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Three feet. RagAss Nov 2013 #1
Depends on the state. Some say first cousin marriages are okay, others Cleita Nov 2013 #4
forgetb what I legal arely staircase Nov 2013 #12
For myself, I'd say no closer than third cousins. Cleita Nov 2013 #20
you are assuming this is about me and not the arely staircase Nov 2013 #21
Whoever, including the friend. n/t Cleita Nov 2013 #22
ok. they are third cousins and though their families aren't real close arely staircase Nov 2013 #24
Are the great grand parents alive? Cleita Nov 2013 #55
parties involved are middle age arely staircase Nov 2013 #59
No, that's what happens with kids with cou-- NuclearDem Nov 2013 #9
I see what you did there. arcane1 Nov 2013 #11
... LadyHawkAZ Nov 2013 #23
Are you bragging? baldguy Nov 2013 #30
only that I am kin to the both of them nt arely staircase Nov 2013 #35
This'll end well. NuclearDem Nov 2013 #2
Depends tiredtoo Nov 2013 #3
About 30 miles, because more would make dating inconvenient and costly because of gas prices. nt tblue37 Nov 2013 #5
at least third for the sake of the kids! madrchsod Nov 2013 #6
Go ask a teabagger... I think they would CAG Nov 2013 #7
Two counties over. (n/t) Iggo Nov 2013 #8
lol nt arely staircase Nov 2013 #10
Why do you ask? countryjake Nov 2013 #13
intelectual curriosity arely staircase Nov 2013 #16
There is no "knowledge" to be gained here jberryhill Nov 2013 #25
well indeed arely staircase Nov 2013 #26
Alas, I married a woman unrelated to me jberryhill Nov 2013 #36
Big thanskgiving gossip subject among the broader "staircase" clan nt arely staircase Nov 2013 #38
Meh jberryhill Nov 2013 #48
Yes there is. At some distance, the chance of offspring Hosnon Dec 2013 #100
Coupla things.... jberryhill Dec 2013 #112
Well then, for your edification... countryjake Nov 2013 #40
trust me arely staircase Nov 2013 #49
It must have been an interesting Thanksgiving. rug Nov 2013 #14
lol nt arely staircase Nov 2013 #17
I mean, I don't like arguing with relatives at Thanksgiving NuclearDem Nov 2013 #19
yeah at some point keeping peace in the family hits the point of diminishing returns nt arely staircase Nov 2013 #27
If you have to ask if they're too close they are too close. n/t leeroysphitz Nov 2013 #15
Second cousin IMO Freddie Nov 2013 #18
Cousin marriages have often happened IphengeniaBlumgarten Nov 2013 #47
Yeah, used to be more common laundry_queen Dec 2013 #124
Planning on going to a family reunion looking for women? Vashta Nerada Nov 2013 #28
lol nt arely staircase Nov 2013 #29
Not sure. CorrectOfCenter Nov 2013 #31
that is actually the case in question arely staircase Nov 2013 #32
I'd need a picture of your third cousin first jberryhill Nov 2013 #57
If you have to ask the question then you are TOO damn close! TheDebbieDee Nov 2013 #33
First cousins are OK in some parts of the country Warpy Nov 2013 #34
my personal opinion just based on ick factor arely staircase Nov 2013 #37
Clearly, it's a fine thing to do then! Because it kept everyone from discussing MH1 Dec 2013 #119
Siblings are okay in other parts Kaleva Nov 2013 #46
Depends on the context... yawnmaster Nov 2013 #39
Depends on her age FarCenter Nov 2013 #41
Here's definitive advice struggle4progress Nov 2013 #42
After watching that I feel like I need therapy davidpdx Dec 2013 #86
Imagine if they decided to get married, and their last names were Duran.... MADem Nov 2013 #43
lol Renew Deal Nov 2013 #44
in which case Duran Duran should play the reception for tips. nt arely staircase Nov 2013 #50
Now that, as the kids would say, would be EPIC! nt MADem Nov 2013 #63
Third cousins? Jenoch Nov 2013 #45
sorry about the stalinist unpleasantness (no snark) arely staircase Nov 2013 #52
Would you tell us which part of the U.S. it is that your family resides? Jenoch Nov 2013 #54
East Texas nt arely staircase Nov 2013 #58
Six blocks minimum agent46 Nov 2013 #51
Ask Eleanor and Franklin... llmart Nov 2013 #53
Second cousins, right? arely staircase Nov 2013 #56
Eleanor and Frankin were 5th cousins once removed. dflprincess Nov 2013 #71
but started with rhe same surname arely staircase Nov 2013 #80
You can marry first cousins in these states Blanket Statements Nov 2013 #60
wow arely staircase Nov 2013 #62
I think it comes down to preference Blanket Statements Nov 2013 #65
