During a mindless scroll, you stumble upon a picture of a slightly worn pair of denim shorts—nothing out of the ordinary. And then this catchy headline pops up: “The number of holes in these shorts reveals if you’re a narcissist.” Instantly, your curiosity is piqued, your mind starts working, and your ego is on high alert. Why does such a simple image spark so much passionate debate? Behind this visual game lies an amusing reflection of how we think… and react.
A visual puzzle that’s cleverer than it looks
Text Image: The number of holes in these shorts determines if you’re a narcissist: A) 2 holes
B) 5 holes
C) 7 holes
D) 9 holes
The question seems childish: how many holes do you see on these shorts? Most people answer without hesitation: two. Two large, clearly visible tears on each leg, and that settles it. It’s the spontaneous response, the one we get at first glance, when our brain goes straight to the point without overthinking it.
But all it takes is for a little voice to chime in—often in the comments—to sow doubt: “What about the size? And the leg openings?” And then, everything changes. We leave instinctive perception and enter the realm of analysis.
Continued on the next page. When the brain loves to complicate things.
See more
shorts
Shorts
By taking the time to analyze the image, another calculation emerges:
Two holes due to tears,
Two leg openings,
One opening at the waist.
Total: five holes. An answer that already seems more thoughtful, more logical, and gives the impression of having solved the mystery. A bit like when you think you’ve found the best pancake recipe after comparing several versions.
But some don’t stop there. They take the reasoning further and wonder if the tears go all the way through the fabric. In that case, each tear could count as two separate openings: one at the front, one at the back. The result: seven, or even nine holes, depending on the interpretation. And it’s precisely here that the puzzle becomes exhilarating and reveals the entire psychology of perception.
See more
short
Short
What your answer (kindly) says about you
Contrary to what the slightly provocative title suggests, this game isn’t a verdict on your personality. It mainly highlights your thinking style.
If you answered 2, you operate on intuition. You quickly grasp the essentials and trust your first impression. This is valuable in everyday life, even if it can sometimes cause you to miss certain details.
Continued on the next page
If you opted for 5, you like to analyze and structure. You take the time to examine things from multiple perspectives and you appreciate challenges that require logic.
See more
Short
Short
If you scored 7 or 9, you have an exploratory spirit. You reason deeply, almost as if you were dismantling the object in your mind. A meticulous approach, often associated with highly technical profiles.
No answer is better than another, and none defines who you are.
Why this image is circulating on social media
If this riddle has gone viral, it’s no coincidence. It ticks all the boxes:
See more
Short
Short
It transforms a simple perception into a challenge,
It boosts our self-confidence,
It sparks instant debates,
And above all, it makes you want to defend your point of view tooth and nail.
The result: we comment, we share, we argue… and the image continues its journey.
In reality, it doesn’t matter what number you found: this little game mainly reminds us how much our brain loves to be right, and how healthy – and sometimes fun – it is to accept that there are several ways of seeing the same thing.
