Dating a relation

Oeneus

Surely not. I mean You are technically only an 8th related to your 2nd cousins, which is pretty distant in all fairness. Surely you won't get birth defects

But either way, marrying second cousins is legal as far as I know. Christ I would do it. My 2nd cousin is hot as hell!

Asok

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/21/GeorgeMichaelBluthYikes.JPG/180px-GeorgeMichaelBluthYikes.JPG
tbh

latenia

Ok, I was mistaken, but someone did say that to me before. Here are some interesting facts from the best titled website I've seen in a while:

http://www.cousincouples.com/info/facts.shtml

Hagar

esel wrote:

Same as a 'simple' situation - you just go back to the common ancestor and count from there?

Counting shoud be easy enough in that case.
Poster probably has a minimum of 6 fingers and toes per hand/foot.

MaxBax

I'm not a geneticist or a doctor.

But it's my interpretation is, the dangers of inbreeding are results of two people having the same genetic defect producing offspring. THe result would be the offspring would this congential disorder.

An example, a certain number of people have a defective gene. This defective gene has no bad effects. However, if two ppl who both have the defective gene reproduce, there is a 1/4 chance that thier offspring with have both the defective genes and there forefore will suffer. (Cystic fibrosis would be an example of this).

Research shows that 2 unrelated ppl have a 2-3% chance of producing a child with a congenital defect, first cousins a 4-6% chance and second cousins are about 3-4%.

Sorry I can't provide evidence to support the above. It's too late.

So, in terms of medical health, if these two people wanted to have children, they would benefit from screening for defective mutations. However, the chances are not much higher then for two "unrelated" people.

In terms of social acceptance, I certainly think, at a objective level, relationships between cousins should not be encouraged. But you dont choose who you fall in love with. I think it's an important factor, the relationship started under the pretext of no blood line relationship. It's not like they met at their great granny's funeral or cousin's wedding (or is it).

Thirdly, he hardly knows the girl, im pretty sure it won't last anyway.

billius

Pighead wrote:

Buy a couple of banjos and give the Leitrim music scene the kick up the arse its needed for a long long time. You and your girlfriend/cousin are gonna be huge.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAA!!!!!!

Nike_Dude

In fairness it is pretty distant and I dont think anybody would be too bothered about it. The big thing is if it would be playing on your mind and affect a relationship between the two of you, if not and you really like the girl go for it.

RotalicaV

Don't worry about it, this is perfectly ok..

in Cork.

Repli

See this is why there are so many handicapped ppl in Ireland..

Lux23

Its illegal to marry your second cousin. Its more dangerous genetically to have children with your second cousin then your first cousin. Don't do it!

mountainyman

theHOFFman wrote:

between the jigs and the reels we realised that my grandmother and her granddad were brother and sister, what relation does this make us to each other? Are we second or third cousins?

You are second cousins.
It isn't illegal but it is wrong.
It is like going out with a girl with a mental handicap.
It isn't illegal but it is wrong.

MM

Lux23

Its illegal to marry her!!!!

Rovi

esel wrote:

Same as a 'simple' situation - you just go back to the common ancestor and count from there?

Well, yeah, but (in the case of my second cousin and I, for example) we share two sets of great-grandparents.

My grandfather and grandmother were brother and sister to his grandmother and grandfather.
My great-grandparents on my grandfather's side are the same people as his great-grandparents on his grandmother's side; and my great-grandparents on my grandmother's side are the same people as his great-grandparents on his grandfather's side.

On this very handy website (http://www.comanchelodge.com/relationch.html), each 'simple' relationship shows us as Second Cousins, but as we have two sets of common ancestors, does that make us Double Second Cousins or something?


<sigh>
Not that it matters much anyway, I've decided I don't want to marry him. My sister/cousin/girlfriend wouldn't like it.



.

Oeneus

Ah f*ck it! Who cares? Go out with her!