I think in the case of firsts the birth defect problem is there nt arely staircase Nov 2013 #67
I didn't know first cousins could marry in Florida. RebelOne Dec 2013 #130
Depends on what state you are in liberal N proud Nov 2013 #61
If they're a cousin, it's icky. nt geek tragedy Nov 2013 #64
No one else's business. nt Demo_Chris Nov 2013 #66
It's all relative. LumosMaxima Nov 2013 #68
Neanderthals are close enough... hunter Nov 2013 #69
I read an essay in anthropology that suggested that most marriages in human history LeftyMom Nov 2013 #70
As an anthropologist, I doubt that. Coyotl Nov 2013 #74
To my great surprise I found the article. God bless the internets. LeftyMom Nov 2013 #76
I just sent off my mouth swabs arely staircase Nov 2013 #79
If you're Jerry Lee Lewis BlueToTheBone Nov 2013 #72
That effectvely ended his career Zambero Dec 2013 #110
It depends on the state Blue_In_AK Nov 2013 #73
It's ok if you don't hear banjo music. nt bluestate10 Nov 2013 #75
haha! hopemountain Nov 2013 #78
how distant? MFM008 Nov 2013 #77
third cousins nothing removed arely staircase Nov 2013 #81
'Date?' Anytime. elleng Nov 2013 #82
Marriage between first cousins was not uncommon in pre-Victorian times Retrograde Nov 2013 #83
Depends ... dawg Dec 2013 #84
Third cousins likely share something like 3% of their DNA. Thirties Child Dec 2013 #85
I don't know for sure davidpdx Dec 2013 #87
Second cousins are probably as close as you need to be if you're procreating. LuvNewcastle Dec 2013 #88
I could date one of your cousins dipsydoodle Dec 2013 #89
Third cousin, I think, hardly counts. nt raccoon Dec 2013 #90
I believe the answer is first legally, and second relatively safely, but don't quote me on that. Donald Ian Rankin Dec 2013 #91
Thomas Jefferson's wife was his 3rd cousin KentuckyWoman Dec 2013 #92
I don't even know if I have any third cousins. MineralMan Dec 2013 #93
Yes, the risk of birth defects is only slightly elevated as I understand it. LisaL Dec 2013 #94
Well, I really advise some sort of genetic counseling for all couples. MineralMan Dec 2013 #97
interesting list hfojvt Dec 2013 #99
As a matter of practical information, I do not know of a single MineralMan Dec 2013 #101
"they do so ... in half the states" hfojvt Dec 2013 #106
I have no information on how many first cousin marriages MineralMan Dec 2013 #109
Old school was 7 degrees of separation. JNelson6563 Dec 2013 #95
And that is why Kevin Bacon is doomed to remain single cthulu2016 Dec 2013 #116
lol Touche'! JNelson6563 Dec 2013 #122
There is no reason to date any relative BainsBane Dec 2013 #96
and all people in the world are related hfojvt Dec 2013 #98
That's my favorite statement of the internet so far today. Iggo Dec 2013 #125
Unless you have had your geneology done, you could marry a distant cousin and never even know DebJ Dec 2013 #102
I think she meant in a more closer sense... Like, if you share more than five family members on penultimate Dec 2013 #104
My wife is a distant double cousin to President Obama. trackfan Dec 2013 #126
I think you're right, but it really should be a personal choice if all parties are adults. penultimate Dec 2013 #103
Every society has cultural taboos against insest BainsBane Dec 2013 #105
But if we get rid of the risk by ensuring they don't procreate penultimate Dec 2013 #108
How do you ensure they don't procreate? LisaL Dec 2013 #113
Well it wouldn't be forced, as they'd do it on their own accord so they can get married legally penultimate Dec 2013 #114
Should that be done just to cousins or to everyone that carry some mutation? LisaL Dec 2013 #117
That's a good point. penultimate Dec 2013 #120
But then also preservation of property treestar Dec 2013 #118
Old tradition says 2nd cousin. jwirr Dec 2013 #107
Cousin Couples Forum MineralMan Dec 2013 #111
In a lot of states you can still marry a first cousin treestar Dec 2013 #115
Second cousins are fine in all 50 states, I believe. MineralMan Dec 2013 #127
I feel that if your talking about the icky factor RGinNJ Dec 2013 #121
Ask "The Killer" Jerry Lee Lewis he married his 13 year old cousin at 22 then doc03 Dec 2013 #123
How many people here know their third cousins? muriel_volestrangler Dec 2013 #128
I don't know any of mine. I assume I have some, but MineralMan Dec 2013 #129
First was good enough for Darwin Rochester Dec 2013 #131
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