You spot a bright orange tee with two ragged tears in the front. Under the picture are four choices – 2, 4, 6, or 8 holes and a cheeky headline: “How many holes you see in this T-shirt determines if you’re a narcissist.” Before you rush to judge yourself, let’s treat this as the kind of light, shareable brain-teaser that reveals more about how you think than it does about your mental health.
Below I’ll share the puzzle, give the answer most puzzlers accept, and — for fun — provide personality read-outs for each choice.
The puzzle: what counts as a “hole”?
The trick in many visual riddles is definition. When you look at a shirt, do you count only the obvious tears? Or do you include the built-in openings (neck, sleeves, waist)? Different valid interpretations produce different answers.
Let’s check all the possible “holes” visible or implied in the illustration:
- The two ripped holes in the front (big, obvious).
- The neck opening (where you put your head).
- The left sleeve opening (arm hole).
- The right sleeve opening (arm hole).
- The bottom/waist opening (where the torso goes through).
If you count only the tears, you’ll say 2.
If you count only the standard garment openings (neck + 2 sleeves + bottom), you’ll say 4.
If you count both the tears and the garment openings, you get 6.
If you start counting imaginary internal holes, buttons, or other trickery, you might reach 8, but that’s less commonly argued.
The commonly accepted answer
Most puzzle-buffs and logic riddles opt for 6 holes: the two tears plus the four normal openings (neck, two sleeves, waist). That answer treats “hole” as any opening in the fabric that penetrates the shirt, visible or not.
So if you answered 6, congrats – you solved the riddle as many brain-teasers intend you to.
What your choice playfully reveals about you
Remember: pure fun, not science. But here’s how people often interpret each pick:
A) 2 holes — You’re literal and detail-focused.
You see exactly what’s most obvious: the two tears. You pay attention to surface details and you value direct evidence. You might be practical, skeptical, and prefer simple, elegant solutions.
B) 4 holes — You’re conventional and rule-oriented.
You counted the shirt’s natural openings. You prefer established definitions and like to follow rules. You notice function and structure before flair. Pragmatic and steady, you’re comfortable with common sense.
C) 6 holes — You’re a creative logical thinker.
You combined both the visible tears and the inherent openings. That means you can hold multiple perspectives at once and are good at seeing how pieces fit together. You’re the kind of problem-solver who notices both detail and context.
D) 8 holes — You think outside the box (maybe too much).
You looked for an extra twist – counting internal seams, potential sleeve cuffs, or overthinking the setup. You’re imaginative and flexible, and sometimes your creativity takes you to answers others miss (or find delightfully bizarre).
As for the cheeky caption about narcissism: people who jump to label others are often jokingly told to choose the most extreme option — but the image’s claim isn’t to be taken literally. Whether you pick 2 or 6, it’s your way of seeing puzzles, not a personality diagnosis.
