You share one set of great-grandparents, so they're your second cousins. If you shared a set of great-great-grandparents, they'd be your third cousins. Whether it's weird depends on where you live, but if you have to ask, I'd say probably yes.

I'd say you're going backwards. What varies from one place to another is whether it's legal to marry your first cousin. Your second cousin is basically not related to you anymore unless your family is really uptight.

You are cousins three times removed - colloquially "3rd cousins." Marriage between distant relatives (such as third cousins) is perfectly legal and morally acceptable in every state within the American Union, and I believe most if not all of the world. Technically, marriage between first cousins was never morally objectionable in the past, and only became outlawed and taboo when there was a perceived increase in the number of birth defects associated with their offspring.

That aside, the probability of you and your third cousin having children with birth defects is negligibly more probable compared to almost anyone else. I recommend this site for educational resources on the matter: http://www.cousincouples.com/?page=overview

As you may notice, the greatest risks are of passing on dominant genetic disorders (which has nothing to do with the combination, as you or your spouse would already manifest and carry the allele and disease) and X-linked disorders (which you, as a male - I assume, otherwise this wouldn't be a dilemma - could have, but would know it if your did, or she may have and may not know it).

The best part about living in this age is that you can now get your genome sequenced cost effectively - or even freely - via orgs like http://www.personalgenomes.org/ and have a screening conducted to verify whether there are any X-linked risks to be concerned with.

I know I probably overshot your question by a long way, but I'd say this will remove any anxiety you may have further down the line should you be successful in wooing said relative and considering more serious, lifelong arrangements.

In my personal opinion, you aren't weird. If you had been separated from a theoretical sister at birth and never seen her until now and found her attractive you wouldn't be considered weird biologically, psychologically or sociologically. We develop specific filial orientations towards close family members because we are with them so much as we develop. A cousin you haven't seen much of over the course of your life would not fall into any familial category in your brain. I would, however, recommend not mentioning the fact of your relation to people you are not very close with, as they may perceive it peculiar because of unfounded social stigmas.

I would also make sure that your parents, especially your dad, is comfortable with you getting cozy with your relative, just so that there aren't any unnecessary family conflicts later on.

>>2757

Thanks, that makes me feel better. I have only seen them a few times before in my life, and now I am off to woo her.

I think that maybe you need to get yourself more comfortable around more girls, rather than expecting change to come from the girls. It's brilliant if you have a great relationship with one of the girls you've mentioned, but you're still going to have this problem.

>>2762
Yeah, this is another problem. I need to try and get out more. I just don't really know what I should do to meet more people and be more comfortable with people in general.


Also, a side question, how the hell do you approach a woman who is busy? Working the till, folding the clothes at the store, or doing whatever? I feel as though if I just walked up and said "Hey, are you single?" isn't quite the best approach, but I also feel its all I could do right now D:

>>2771

Start small and work big; people can work out what you're after quite quickly (as in your example) and it's quite difficult to approach someone with a clearcut intent on making them your girlfriend (without much prior knowledge). It's sure as hell possible, but I think the best thing to do is just to start talking to people a little. Doesn't matter if it's men or women, just a quick 'How's your day' at the till might not sound like a lot, but after a while builds a lot of confidence and comfort in talking to people you don't know.

You will feel uncomfortable when doing this; it's normal to feel uncomfortable but it's no reason to not do it. Over time, you will feel comfortable with it. Try some local activities as well as trying to talk to people you meet in the day, you will meet more people and speak to more people, you will get more confident with it.

In two months time you could be comfortable in talking to people you don't know and getting out more; provided that you stick to a plan that will help you out of this situation.

I just watched a documentary called the Biology of Dads. Guess what? When you neter into a long term relationship, your testosterone levels drop. When you have kids, it drops even more. I've decided for my own well-being that I won't endure/enjoy a long term relationship. Also, it will mean more financial resources for me without a long term woman or baby so I can be more mobile, more responsive and more prostitutes! Woo! More of the world, better experience!

>>3122
Why does your testosterone level matter? "I'll be less of a man!" Why does the comparative presence of one hormone the deciding factor in whether or not you want a long term partner? I have a feeling it is for other reasons and you are using this testosterone thing as a justification.

But by all means, go have your financial security (because having a partner with a second income won't help out there...) and your experiences. Alone. With occasional prostitutes.

