The Resume

(February 27, 1924-June 24, 2013)
Born in Lafayette, New Jersey
Birth name was Grover Cleveland Backster, Jr.
Interrogation specialist with the CIA (1948-60)
Founded the CIA's polygraph unit
Developed the relevant-control polygraph interrogation technique
Claimed that when he attached polygraph electrodes to a plant and thought about burning its leaves, the plant registered a stress reaction (1966)
As a result of similar experiments, claimed plants can feel pain and have ESP

Why he might be annoying:

Before getting into polygraphs, he tried to create a truth serum.
He initiated a CIA trend of over-reliance on polygraph testing, which critics claim caused the Agency to fail to detect double agents like Aldrich Ames.
He studied astrology and dabbled in LSD.
He never ran properly controlled experiments while studying plant ESP, making the results scientifically useless.
Attempts to replicate his findings in controlled experiments failed.
Critics noted that polygraph readings could have been triggered by build-ups of static electricity or changes in humidity.
His plant ESP experiments inspired a lot of goofy New Age blather.

Why he might not be annoying:

He said he was happiest using the polygraph to prove someone's innocence.
His ideas inspired the Stevie Wonder album 'Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants.'
Next time a vegan is acting all superior, you can shut 'em up with the 'Didn't you know plants have feelings?' line.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 51]
• Cracked.com's 16 Overlooked Deaths of 2013 (Ranked: 7)
• I Abused LSD
• I Died in 2013 (Ranked: 89)
• I Got a Pet Cat or Twenty
• I Had a Stroke [Cerebral Vascular Accident]
• I was Cremated
• I Worked at the C.I.A.
• Known By a Middle Name
• Profiles 35001-35250 (Ranked: 35150)

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 81.82% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 17 Votes: 58.82% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying