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In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “Magnotta’s Washing Machine” is an epic card of the Italian Memes pack, number 164 of the collection, and the 26th best-known meme of its 300 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.
What does the “Magnotta’s Washing Machine” meme mean?
It's invoked to mock an absurd, never-ending administrative dispute, or to quote a wildly disproportionate outburst of anger at a pushy, dishonest caller.
Where does the “Magnotta’s Washing Machine” meme come from?
Mario Magnotta worked as a janitor at a technical institute in L'Aquila. Separated from his wife, who had taken the San Giorgio washing machine he'd bought in 1981, he was trying to get it back or buy an identical one. Two former students of the school, Antonello De Dominicis and Maurizio Videtta, found out and staged a prank lasting more than a month in 1987, taking turns posing as San Giorgio employees who claimed he'd signed a contract obliging him to keep buying appliances. Exasperated, Magnotta blurted out on 16 September 1987 the now-iconic line "veramente io m'iscrivo ai terroristi" ("I'm actually signing up with the terrorists"). The recordings first spread hand to hand on copied cassette tapes, then were digitized and posted online, still amusing generations of Italian internet users.
- 1981Mario Magnotta buys the San Giorgio washing machine at the heart of the prank
- 1987The phone prank runs for over a month, with the iconic line on 16 September
- 2009Mario Magnotta dies
- 2012L'Aquila's city council votes to dedicate a street to him
How to use the “Magnotta’s Washing Machine” meme
- Customer support hung up on me again... I'm signing up with the terrorists, just like Magnotta.
- Third follow-up call about the same billing issue, pure Mario Magnotta and the washing machine.
- He's still pushing a subscription I never asked for, total Magnotta-and-the-washing-machine vibes.
Also searched as
- Veramente io m'iscrivo ai terroristi
- mario magnotta washing machine prank origin
- who pranked mario magnotta
- mario magnotta famous quote terrorists
- history of the san giorgio washing machine prank call
- mario magnotta death year
The “Magnotta’s Washing Machine” card in MyMemeCards
| Number | No. 164 |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Epic |
| Collection | Italian Memes pack |
| Fame | 70/100 · #26 of 300 |
| Recycle value | 20 MemeCoins (60 in Shiny) |
How to get the “Magnotta’s Washing Machine” card
Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; Magnotta’s Washing Machine comes out of the Italian Memes pack as an epic card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.
Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 20 MemeCoins.
Open your free pack
5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.
Free · no account needed
Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art ≤ 0.1%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details
Memes like “Magnotta’s Washing Machine”
More cards of the Italian Memes pack
Frequently asked questions
Who was Mario Magnotta?
A janitor at a technical institute in L'Aquila who became famous through a 1987 phone prank.
Who staged the washing-machine prank?
Two former students of his school, Antonello De Dominicis and Maurizio Videtta.
How did the prank spread before the internet?
Through cassette tapes copied and passed hand to hand across Italy.
How do I get the Magnotta’s Washing Machine meme card?
Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “Magnotta’s Washing Machine” is an epic card of the Italian Memes pack. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.
How rare is the Magnotta’s Washing Machine card?
It is an Epic card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.
Sources: Il più celebre scherzo telefonico italiano di sempre (Il Post) · Mario Magnotta (Wikipedia, en) · Un bidello, una lavatrice e uno scherzo che diventa leggenda (Orizzonte Scuola) · checked on November 5, 2026.
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Want Magnotta’s Washing Machine in your collection?
Open your free pack: 5 meme cards, no account needed.