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Francine 'Penny' Patterson

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Animal Expert

The Resume

    (February 13, 1947- )
    Born in Chicago, Illinois
    Best known for teaching Koko and other gorillas a modified form of American Sign Language
    President and director of the Gorilla Foundation (Woodside, California)
    Wrote children’s book ‘Koko’s Kitten’ (1987)

Why she might be annoying:

    Noam Chomsky and other linguists are skeptical of her claims that apes can learn language.
    She refuses to allow her data about Koko’s language abilities to be independently verified.
    Her closeness to Koko may make it impossible for her to study her objectively.
    Three female employees sued the Gorilla Foundation after Patterson asked them to expose their nipples to Koko, claiming Koko was bored with hers (2005).
    The Gorilla Foundation once failed a health and safety inspection and was fined 300 dollars.
    She once moderated an online chat session featuring Koko on AOL.

Why she might not be annoying:

    Her mother died when Patterson was a freshman, leaving her in charge of six younger siblings.
    She has worked continuously with Koko since 1972.
    Her work with Koko helped disprove the popular notion that gorillas are fierce and unmanageable.
    She plans to relocate the Gorilla Foundation to a location in Hawaii closer to gorillas’ natural habitat.
    She has raised awareness of the environmental threats facing gorillas.
    Her work suggests that apes have the same basic mental makeup as humans.

Credit: Georgina


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 144 Votes: 40.97% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 93 Votes: 46.24% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 10 Votes: 30.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 34 Votes: 55.88% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 18 Votes: 61.11% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 19 Votes: 57.89% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 18 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 27 Votes: 59.26% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 41 Votes: 65.85% Annoying