Incest...the numbers!

Incest seems to be less taboo than decades ago. But 'seems to' lacks hard figures for me.

Does anyone have actual figures about how many people have experienced (18+ consensual!) incest and how many people, without experiences themselves, have a positive attitude towards incest?

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LucyCD · 56-60, M

Not sure if incest is increasing or not but the rise of Genetic testing has apparently revealed that it is more common than people think . A professor doing research at the U.K. Biobank, an anonymized research database: revealed that " one in 7,000 people, according to his unpublished analysis, was born to parents who were first-degree relatives—a brother and a sister or a parent and a child."
I think it is less taboo as it's more commonly discussed anonymously on the internet and people are finding out that it's more common than imagined.
It's always gone on and if it's consensual that's between them , there's little enough love and compassion in the world as it is.

SWfan · 41-45, M

@LucyCD here's my take on incest as long as the incest is between consenting adults is what matters.

AnneHoney · 41-45, F

@LucyCD I am not surprised at the research. I would guess a small percentage of those relationships result in a birth. Unless there are children involved or a forced act it’s no one else’s business.

EagerDaddy · 46-50, M

@AnneHoney One amendment: 'Unless young children...'

AnneHoney · 41-45, F

@EagerDaddy that is a given

EagerDaddy · 46-50, M

@AnneHoney I agree, but you originally said "Unless children..." which leaves room for the puritans here to make it 18 years as a minimum, which is ridiculous...

AnneHoney · 41-45, F

@EagerDaddy Age of consent is another interesting debate. Especially since it varies from 13to 21depending on country and even states. Tough call since every person matures sufficiently at a different age and the activity involved also is a factor. Siblings touching and exploring each other does not become an issue.

EagerDaddy · 46-50, M

@AnneHoney Correct. Fact is that biologically we (mankind) are 'sexually mature' (ready for procreation) at about 12-13. Lust and urges are already abundant at that age and often become more intense during puberty than ever after. That alone makes higher Ages of Consent, to say the least, questionable, or sometimes even cruel.
Of course, people, and especially children, need to be protected from abuse, but a high Age of Consent is too coarse for that.

LucyCD · 56-60, M

@AnneHoney Exactly, the taboo of Incest I would think stems from the very real danger of producing unhealthy offspring, there is an interesting programme on the BBC about Tutankhamen and the incest of the Egyptian Pharaohs which led ultimately to their demise. Incest should always be consensual as should any relationship .

EagerDaddy · 46-50, M

@LucyCD Correct. But in first generation incest the birth defect risks are hardly higher then the risks with a pregnancy of a mother of, say, 37-38 years.

After several consecutive incest generations the risks increase strongly as, for instance, the European Habsburg Royals showed. Ultimately leading to infertility by which the consecutive incest stops itself. Birth control is wise...

LucyCD · 56-60, M

@EagerDaddy Interesting about the other Royal Families and undoubtedly quite a few others!
Ultimately they are nearly all related due to incest and political marriages to keep power within a small family group (which was the goal of the Pharaohs).
As you say inbreeding ultimately is self cancelling.

AnneHoney · 41-45, F

@LucyCD it is interesting that GOT was allowed to present what was historically quite common. I did see the show on King Tut where they said his mom and dad were almost certainly brother and sister. Fairly common in some Native American tribes from what I have heard. It makes sense that the first offspring are typically no significantly in danger of birth defects but if you keep doing it like the British, you might have a problem.
But with todays birth control and men getting snipped it would cancel the main argument on what many find a very big turn on.

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