>More of the world
Except for a huge - and arguably the most important - part of it, which is sharing your experiences with a loving, supportive partner-in-crime.

I had a threesome with a past girlfriend and an escort. It was her idea.

>>3122
>I just watched a documentary called the Biology of Dads
>just watched
I just watched one documentary and now my whole life is figured out!

Your testosterone decreases as you age anyway. Not to mention the fact that people in long-term relationships live longer and are happier. Numerous studies have been done on this. But by all means, listen to one documentary. Because testosterone is your one defining quality in life.

>>2771
Sometimes you just can't. She's busy at work and that's that. Other times, you just have to go balls out. Her time is limited, she needs to get back to work, she can't be seen flirting with some dude for 15 minutes. Like the other anon said, practice making conversation with people and, above all, practice being present and genuine. Avoid the autopilot small talk - when asked "how are you today" by a cashier, don't just say "fine." Give an honest response. Leading by example in this way lets the other person be more genuine as well and your interaction, however brief, will be more fun and more memorable. It's easier to add humour this way too.

The big misconception, I find, is that people think you need to talk about stuff to find commonalities. What kind of music do you like? What do you do for work? But that's not that good of a way to make real connections or find real commonalities. You can ask that stuff, sure, but not all back to back. Don't talk about stuff, talk about you and how you feel about things. Make it personal. Not heavy. You don't have to pour out all your deepest hopes and dreams. It's about being real about things so that you can both make a better, deeper connection, and find the natural humour in your conversation.

I would also suggest doing some volunteering or joining some kind of club or organization or taking a class. This has the double benefit of broadening your horizons on a personal level but also giving you a chance to socialize. Into environmentalism? Find a local non-profit that needs people. I've met two girls I dated for quite a while through involvement in an environmental NGOs. Or find an animal shelter. Or an immigrant and refugee center. Or join a local rec soccer team or tennis club or adult hide-and-seek league. Or take a language class. Community colleges release "ongoing education" pamphlets/schedules every semester, you can go take a French class or a pottery class or whatever. If your goal is to meet girls, take a class that seems like something that would appeal to girls more. Go to a local comic/game shop and take part in D&D games (surprising number of girls, at least where I live. I have no first-hand experience but a friend of mine plays weekly). Or take a drawing or painting class. Most art stores will be plugged into that kind of thing, have posters up and staff that you can ask about that kind of thing. Or if there is an art college near by, they will have a schedule online. It's a win-win because, best case scenario, you meet some girls. Middle case scenario, you make some friends. Worst case scenario, you learn some French or some basic oil painting or you help out a non-profit org. You can't lose, really.

I've also heard good things about joining a choir. A couple friends of mine are in this kind of hip-20-something-people oriented choir that sings choral adaptations of Radiohead and Fleet Foxes and shit. Maybe there's something like that near you. I've been to their performances and parties, the choir is two-thirds cute girls.

tldr try to fuck your cousin if you want, but weirdness might ensue. Also focus on broadening your horizons in general.

>>3128
I'd suggest it really is about commonalities if you want to go beyond being mere activity partners.

I am fortunate enough to have a war council of friends with their own expertise in running their lives that I can turn to for guidance. They are far better than any counsellors, psychologists or self help people I've been through cause they can connect with with higher ontological fidelity through our semantic interoperability. I run a udge–advisor system. There is julius (experimental lifestyle changes), nikhil (spirituality), david (self-help), ingrid (psychology), karan (personal development). If you can set yourself up something like this I can assure you you will feel happy and secure for the rest of your life. Nothing you read on the internet or book or consumer by media whether on the depths of tor or on radio will fulfill you like the counsel of great matches.

>>3134
To further qualify this, I recently decided to commit to an accounting degree (before ditching it for somethig else, but thta's another story). First I thought it wold look bad to change to accounting after an unrelated bachelors degree but then I thought it might look more thought through than others. So Why acounting? I have more life experience and it's given me certainty and clarity in my choice and commitment than someone who makes an impulse decison out of high school. Ive made a mature and considered choice after the course of a three year degree in a different contrasting discipline. I decided against studying psychology and social work cause I realised that mere. accreditation isn't a real, physical life gaol. And, I an get the skill set by practicing without the institutionalised theory which I do not enjoy or breeze through. I can learn personnable skills by being a personnable person but I can't learn accounting by being a nice guy.