Those dudes dressed as Power Rangers that started the whole “Harlem Shake” meme better not show their faces outside the Apollo Theater in actual Harlem… or there’s gonna be a rumble… Sorry, did I sound too white there? Probably why I don’t post videos of myself dancing on Youtube…

But seriously, someone decided it would be a good idea to get some “man on the street” reactions from the corner of New York’s West 125^th and African Square, just outside the historic theater. And the feedback wasn’t great. There were a lot of nervous giggles, gasps, sneers and “oh-my-god”s, not to mention a few “what the hell”s and plenty of head shaking.

“They’re dry humping air,” a woman said. While one man thought the “dancers” needed to “smoke some dust.”

The overall consensus, however, was one of disrespect. Harlem residents felt their home was being mocked by the people in the video, who didn’t know what it meant to come from Harlem. And they certainly didn’t have the rhythm to pull it off, either.

“People making a fool of themselves rubbing on each other,” one woman commented. “But it’s not the Harlem Shake.”

“He’s humping his man,” another Harlem resident noticed. “That’s no good.”

Over and over Harlem residents repeated themselves, “Stop that shit.”

Hear them America? Before you and your little friends decide to dress up and show off your lack of real dance skills in a video for all the world to see, just to hop on board the newest craze that will be the punch line next week and certainly show up on the “Worst Of” 2013 lists… have a little respect. Let’s at least rename it… since the meme really has nothing to do with the dance started in Harlem by Al B in 1981 (you can research that history yourself).

And as far as the Harlemites go… they have a point… except maybe for the guy with a shirt on his head who tried to show the “real” Harlem Shake, but really just looked like an ass. He was pretty funny, though.