neal@druxv.UUCP (Neal D. McBurnett) (10/11/83)
The problem with the whole scheme is that it's ambiguous. To use Dan's beautiful graphic example (168@mi-cec.UUCP), M and G are first cousins once removed (G is M's parent's first cousin). However, M also has a first cousin once removed who is two generations YOUNGER than G: T! (M's son's second cousin). Is there any commonly accepted way to resolve this ambiguity (which only arises when the relationship has a level of removal)? One possibility would be to make the relationship uni-directional (e.g. always mention the "younger" cousin first).