This past season of The Bachelorette just wrapped up a few weeks ago, with Bachelorette Kaitlyn choosing Shawn to be her fiancé and sending the widely-hated Nick home. Ben Higgins, who Kaitlyn previously sent home, has been chosen as the next Bachelor. Between the break of the two shows, ABC is showing the audience favorite, Bachelor in Paradise, a much lighter version of the show which features previous contestants as they try to find love in Mexico.

Keep in mind that, while writing this article, I had to do no internet searches to gather the information. I just knew it. This is the part where the truth comes out.

I am an active film and television watcher. I pride myself on the high quality content that I watch. Some of my favorite movies and shows are widely regarded as the best in their genre. I’m a writer and filmmaker myself and tend to put my entertainment opinions on a bit of a pedestal.

And then, there’s my love for The Bachelor.

It’s something that I was, at first, quite ashamed to admit. I’m not much of a reality show fan, beyond competition shows like Face Off and So You Think You Can Dance, both shows that heavily focus on actual talent. And yet, for however many years, I have been a Bachelor fan. It started out as just something that my family watched as I did homework, but as I got older, I got more interested.

I know what you’re thinking. “Nick, that show is so trashy. It’s obviously fake and scripted and the human emotions are ridiculous. It’s all just a cash grab.” And to that I say, yes, you’re absolutely right. But, oh my God, does that not make it even better?!

I will be the first person to tell you that these shows are absolutely nonsensical. Many moments feel forced and clichéd, to the point of absurdity. Many relationships created on the show do not last beyond a few months and even the ones that do, at times, don’t really make sense. Many happy couples from the show happily disappear from the limelight. Others, however, do not.

It’s just so hard not to be engaged. Imagine you take all the most dramatic people that you know and throw them into an enclosed glass box, heighten their emotional tension, and then you just get to gossip about it on the internet with millions of others and probably your mom. Call me shallow, but that sounds like an amazing Monday night to me.

Yes, the gender dynamics of the show can definitely be a little iffy sometimes, but I think that the show can sort of force us into those conversations. There is nothing wrong with that. For example, many times in the past, the Bachelor has been intimate with one of the contestants before the Over Night dates. There’s been some tension, but nothing really explosive and no real name calling from the viewers. However, this season, Kaitlyn was intimate with Nick very early on in the season. This exploded with the viewers, many taking to the internet to call her a slut, a whore and many worse derogatory terms. This prompted many discussions within my family, and certainly many across the internet. Oddly enough, this over-dramatic convoluted show created a legitimate conversation about slut shaming with people who may have never discussed it before.

At the same time, it’s a fascinating study into human emotions. The contestants are aware that it is a TV show and that the main point is that whoever is the suitor, they are seeing many people. However, without fail, at some point in the season, someone will say how hard it is that the person they’re having feelings for is seeing someone else. These are people with jobs, probably people with college degrees. They’re usually in their mid to late 20’s, sometimes even in their early 30’s. And yet, when faced with relationship or dating issues, they become middle school kids whose crush crossed the "No box" on their note. It’s hilarious to see.

So, say what you will. Call it stupid, absurd, ridiculous, obscene, destructive, etc. and I will happily agree with you. But maybe, and this is a fault that I myself encounter in my hatred for the Kardashians, don’t be so judgmental of what someone else gets entertained by. I always remind myself that if I can like The Bachelor and ask to not be judged for it, then you can watch whatever you want and not be made to feel lesser because of it.

And if you’re questioning why people love it so much, I highly recommend just watching one episode. Chris Harrison and his winning smile will win you over in a flat second and you’ll be a proud addict of America’s favorite guilty pleasure, just like the rest of us.