bad thing happened, let's toss out bathwater, baby and all!'. Germany is being stupid - just amend the existing law to allow a humanitarian exception for adults who don't know they are siblings until they've already been married/sexually active. That protects the tiny minority from being victimized for an honest mistake and doesn't open the flood gates to 'anything goes'.

Alabama still has pocket communities where incest is prevalent. The rates of mental impairment are astronomical and the chances of any of the kids getting out of those areas without assistance are negligible. Only an idiot would think legalizing incest was a good idea.

[fm93]

I think this is just the next step from the allowance of same sex unions. If one why not the other?

It didn't say anything about allowing incestuous marriages. The council just decriminalized the act of incest, a move that I don't find problematic. I don't think people should ever engage in incest, just like I don't think people should ever smoke tobacco, but if they do, the government shouldn't be allowed to arrest them for it.

[KingsGambit]

There seem to be a fair number of Christians online with generally libertarian views. I wonder what their take will be.

[Cerebrum123]

I think this is just the next step from the allowance of same sex unions. If one why not the other?

For the sarcastically impaired the following is said in jest

Slippery slope argument here.

[Bill the Cat]

There is no secular reason to deny it.

Water Slide anyone??

[KingsGambit]

Practically speaking, I doubt very many people would actually take advantage of this new law. It largely boils down to whether "it's disgusting" is a good enough reason for the law. Yeah, one reason for the laws is because of the horrible effects of interbreeding, but then that raises the questions of why same-sex incest is still banned (because that rationale doesn't apply) and why people with genetic defects aren't banned from having sex.

As for myself... I still wouldn't legalize it.

[seer]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...t-9753506.html

Discuss.

Epo and DE are asked not to post in this thread.

And who didn't see this coming! I have been saying this would happen since the late 90s.

[Catholicity]

I think this is just the next step from the allowance of same sex unions. If one why not the other?

[KingsGambit]

By the way, why do you want Epo and DE to refrain from posting here?

To avoid a massive derailment that leads to this thread getting shut down like Zymologist's thread.

[Paprika]

It was bound to happen.

By the way, why do you want Epo and DE to refrain from posting here?

[KingsGambit]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...t-9753506.html

Discuss.

Epo and DE are asked not to post in this thread.