Voting Station

Charles Fort

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Author

The Resume

    (August 6, 1874-May 3, 1932)
    Born in Albany, New York
    Collected examples of unexplained phenomena (poltergeists, fish falls, spontaneous combustion, mysterious disappearances, UFO sightings, etc.)
    Presented his findings in 'The Book of the Damned' (1919), 'New Lands' (1923), 'Lo!' (1931) and 'Wild Talents' (1932)
    Inspired the creation of the Fortean Society (1931) and the magazine Fortean Times (1973)

Why he might be annoying:

    He wrote 10 novels, but only published one.
    He had several bouts of depression during which he would destroy his notes, then start writing again from scratch.
    He refused to have a telephone installed in his apartment.
    He said, 'I have considerable liking for people, as long as I can stay away from them.'
    Author Colin Wilson, who admired his data, said his writing was 'almost unreadable.'
    With his walrus mustache and pence-nez glasses, he looked like Teddy Roosevelt.

Why he might not be annoying:

    His father was physically abusive.
    For his research, he read every scientific periodical published in English and French going back to 1880.
    He coined the word teleportation.
    His admirers included authors Theodore Dreiser, Sherwood Anderson, Booth Tarkington and Ben Hecht and lawyer Clarence Darrow.
    He commented, 'I believe nothing of my own that I have ever written.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 15 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 21 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 30 Votes: 56.67% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 21 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 50 Votes: 58.00% Annoying