This post was inspired by an absolutely hysterical TikTok pondering the complexities of self-love. Here's what the TikToker said (btw, he's HOT):

"Is jerking off to pictures of yourself gay? Cuz, you know, you're jerking off to a DUDE. That's pretty gay, BUT...it's yourself. I feel like it's more of a way to show self-love."

Now, funny doesn't get much funnier than that (especially if you see his delivery). Or does it? We decided to tease out his central question and try to answer it.

The Narcissistic Roots of Self-Admiration

Meet Narcissus, the ancient Greek heartthrob, who couldn't stop checking out his own reflection. If mirrors existed back then, his bedroom would be a mirror maze. Caught up in his own allure, he pined away at the water's edge, swooning over the hot guy in the pond.

His was a tragic tale of self-love gone overboard. Makes you wonder, if Narcissus had an Instagram account, would he be snapping his reflection, swiping right, and whispering sweet nothings to his own selfie?

From Selfie-Love to Self-Love: A Quirky Exploration

Let's venture into the funhouse mirror of self-love, the kind that goes way beyond face masks and bubble baths. There's a dude named Robbie in San Francisco who swears he's his own type. "I mean, look at me," Robbie insists, gazing at his iPhone gallery full of his selfies. "I'm just my type!"

It's a jungle out there in the dating world, so maybe Robbie's onto something. Instead of ghosting, catfishing, or unrequited Tinder swipes, Robbie chooses the path of self-admiration. His evenings consist of candlelit dinners with his own portrait and, yes, a bit of "me-time."

Is This Gay or Just Another Love Story?

Here's where the plot thickens like a Netflix series you can't stop binge-watching. If you're attracted to your own gender, is self-love technically gay? To explore this, let's visit John in Miami. John, like Robbie, is smitten with himself.

"I look in the mirror and think, 'Damn, I'd date me,'" John chuckles. He's openly gay and argues that since he's a man attracted to himself—a man—this does add a twist to his sexual orientation.

But it's not a simple yes or no question. Jack from New York disagrees with John. He's straight and also loves himself to the moon and back. "I don't think it makes me gay. I mean, I'm me! Loving myself doesn't change who I'm attracted to. It's like saying eating a banana makes you a monkey!"

What Do the So-Called Experts Say?

To give this merry-go-round of self-love some gravity, let's see what the experts have to say. According to Dr. Ruth Langford, a sexologist with a wild sense of humor, "It's the same as laughing at your own jokes. Does that make you a comedian?" Dr. Ben Carter, a psychologist known for his eye-roll-inducing one-liners, retorts, "By that logic, talking to yourself makes you a great conversationalist!"

It's Complicated, Just Like That Facebook Relationship Status

All in all, it seems we've dived into a rabbit hole and emerged more confused than a cat in a dog show. Whether it's gay or a radical form of self-love remains as foggy as your bathroom mirror after a hot shower. One thing's for sure—just like love, self-love comes in many shades, each as unique and fascinating as the person experiencing it. And hey, as long as you're not pining away at the edge of a pond like our friend Narcissus, you're probably alright.