This photo of a hug is also a very confusing optical illusion

Where does the hug begin, where does it end?
 By 
Max Knoblauch
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

A hug hasn't confused us this much since middle school. 

A photo of a casual hug has become a viral optical illusion. Uploaded to Reddit by user Blood_Reaper, the hug either features someone hug-lifting a man off the ground, or a by-the-books vertical embrace.



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CARD ID: 39839, CARD TYPE: Imgur

But then, if the hug is a standard vertical hug, why are their arms positioned like this? Who does that?

A closer look at the subjects' feet reveals the solution to this visual riddle: the man in the photo is wearing some weird shorts or something.

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Max Knoblauch

Max Knoblauch is the Assistant Humor Editor in the NYC office. He is a journalist, comedian and illustrator. More humor and art by Max can be found on his website.Follow him @MaxKnoblauch

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