Some think it’s offensive junk, others think it’s one of the most hilarious reality shows ever. But either way, chances are that just about everyone under 30 has heard about “Jersey Shore.”

The “guidos and guidettes”—eight young friends who share a house in Seaside Heights, N.J. who flaunt their over-inflated boobs, steroid-enhanced muscles and salon-bought tans on a weekly basis—have collected a huge fan base in a short amount of time.

Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, DJ Pauly Delvecchio and Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino have created quite the buzz these days, enough to put a second season into production that will air this summer.

In the first season, which spanned nine episodes, most viewers could not get enough of the orange-skinned, hair-jelled hotties of the Jersey Shore.

From the infamous “punch heard around the world,” when Snooki got rocked by a right hand in a bar brawl, to the frequent slang references like “stage-five clinger,” (or someone who gets extremely emotionally attached to someone), “Jersey Shore” is taking reality TV to new heights of unreality.

Although the punch scene was omitted from the show when it aired, the clip is all over YouTube and has been seen by millions, qualifying it as one of the most talked-about TV incidents since Janet Jackson’s Super Bowl “wardrobe malfunction” in 2004—at least for the MTV generation.

Brad Ferro, the physical education teacher who knocked out “Snooki” for all the world to see, was charged and found guilty of simple assault, fined $500 and given a desk job pending possible further disciplinary action from his employer.

But then, what could be worse punishment than seeing your face and lack of character on gossip and news programs ranging from “Chelsea Lately” to “E! News” and every tabloid show in between?

But not even a fist to the face could stop Snooki from doing cartwheels at a club while flashing her underwear for the entire world to see. All the housemates keep fist-pumping the night away, each and every episode.

The core of the “Jersey Shore” aesthetic is “GTL—that’s how you make Guidos,” as Mike “The Situation” and DJ Pauly D often said throughout the season.

What is GTL? Simple: gym, tan, laundry, as in the three principal activities that made up much of the daily routine of many of the male housemates.

But what is a “guido” or a “guidette,” really? And is it possible that you are one yourself? Look for these tell-tale clues:

If you are a guy, or a “guido,” you are most likely an Italian American, who lives in or is from the New York City or New Jersey area. Your shirt is probably too tight, and unbuttoned too low in order to display your orange skin and ripped physique. The hair of most “guidos” is gelled to almost concrete-like consistency and cannot be moved even by hurricane-force winds. According to a “blow out 101” tutorial created by Pauly D on the Daily Swarm Web site, if you’re not using “Spiker” (pronounced “spika” by true “guidos”), then you don’t have a blow out.

If you are a woman, or a “guidette,” you are also of Italian-American descent, living in or originally from the New York/New Jersey area. Your skin is often more orange than that of the guidos, approaching the color of a ripe Clementine that is impossible to ignore. You likely have long, dark hair and spend an extreme amount of time putting on a lot of makeup. You favor apparel of the Juicy Couture and Ed Hardy variety, often in the form of a trucker hat of some sort.

But why is the Jersey Shore so popular? It is fairly awful television, yet people keep coming back for more. Maybe it is just that—similar to a train wreck, we just can’t seem to take our eyes off of it. Some people think it is of similar format to “The Hills,” but less girly and with more fighting. Maybe that is why people watch it, because it is not as embarrassing to watch as some other popular programming. It is hard to admit that the show is entertaining, but there are a lot of people who are against it.

My thought? If you don’t like it, change the channel. The only way your voice is being heard when it comes to mainstream programming like “Jersey Shore” is to abstain from watching it. People are only feeding fuel to the fire if they continue to watch what they consider to be pointless programming.

I for one enjoy it, not because of the educational value involved, but rather to assess my own life through the lens of “Jersey Shore.” Most lives wont seem that bad if you compare them to how these people act and behave, and maybe that’s why so many tune in.

If you, too, enjoy the Jersey Shore for its comedic value, the first season is being released on DVD Feb. 23, and the second season is set to premiere this summer on MTV.

Author’s note: As someone who is part-Italian American myself, I do not find the term “guido” or “guidette” offensive, but I understand that others may. The use of those terms in this article is intended solely for their humor value in properly characterizing the attitudes of the “Jersey Shore” housemates who use the phrases to describe themselves. I apologize to anyone who is offended by anything in this article. GTL!