# What’s your opinion of refrigerator magnets? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 26, 2019, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-opinion-of-refrigerator-magnets/839274 "2019-08-26T18:21:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-opinion-of-refrigerator-magnets/839274/1 "2019-08-26T18:21:21Z")
Some people have their refrigerator covered in magnets, often from places they’ve traveled. Others have a completely barren fridge, especially if it’s a stainless steel one in a modern apartment or condo. I’m kind of a rebel. I do have refrigerator magnets on my stainless steel refrigerator in my apartment built in 2014. But admittedly, it’s not covered in magnets. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-opinion-of-refrigerator-magnets/839274/2 "2019-08-26T18:36:24Z")
I am still _ticked_ that we purchased a refrigerator that will not hold magnets. It never occurred to me to check for that “feature” because it never occurred to me that the stainless steel wouldn’t hold magnets. And the store and packaging sure didn’t say anything about it. As someone with little kids, it was a great place to post their accomplishments. I liked having a choice, but now I have none.:mad: ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-opinion-of-refrigerator-magnets/839274/3 "2019-08-26T18:37:08Z")
I have a white fridge covered in stainless steel magnets. No pictures, lists or postcards. Just magnets covering every square inch. ---
**Author:** ![pendgwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3da27b/32.png) [@pendgwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pendgwen)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-opinion-of-refrigerator-magnets/839274/4 "2019-08-26T18:44:09Z")
My fridge has many magnets. They are one of my standard travel souvenirs. They’re small, easily packable and non-fragile. And unlike some other types of souvenirs that often get shoved in a closet and never enjoyed, I look at the magnets every day. They remind me pleasant memories and make me happy. As a side benefit they also help me keep track of things like take out menus and the piece of paper with the emergency contact number for the power company. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-opinion-of-refrigerator-magnets/839274/5 "2019-08-26T18:44:45Z")
Little annoyances that clutter up the door, and then get knocked off and do their best to act like Legos on the floor. Unfortunately, my wife likes them. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-opinion-of-refrigerator-magnets/839274/6 "2019-08-26T18:47:11Z")
I like them. I have a small variety I inherited from a previous tenant plus a bunch that look like giant thumb tacks. The fridge is my bulletin board, bills, school calendars shopping lists etc go there. Dorkings school projects and accomplishments have a small number of spots on the walls that he has staked out as his own ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-opinion-of-refrigerator-magnets/839274/7 "2019-08-26T19:19:16Z")
When my father died a few years ago, my mother asked us to decommission the hard drives in his computers (he was a bit of a geek, he had 4 computers, and 10 hard drives to decommission). So we showed my mother how to disassemble the hard drives to get the magnets out, and she got into it. Now her refrigerator is covered with old hard drive magnets. The problem is that they are so strong, she can’t move them. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-opinion-of-refrigerator-magnets/839274/8 "2019-08-26T19:29:28Z")
I used to have a set of alphabet letters with magnets in them. I put them on the fridge and would leave myself reminders. You have to get real creative sometimes when you only have one of each letter. Nowadays, those are gone and I mostly have travel souvenirs on the fridge, plus a shopping list. Also note: some stainless steel alloys can hold a magnet, but some can’t. They seem to mostly use the non-magnetic type for refrigerators, but I have seen exceptions. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-opinion-of-refrigerator-magnets/839274/9 "2019-08-26T19:30:42Z")
I’m pro-magnet. I like them because they’re small and easy to transport when I’m on a long trip. By rough estimate I have 150 currently on display on my fridge. I have a bunch more that people have given me, but prefer ones that I’ve bought myself from places that I’ve been. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-opinion-of-refrigerator-magnets/839274/10 "2019-08-26T19:38:19Z")
I dig magnets! I didn’t think to start collecting them from trips until about 2009 so I’m slow on the uptake. I’ve got trip magnets, some pictures of kids, some magnets I bought at concerts and some magnets I bought at Comic Cons. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-opinion-of-refrigerator-magnets/839274/11 "2019-08-26T19:40:45Z")
I’m attracted to magnets. It must be because of my personality. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-opinion-of-refrigerator-magnets/839274/12 "2019-08-26T20:22:38Z")
Vintage fridge magnets here! We have some 1970s (I think) vinyl Jetsons and Disney characters. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-opinion-of-refrigerator-magnets/839274/13 "2019-08-26T20:25:09Z")
> [@pendgwen](#): > > My fridge has many magnets. They are one of my standard travel souvenirs. They’re small, easily packable and non-fragile. And unlike some other types of souvenirs that often get shoved in a closet and never enjoyed, I look at the magnets every day. They remind me pleasant memories and make me happy. As a side benefit they also help me keep track of things like take out menus and the piece of paper with the emergency contact number for the power company. This, plus all the magnets on the freezer in the garage. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-opinion-of-refrigerator-magnets/839274/14 "2019-08-26T20:34:16Z")
We buy magnets from every place we travel. The fridge is covered with them. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-opinion-of-refrigerator-magnets/839274/15 "2019-08-26T20:40:08Z")
Most of our magnets are freebies that advertise something or other. They’re holding stuff that needs to be held. One matches a picture that our daughter drew when she was 10 - the magnet holds that very picture on the fridge. For the record, our daughter will turn 34 in 2 weeks. 😃 I expect we’ll soon add granddaughter artwork - she’s recently discovered crayons. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-opinion-of-refrigerator-magnets/839274/16 "2019-08-26T21:47:41Z")
I have a Dr. John refrigerator magnet and a Brigitte Bardot refrigerator magnet. Life is good. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-opinion-of-refrigerator-magnets/839274/17 "2019-08-26T21:50:00Z")
I’ve got a few. My favorite is one my sister got me; [a Zero-Gravity Fridge Explorer](https://www.madaboutscience.com.au/shop/zero-gravity-fridge-rover.html). I send it out on missions from time to time, but so far have found no signs of fridge-surface life. > [@cochrane](#): > > I’m attracted to magnets. It must be because of my personality. I have a feeling the reactions to that comment will be polarized. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-opinion-of-refrigerator-magnets/839274/18 "2019-08-26T21:53:02Z")
They rank just above bumper stickers for me. Don’t like them, don’t want them. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-opinion-of-refrigerator-magnets/839274/19 "2019-08-26T22:13:19Z")
I have vacation magnets from lots of places on my super high-end but dirt-cheap Sears Outlet fridge. Without the magnets, the dents and dings would be too obvious. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-opinion-of-refrigerator-magnets/839274/20 "2019-08-26T22:22:48Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > Little annoyances that clutter up the door, and then get knocked off and do their best to act like Legos on the floor. Whereas I have [lego magnets](https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=74188c01&idColor=85#T=C&C=85), as in, actual legos with magnets inside them stuck on there. They’re intended to have you put minifigures on them so you can have the minifigures staring out at you with their cold, soulless eyes. The reason I have them there is because I built a diet progress tracking system with a bunch of the magnet bricks in it to hold it in place. (There’s like twenty of them in there; _nobody_ will knock that puppy off.) Nowadays it mostly just serves to remind me that I’ve fallen off the diet wagon, but where else am I going to put a slab of legos that’s mostly magnet? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-opinion-of-refrigerator-magnets/839274.md?page=2)