MovieChat Forums > Plebs (2013) Discussion > Cousins

Cousins

posted 11 years ago by wj-n3
13 replies | jump to latest

So... the cousin thing is pretty American. In the UK cousins marry all the time. It's not a big deal. But in the US it's a taboo to marry a cousin.

I'm not saying where we should go with this, but in the UK marrying a cousin is a rare but mundane thing.

In the US marrying a cousin is, in certain States, illegal. And in other States it is not illegal but a comedy staple.

I just thought it was funny that the show would go down this route. It's like they thought they had a shot at America. Hey, maybe, but this won't shove it over anybody's edge.

All that US comedy talking about cousins? Weird, irrelevant and anti-science.

In an ideal world people would pick partners based on a bunch of silly factors. There's a natural reaction to reject close relatives. But there's actually also a strong human reaction to embrace close relatives who match your genetic markers.

Humping a pile of bones that used to be your grandmother, is icky. Humping your Uncle's kid, not so much.

I appreciate that the UK may be a unique example of this. It's a small country with a hugely marginalized population.

If you have an opinion on this I'd appreciate that you cite your scientific basis for it, otherwise you just sound shouty and weird.

[–] BadWolf9292 11 years ago

I'm half American, half Filipino and I think it would be disgusting to marry your own cousin, whether you're in the US, UK.

[–] DenimChicken 11 years ago

'In the UK cousins marry all the time.'

Eh? I'm in the UK and I can honestly say it is a big deal. Incest is a big deal.

[–] hgs1969 11 years ago

I've never come across anyone who's even known of someone marrying their cousin. I'd love to know where in the UK you're from!!

[–] ljones86-768-598858 11 years ago

I don't think the writers had an American audience in mind when they wrote the episode about the cousins, why would they? What makes the US so special?

Also, incest is not part of everyday life in the UK! True, first cousins can marry, but very rarely do (I have never known any to).

Are you from the UK as I find it hard to believe you think it the norm here!

As an aside, Eastenders, obviously stuck for a 'cutting edge' storyline, have got two courtin' cousins in a relationship at the moment. Not shocking, but not really normal either.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] bushzy 11 years ago

where exactly did you get your facts lol. stuff between cousins sometimes happen when they are teens but it's not socially accepted at all in the UK lol.

[–] nikcham 11 years ago

WTF?
Cousin marriage is very taboo and wierd in UK as well. Apart from the very specific exception of the Pakistani/Kashmiri population, but that is a separate can of worms.

"I appreciate that the UK may be a unique example of this. It's a small country with a hugely marginalized population."
Yes the UK, a country of 60 million people with a significant population of young migrants from around the world, has to rely largely on cousin marriage to procreate, there are simply no other options.

[–] A_New_Hope 11 years ago

I'm an Australian American and let me tell you that sh!t is sick no matter where you are. There are certain places in Australia where it happens, not so much the marrying but the breeding. Those people are shunned. The same goes with the USA. I can't imagine the UK being any different. You my friend are a freak and should be shunned with the rest of them.
If you share blood you should not marry.

As we grow we learn, i have learned that if you don't like me grow up or ignore me.

[–] tomsco_au 8 years ago

There are certain places in Australia where it happens

Yeh, Tasmania.

[–] MilkmanScum 11 years ago

Basically what you are saying is that you have had sex with your cousin?

[–] GusF 11 years ago

It's a mundane thing in the UK if you're one of the Royal Family. Otherwise, I think that most people would find it disgusting.

[–] raf-33 10 years ago

Guys, the dude is trolling. In the UK it's no more acceptable to be with your cousin than it is anywhere else it just happens to be legal due to criminal incest only covering your immediate family and backwards instead of sideways to cousins also.

Owning guns may be legal in the US but it doesn't mean it's a country of gun-toting maniacs. Ok, poor example.

Ya Kirk-loving Spocksucker!

[–] Darvidd 9 years ago

In any country with a settled population living in small communities and with limited transport, give it a century or two and everybody will be related to everyone else there-was also common for cousins to marry to keep property (especially land) within the family-the industrial revolution with people moving to large towns and cities and with modern roads, railways, shipping etc for the last 2 centuries has changed this, but for most of human history, dating options were very limited...

"What is an Oprah?"-Teal'c.