Jezebel 
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New York, 5:30 PM
Sat Nov 21
50 posts in the last 24 hours
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09/30/09
No matter what McKenzie might think or say, she could not consent to having sex with her father. These GSA cases seem to be generally brother/sister, and while disturbing (to me at least), at least these people are on a supposedly equal footing. A parent/child relationship is ENTIRELY different.
09/30/09
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10/01/09
09/30/09
The whole thing was very eye-opening for me. I had never considered such a possibility. And to see him struggle through it and try to make sense of why he felt the way he did was confusing, difficult and honestly a little gross at times. He dipped in and out of deep depressions and self-harming episodes, because he could not find a healthy way to deal with his attraction to his sister. I hope he's doing well.
09/29/09
this makes sense to me, and i don't find it offensive that birth parents who contact their adopted children are informed about it. being informed about that possible confusion would probably lessen its occurrence.
09/29/09
Coming from a "broken family," I've often wondered how far the lines of my family extend - is my step-brother's half sister my family? His grandma? I think sometimes the boundaries of families are created mostly in our heads.
And let me just say that I'm not condoning or judging incest either way.
09/29/09
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09/29/09
Loved Lance Bass - thought he was totally the sexiest in the boy bands. Then I saw my brother again after 5 years - twins I tell you.
Then I saw "P.S. I Love You" and was totally in love with the guy with the Irish accent.
Strangely enough it was not Gerard Butler, but Jeffery Dean Morgan. I went on and on about how hot and sexy this guy was.
Then it hit me - my bother's name is only 3 letters in the middle name different from the actor. I was so embarrassed that I had not noticed it! My husband was all, "I wondered when you were going to pick up on the fact that he has the exact same name as your brother."
I feel odd that I still find both Lance Bass and JDM sexy to a point. Is that weird?
10/01/09
But 14 years later we're still together, and it is not too weird, I don't think - most people end up with people similar to their mother/father, either physically or in behavior, so the fact that it is sibling for you and him doesn't make it weirder.
10/01/09
Congrats on getting through it and making it 14 years (we're at 10).
The point you make about people ending up with someone like their father or mother and a sibling being no different is very perceptive and something I never thought of. My brother's younger than I but has always been taller and "the protector". I much rather prefer to see the resemblance in those terms rather than some weird "call the doctor or maybe the police" way.
09/29/09
The incest taboo is one of the (if not THE) taboos, in relation to brother-sister incest, but I can't help but see incredibly Freudian implications in a sexual relationship between a parent and child.
09/29/09
I know this has been said before many, many times at Jez in regard to this case (I said it before myself), but the inherent power dynamic between a parent and child distinguishes it in immeasurably significant ways from sibling incest. And I just can't get morally relative enough to give it a pass, ever.
09/29/09
Edit: I studied Philosophy in undergrad and Public Policy currently for grad school. Don't really know what I'm talking about. Just thought I'd throw out that disclaimer.
09/29/09
09/29/09
He explains the various theories as to why incest taboos are universal, particularly focusing on the genetic reasons why humans would avoid incest (detrimental mutations) and how exogamy is advantageous (forming bonds/alliances with other groups) and so the taboo is a way to avoid the genetic mutations and reinforce social ties between a family and the greater human community.
09/29/09
Just thought the anthro article would be an interesting read.
09/29/09
If he'd use drugs to manipulate his son, it's no stretch to assume he'd be just as willing to manipulate his daughter in a similar fashion - just with different objectives. Well, for all we know different objectives...
09/29/09
To be clear, I believe that Polanski is guilty of raping a child.
However, it's just really fascinating to see how people's reactions shift and are heightened by extenuating circumstances, time and context. For example, talking about the power dynamics of a father and daughter could very well tie into talking about a power dynamic of a 5 men/1 woman sexual encounter. Power is a huge part of sex. Ditto with intoxication and how it impacts consent.
This isn't any kind of judgment, on anyone, I've just found it very interesting to read everyone's thoughts.
09/29/09
09/29/09
09/30/09
09/29/09
If a brother and a sister decide to experiment sexually, and they're both comfortable with it and each other (i.e. neither was coerced) and they don't have a child but do have intercourse, is that wrong?
Evidently like 90+% of students will argue yes, but (the teacher's point was, I think) that no one can really offer a reason besides "it's just wrong!"
I mean, I think it would be psychologically traumatic in some way, and I think it's probably unwise to entangle your familial relationships with sex that way, but what do I know. Maybe I'm being judgy-McJudgerson.
09/29/09
09/29/09
I cannot speak about the ethics or psychological impact of incest between two consenting adults, but the key here is that participants be CONSENTING ADULTS. Mackenzie Phillips was underage, under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and (most imporantly) she was a minor. She was in no position to make a rational choice.
09/29/09
I do know that I like having to reconsider my opnions of things in an intellectual way, so I appreciate that others on Jezebel also would be considering things at that level of thought.
09/29/09
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09/29/09
I guess my stance on it is that people are going to do what people are going to do. It's really none of my business what goes on in their bedrooms. I may find it gross, but as long as they keep it to themselves and are consenting adults, they're welcome to do what they like.
09/29/09
However, it does make me stop for a moment and wonder if my attitude toward incest today is similar to attitudes about, say, interracial relationships 150 years ago. And in 150 years, will it be "OK" to have an incestuous relationship? WOW. That's a bit of a mindf-ck. It does seem plausible as sexual relationships grow increasingly culturally divided from reproduction.
09/29/09
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09/30/09