Two years after being named Oxford Dictionary's Word of the Year, selfies have yet to lose their popularity. If anything, selfie haters have declined in popularity, and the massive sales of selfie sticks prove it.

Whether or not we're posting selfies for the sake of irony, it seems like no one is too cool for them anymore (yes, that includes you). And that's not a bad thing. Here's why:

You can make fun of selfies while still loving them

Probably 50% of the selfies out there are ironic. Few trends have this kind of built in freedom, where you can take part without taking it too seriously. People are less likely to get selfie-shamed now that we're all in on the same joke.

It's a cute way to show affection

There are certain milstones in a new relationship, and posting your first couple selfie is one of them. It's an especially romantic gesture when a dude does it spontaneously, without fear of embarrassment from his bros (or pressure from his significant other), and the likes and favs are just a nice bonus. You don't have to be an #AfterSex selfie creeper to appreciate a cute couple photo op.

The are countless places to post them

From from Snapchat to Facebook to Instagram to Twitter, each platform is like a different party you and your face are always invited to. You don't have to post on each, but it's nice to know they're there. In a few years, LinkedIn will probably just be selfie memes capturing your employment experience.

Another excuse to hide in the bathroom at work

You probably thought you were above a bathroom selfie ... until you realized it's one of the best ways to hide from your boss (or anyone, really). No one, and I mean no one, is going to ask you what you were doing in there. Plus, there's something about public bathrooms that make everyone look better in contrast.

It gives you something to teach your parents

They caught on to texting, took over Facebook and mastered the art of emojis with surprising ease, but your work is not done until you receive a Mom or Dad selfie. Teaching them your selfie secrets is a great bonding experience that'll make taking family photos actually fun again.

They kinda make you feel famous

You might not think you have much in common with your favorite celebs -- but you do! We all take selfies and we all (mostly) look great in them. And if you make enough of a spectacle of yourself while taking them, you might even become a viral star.

They give you control over your image

Unlike celebrities, your only paparazzi is you. Selfies let you curate your image and present yourself as you'd like people to see you. They aren't a substitute for real-life experiences, but if anything, they can inspire you to have more experiences IRL (so you can take more selfies).

There's a different kind of perfect selfie for everyone

We have ugly selfies, gym selfies, duck face selfies, no makeup selfies and countless other subgenres of selfies. There's one out there for all of us. So if you still feel compelled to hate on the latest wave silly self-portraits, maybe you just haven't found the right selfie for you (yet).