And if you decide you want children later on? Go for adoption. No point bringing another kid in the world anyway when there's already far too many out there who need parents!

brown*eyed*girl

This reminds me of a scary moment I had with an ex of mine. We were both at a party for his cousin's 21st and my "aunty peggy" was there. Turns out he knew her as aunty peggy too. We both were shocked to say the least but it turned out ok as she wasn't related by blood to either of us. Basically she is married to my Grandad's brother which makes her my granaunt through marriage and she is my ex's Mother's stepsister. Phew :eek:

To the OP personally I wouldn't be able to date my second cousin and would just find it too weird because we are so close as a family. But seems you didn't even know each other it might be ok with you. But the way I'd see it is one of her parents is one of your parents first cousin which is just a bit too close for me.

el tel

Don't be dowing the *wild thing* until you've read this Inbreeding thread on Sci>Biology/Medicine:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054895506

Esel

Lux23 wrote:

Its illegal to marry her!!!!

That's twice you have made this unsubstantiated statement.

Cite?

Hagar

esel wrote:

That's twice you have made this unsubstantiated statement.

Cite?

[Pedant] The OP never claimed to be male [/Pedant]

BrenC

Its a really strange situation, most people don't inbreed with their family because of the lack of diversity in the gene pool. Around 150 years ago, dating your first cousin was the norm!

It is a really strange situation, I doubt you's are related by that much then again, its only 2 generations ago.

Lux23

You cannot legally marry a sibling or a first cousin, thats for sure. It is also very difficult to get a marriage certificate to marry a second cousin especially if they are on the maternal side. They have been trying to change this law for many years but there are an awful lot of people married to their second cousins anyway. So fair enough it is not illegal but anyone with a brain in their head can see it should be.

Furry Burger

I used to bash one out to my first cousin when I started burping the worm...never felt guilty either

Hagar

Legal Position

Shabadu

Pile of crap, Lux23. Some freak I used to know was the child of two first cousins. They got a special dispensation from the pope to get marrried.

BrenC

In all fairness, its not that big of a deal, I think Lux is making too much of a big deal out of this. Personally I wouldn't but then again, I am not attracted to any of my cousins so just do what you want!

kkposse

Who cares? Whats the big deal? Don't worry I'm sure your children won't be deformed!!!:D

Aporia

Lux23 wrote:

Its illegal to marry your second cousin. Its more dangerous genetically to have children with your second cousin then your first cousin. Don't do it!

Eh no it's not did you not read the link stating all the facts that was posted?

Fact:Children of non-related couples have a 2-3% risk of birth defects, as opposed to first cousins having a 4-6% risk.

Fact: Second cousins have little, if any increased chance of having children with birth defects, per the book "Clinical Genetics Handbook”– courtesy of the March of Dimes.

Fact: Current studies indicate that cousin couples have a lower ratio of miscarriages -- perhaps because body chemistry of cousins is more similar. The verdict is still out.

I don't see anything wrong about marrying your 2nd cousin really but marrying your first cousin is a bit sick . We're all related in some way.

Femelade

oh you poor guy, thats harsh.
my ex used to go with his cousinm they were 3rd cousins i think.

afaik having a child with your 2nd cousin is kindof dangerous, the child would likely be handicapped.

Aporia

Femmy wrote:

afaik having a child with your 2nd cousin is kindof dangerous, the child would likely be handicapped.

Oh ffs!!
Read people, read!

Lux23

Aporia wrote:

Eh no it's not did you not read the link stating all the facts that was posted?

Fact:Children of non-related couples have a 2-3% risk of birth defects, as opposed to first cousins having a 4-6% risk.

Fact: Second cousins have little, if any increased chance of having children with birth defects, per the book "Clinical Genetics Handbook”– courtesy of the March of Dimes.

Fact: Current studies indicate that cousin couples have a lower ratio of miscarriages -- perhaps because body chemistry of cousins is more similar. The verdict is still out.

I don't see anything wrong about marrying your 2nd cousin really but marrying your first cousin is a bit sick . We're all related in some way.

I am sorry but I think it is plain wrong to date a relative even if the chance of genetic disorders isn't as big as with first cousins. There are millions of people in the world why the hell do you have to date a relative. Its bad enough that royal families do it never us plebs joining in.

ivan087

where will it all stop - marrying our sisters?!?!
think of the children, really think of the feckin children!

but it all fairness 2nd cousin is fine, its a distant relation. just the word 'cousin' makes it seem wrong. first cousin would be VERY wrong, but not 2nd.

you have my blessings:cool: