When YouTube first surfaced in 2005, it introduced lovers of all that is funny and bizarre to the latest and greatest in viral trends— from the classic “Leave Britney Alone” video to little Charlie biting his older brother’s finger and everything in between— YouTube has always been a great place to look for a good time. When the latest dance craze called the “Harlem Shake” went viral earlier this year, it gave Internet junkies worldwide yet another unorthodox dance to add to their repertoires— as if the “Stanky Leg,” “Dougie” and “Gangnam Style” dances weren’t strange enough.

For those living under a rock, the “Harlem Shake” is simply a dance that involves the rapid flailing of one’s upper body— think of a strange crossover between those inflatable arm flailing tube-men you see at car dealerships and the way jellyfish drift through the water.

The original “Harlem Shake” video stars four gentlemen dressed in random costumes— an alien, a red Power Ranger, a man in all black with a mask and a man in a pink jumpsuit— as they stand in a semi-circle and start to hip thrust to the beat of the song before busting out in afore mentioned rapid flailing. Other videos involve one person in the beginning then cuts to randomly spawned people once the music drops. If anything, it’s the random single dances that you’ll notice each person doing that will make you laugh the most.

Since the original video’s uploading, there have been numerous parodies, spanning from those done by professional sports teams like the Miami Heat to those done by the men and women who uphold our justice system. It seems that everyone is doing the “Harlem Shake,” and that includes the likes of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit models and celebrity figures like Ryan Seacrest and T-Pain.

It has been said through various forums on the web that the dance derives from the way a person staggers when being shot— the kind of violence that Harlem is no stranger to. However, Wayne Brady recently teamed up with YouTube giant Ryan Higa (AKA “nigahiga”) and dispelled the rumors, showing off the “real Harlem Shake”, which looks nothing like one getting shot in the chest multiple times.

Whether you like it or not, it exists, so like every other trend started on YouTube, it’ll be old news in a few weeks. The “Harlem Shake” may promote foolish and childlike behavior, but if there’s one thing the dance does well, it’s the fact that it brings people together in collaboration and there are few things in life that can top that kind of everlasting effect.