Comments on: Twins, separated at birth, later marry

By: Chairm

Chairm — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 02:47:07 +0000

From the link that Dave provided:

–> “So it looks like this piece of news needs to be categorized as an urban-legend-reported-as-news until proven otherwise.”

* * *

Still, the question remains, why did the story resonate the way it did?

The “yuk factor”, a meaning social taboo, or what?

Is there a principled reason to prohibit closely related people from a publicly endorsed relationship such as the conjugal relationship?

By: Dave Rattigan

Dave Rattigan — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 22:31:27 +0000

I believed this story at first, since I had read it in the Daily Telegraph, but it now seems there’s good reason to suspect it’s an urban legend. The only source seems to be Lord Alton: http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/weblog/twins_get_married_or_maybe_not/

By: Chairm

Chairm — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:25:11 +0000

The two clearly loved each other and consented to marry.

The made a mutual commitment. Exclusive, it seems.

The law was blind to their being siblings so their marriage served to make unrelated people related, at law.

What harm did they do to any one else’s marriage?

* * *

I agree with the line that is drawn on closely related men and women, however, what is the principled objection to the case of these twins?

By: Eddy

Eddy — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:19:36 +0000

Don’t worry, Jay, my comment was mostly tongue-in-cheek. LOL. I once worked with a woman who wouldn’t just watch the sensational programming but she’d insist on talking about it to everyone. She never understood the line between truth and dramatization saying things like: “And you wouldn’t believe what her last words were.” I’d try to pull her back to reality saying things like “wasn’t she alone when she died? who heard her say that?” or “it was just the murderer and the victim, right? are you saying the murderer, who claims to be innocent, reported the victims final words?”

By: Jay

Jay — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:07:11 +0000

Eddy, all we’re likely to get is “Law and Order” or “CSI” using the concept for one of their “ripped from the headlines” episodes. It does sound television worthy, but there are lots of implications involved as well.

By: Eddy

Eddy — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 14:16:52 +0000

I appreciated this article most for how it demonstrated the need for an accurate historical record. I commend the couple for realizing that although they loved each other enough to marry, the fact that they were biological siblings took precedence over that feeling.

I’m wrestling with the fact that a part of me can’t wait to see a televised dramatization of this story. I’m afraid there’s a little bit of the National Enquirer in all of us. 🙂

By: Byron

Byron — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 22:48:04 +0000

Kinda gives new meaning to the term “kissing your sister”, doesn’t it?

By: jayhuck

jayhuck — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 22:34:54 +0000

I finally was able to access the article – very interesting!

By: jayhuck

jayhuck — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:16:48 +0000

Warren,

I’m having a problem with the link. I’m getting a 404 error when I click on the link to the story

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 18:51:26 +0000

That is my real concern with test tube babies, broken families, unknown genetic lineage etc….