Listen up Chris Christie: Jersey Shore isn't ruining New Jersey's rep, and in fact, it may be helping it. According to a study just released by Fairleigh Dickinson University, there is "no statistical difference between those who have seen the show and those who haven’t." More shockingly, the poll showed that 41% of Americans have a favorable view of New Jersey, while 18% have an unfavorable view. The remaining are simply unsure of their feelings on the Garden State. Here are some more numbers!:
People in the northeastern United States are more likely than people in other regions of the country to have a favorable view of New Jersey. They are also more likely than people in other regions to have an unfavorable view of NJ. 48% of folks in the Northeast have a favorable view of the Garden State, compared to just 37% of people in the Midwest. Similarly, 27% of people in the Northeast say they have an unfavorable view of New Jersey, compared to just 17% in the Midwest.
Since “familiarity breeds both appreciation and criticism,” Peter Woolley, director of the poll, says “New Jersey’s neighbors are more likely than others to know both the attractive and unattractive parts of the state.” So where do Snooki and the Sitch fit into all of this? 43% of those who have seen the show have a favorable opinion of the state, and 41% of those who haven’t seen the show also have a favorable opinion of the state. Allegedly some viewers are seeing beyond the fist-pumping and plant-humping, and focus on the beaches! As one Canadian put it, talking to CBS Local, “Straight up? I love New Jersey! It's fucking beautiful. What else can I say about a place like this. It’s just beautiful.”
