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Good on them! This story highlights the absurd and arbitrary moralising taboos that our society likes to construct around sexual relations. Emotions between siblings are complex, people are complex. To deny our complexity, as Christians would have us do, is absurd. Live and let live. Richard Burdon, Nottingham
Totally disgusting. Both of these people needed help to believe this was normal and OK. How could anybody say that this seemed to be a healthy relationship? It’s no different from a father or mother having sex with their child! Do we think that is OK as well? Shawna, Nashville, US
This is like Sodom and Gomorrah. Just because the parties involved are OK, should society accept it? You forget that you are not living on an island where you can set your own rules. Legally this is wrong and there’s a reason why the law is put in place. Kenny, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
If incest were to be allowed, for one happy girl there would be 10,000 unhappy ones. John, Southend
While I don’t advocate incest, I don’t see who they were harming (obviously when they were single). Both were consenting, used precautions and stopped when they got into committed relationships. As long as they didn’t run the risk of procreation there’s no harm done. Well done for publishing this. Jennifer, Chorley, Lancashire
Incest, like absinthe, though intensely pleasurable, cannot be justified in a civilised society. Father Jonathan Obliseque, London
This is a breath of fresh air. I had a relationship of sorts with my sister when I was aged between 14 and 17. As a woman myself I always had pangs of guilt and we have never discussed it since, but it helped me in my own relationships later in life. We are now both happily married with children. Kelsey, Yorkshire
My brother did the same to me growing up until I was 14 years old. I was too young to remember how it started and exactly when. I know I was about 4 years old and I know how it feels. We are still close, like it never happened and now, 25 years on, it’s like it was a dream. Jenny, Willmar, Minnesota
To those who keep saying “but they’re consenting adults, what’s the problem?”, they weren't “consenting adults” when they started this relationship. They were 14 and 15, ages when hormones rule over intellect. Would you be OK with your kids having sex with anyone at that age? Jina, Colorado Springs
Incest is bad and I am surprised some people have the guts to support it as being “harmless”. Soon someone will be praised for having a “harmless, intimate” sexual relationship with their pet. God have mercy! David Kimbowa, Kampala, Uganda
If this is not wrong, then mother-son, father-daughter sexual relations can’t be wrong either. Sometimes I wonder why we were given reasoning faculties! S. K. Lin, Kuala Lumpur
I don’t think it is wrong, it is just something I would never do. For those who are saying, “It is wrong”, that’s absurd. Can you determine what really is right and wrong? There is no right or wrong. Romel Salcedo, Hemet, California
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well i think it should be the people involved choice if there of age they can make there own decisons
tim, st,charles, usa
It is quite simply wrong, even if they believe it to be ok. It isn't. I would suggest they seek counselling.
JuliaChandler, Kent, United Kingdom
It sounds a good deal safer than chasing some stranger at a disco. 14-15 is exactly the age when young adults do need to begin finding out about sex.
G Davies, Somerset, England
I have to admit, if a friend told me something similar had occurred with their sibling, I would assume that some deep emotional or social problems were playing a role in their choices, probably because this situation often goes hand in hand with more negative triggers/consequences.
Alex, Toronto, CA
I don't think it's wrong if it's consensual. As for the question "...if you found out that your brother...", my opinion is that I respect their choice, provided they understand what they are doing and feel okay with it. Discretion in this case is required as it may jeopardize our family life
anh, Hanoi, Vietnam
my sister and me used to flirt with one anouther but nothing happened because we were aware of what people thought of it but i do know of a couple who did. theirs nothing wrong with it as long as the couple are about the same age and its consensual. its fairly common and can be healthy i understand
mick, durham,
I'm glad to see someone speak out from personal experience on this issue. In those cases where there is no abuse, and all parties concerned are genuinely fully informed and consenting, I see no ethical problem. I would allow such a couple to marry freely.
Victoria Silverwolf, Chattanooga, USA
I think if both brother & sister are adult & it is consensual , then neither the state nor the society should prevent them from engaging in this relationship.
Anwar Fahmy, Cairo, Egypt
A 'child' who can have their own children is really an adult, whatever the arbitrary age of 'adulthood' happens to be in the west. Recognise adulthood at puberty, hand over responsibilities to begin their maturation, and stop treating them as kids and then labelling their resentment as adolescence.
Greg Lorriman, Leatherhead, UK
The condemnation of facts without showing any empathy is wrong, but any anthropologist could tell that this issue would bring up a flamewar.
Donald Axel, Vejby DK-3210 , Denmark
It is just disgraceful and further evidence of moral decline in our country...enough said!!
Jean , London, England
The line should be drawn at anything other than truly consenting behavior. Nature doesn't get it right because in nature sex and procreation are tied. We can decouple them.
Loren, Las Vegas, USA
jacqueline;
because he locked her up and repeatedly raped her. plus they had children. No one could argue the irresponsibilty of siblings having children from a scientific point of view,but as a relationship,I believe,its no one elses business. The only thing I feel concerned about is sex so young
Emma, london, UK
If this was 'alright' why all the fuss about the father and his daughter in Austria? No this is wrong.
Jacqueline, OUNDLE, United Kingdom
To all those people saying that is harmless I ask you, would you be happy if 2 of your children were regularly having sex together? And where do we draw the line? Parents and children? Grandparents and grandchildren? I think that if nature and genetics deems that it's wrong, then it probably is.
RW, Madrid, Spain