# Mood rings

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mood-rings/281234>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 22, 2004, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mood-rings/281234 "2004-12-22T22:32:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mood-rings/281234/1 "2004-12-22T22:32:39Z")

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I tried searching the archives but got no results for “mood ring” in general questions.  
I always assumed these things worked based on digit temperature, but now I’ve decided to ask you, oh wise ones, for the straight dope. How do these things change color and why, and does it have anything to do with your mood or stress level?

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**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mood-rings/281234/2 "2004-12-22T23:04:57Z")

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Going from personal experience, they’re all heat-sensitive.  
The website [How Stuff Works](http://science.howstuffworks.com/question443.htm) has an excellent article and is, on the whole, a good place for internet answers on the rare occasion that the Teeming Millions can’t help. Enjoy!

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**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mood-rings/281234/3 "2004-12-22T23:07:08Z")

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Oh my gawd, this is, like, the first GQ question I’ve been able to answer! I am so excited right now! Squeee!

[/valley girl]

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**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mood-rings/281234/4 "2004-12-22T23:23:29Z")

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Quick! What color’s your mood ring?

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**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mood-rings/281234/5 "2004-12-22T23:24:24Z")

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I’ve never been able to get anything but blue out of any mood ring ever, neither has my mother. Is it just because I’m so hot? 🆒

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**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mood-rings/281234/6 "2004-12-22T23:37:36Z")

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My kitten just died, but the ring is blue, so I must be happy that my kitten died. I’m a sick bastard!

**groman:** They don’t work for me either. In fact, I usually peg them so they go all the way past dark blue into black again. So I guess that makes you and me the hottest dopers there are 🆒

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**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mood-rings/281234/7 "2004-12-23T01:54:08Z")

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No, guys! It reads your aaaaura. You guys just have dark hearts who can’t get it to work.