Would you date a relative?

[Took]

I'm finding the level of disgust in this thread pretty funny. As recent as the first half of the 20th century it was legal in many states to marry your first cousin. And not that uncommon. Many of you that are grossed out by the whole thing might very well find an example, or more than one, in your own family tree if you traced it back.

Once you get past the first cousin level, I really think it's more a matter of how closely you were raised. If it's someone you grew up close to, of course it's icky. If it's a third cousin you never met until you were adults or even barely knew before that point, there is really no big deal.

I agree. One hundred years ago, it was often seen as PREFERABLE to marry one's cousins, not gross. We've changed in that regard in this culture and that's fine. But that doesn't mean our way of seeing it nowadays is better than the "old way" (or the way many still prefer marriage to cousins).

took

 

[Sir Robin Hood]

Would it matter if you found out after you had been dating a while, or if you knew it going into the relationship?

That would definitely be awkward. I'd probably have to call off the relationship after such a discovery. Even if it was not a close relative....no thanks to that.