Last week's post about the article about DNA stalking in The New York Times has prompted some interesting debate over the lengths people can/do/should go to to trace their family through DNA.

Walt Quering, who spent 32 years in law enforcement, found some of the people interviewed in the article "very creepy."

What leads them to believe that their desire to trace their families apparently trumps someone else’s desire to be left alone?

Ken Hedgpeth, one of the co-founders of the International Society of Genetic Genealogy, is more supportive - tipping his hat to Amy Harmon and those she interviewed for her article.

How green can one be in his family research to be using terms like “dumpster diving” surreptitious methods, bizarre behavior ???? give me a break, turn the lights on, get some fresh air your talking about the roots of our very hobby … as if some wouldn’t use those terms in describing our activities of cemetery hopping or searching out those old dark dust courthouse basements not to mention the hours many of us spend on the internet conducting research in the various online databases …

Then we get to hear from Candy Campise, a cousin of Derrell Teat - the lady whose McDonald's coffee cup comment appeared in the New York Times article. She provides the full story - a response to the brief version that survived the copyediting process and, according to Candy, was sensationalized a bit.

Derrell Teat never said that we were “stalking” this Hodgens gentleman. I was shocked when I read the Hodgens portion of the NY Times article! This is why Derrell and I wanted to read our portion of the article before it was published. To say that I am disappointed is an understatement. This article portrays us as “vultures” trying to get DNA in any underhanded way possible. This was not the fault of Amy Harmon, so no blame should be directed to her. The blame lies with the copy editor who’s job is to make the stories sensational so that they sell newspapers.

Read the full story of Derrell and Candy's genealogy quest, as well as the full text of the comments left by others, and post your own thoughts on DNA research as a genealogy tool.