Welcome login | signup
Language en es fr
OccupyForum

Forum Post: Do you feel that a movie about Bullying victims and Bullies should be seen by the audience it is about?

Posted 12 years ago on March 17, 2012, 7:33 p.m. EST by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

http://www.change.org/petitions/mpaa-don-t-let-the-bullies-win-give-bully-a-pg-13-instead-of-an-r-rating?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&me=aa&utm_campaign=xgRVBOMIaI&alert_id=xgRVBOMIaI_UCfJRgNjKm

Dear Dan,

Katy Butler knows how it feels to be bullied. When she was 12, four boys came up behind her. They called her names and shoved her into a wall -- then they slammed a locker on her hand and broke her finger. “I held back tears while I watched them run away laughing,” she says. “I didn’t know what to do so I stood there, alone and afraid.”

So Katy, now in high school, was thrilled when she heard about a new documentary, Bully, that sheds light on America’s bullying epidemic. But the Motion Picture Association of America voted to give Bully an “R” rating by just one vote (because some of the bullies use coarse language). This means no one under the age of 17 can see the movie -- and it can’t be screened in middle and high schools.

Katy thinks it’s ridiculous that the MPAA would prevent teens from seeing a movie that was made specifically to help them fight back against bullying.

So Katy started a petition on Change.org asking the MPAA to give Bully a PG-13 rating -- and more than 300,000 have signed it. Click here to sign Katy’s petition now.

The response to Katy’s petition and the film has been amazing. Katy has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, CBS This Morning, and The Ellen Show. Celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres, Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Justin Bieber, Randy Jackson, Demi Lovato, and Drew Brees have spoken out while 29 members of Congress, led by Rep. Mike Honda, have expressed support for Katy and “Bully” as well.

However, the MPAA still hasn’t budged -- they told Katy they need to be “consistent” in how they determine their ratings. But the MPAA has changed ratings of worthy films before. If more people sign Katy’s petition to keep up the pressure, they’ll see that it’s worth it to make an exception for a movie that could literally save lives.

Click here to sign Katy’s petition asking the MPAA to give Bully a PG-13 rating so the kids who most need to see it -- bullying victims and bullies themselves -- can do so.

Thanks for being a change-maker,

  • Mark Anthony and the Change.org team

22 Comments

22 Comments


Read the Rules
[-] 2 points by toukarin (488) 12 years ago

Already signed. Censors are fricking morons. In the era where teen pregnancy and drug abuse are rampant... whats an R rating anyway?

[+] -7 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

Rating systems are fine for entertainment purposes. However children already know about the stuff censors are keeping them away from.

Now educationally censors are way out of bounds not letting kids have access to educational material that speaks to issues that these kids are already living with on a day to day basis. No instead if they approach these subjects at all they dumb them down to where the kids groan in disbelief.

We must deal with realty realistically. How do we provide for our kids if they have no contact with reality. This goes to culture shock also when they leave school and enter the real world.

[-] 1 points by toukarin (488) 12 years ago

I guess a better solution would be to tag the movie as an educational film. Or some other category that can sidestep the rating barriers.

Either way, it most certainly deserves to be seen by the children who face or inflict or just stand as mute witnesses to bullying every day.

[+] -7 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

Antisocial behavior starts young. Victims are often started off young as bullies often grow worse as they get older, those standing on the sideline remain pretty much the same.

Why? this is how they were not taught growing up. This is where they were left to fend for themselves with no back-up or guidance. These are the most formative years. Get them early and teach them how to act and react. That is the only real answer for growing up responsibly.

[-] 2 points by beautifulworld (23769) 12 years ago

Actually, the rated R rating only requires that a parent accompany a child under 17. Not such a bad idea given the fragile topic.

[-] 1 points by factsrfun (8310) from Phoenix, AZ 12 years ago

I got this through FB and already signed, thank you for posting it here.

[+] -7 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

Thanks for signing.

Adults forget what they saw as a child, or so it seems.

I believe you are not protecting your child by not teaching them. The world will not let them be ignorant anyway. Best to give them good instruction.

[-] 1 points by factsrfun (8310) from Phoenix, AZ 12 years ago

I have not seen it, but I think this has to do with language, there is a set number of times you can say the "f" word.

Do these censurers really think kids don't know these words?

If you tell a true story about kids they can't see it, that's crazy.

[+] -7 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

You would think that some of these censers were raised in a Stephord town. Robotic controlled and always pleasant and sunny. No contact with the real world.

[-] 0 points by factsrfun (8310) from Phoenix, AZ 12 years ago

I know, it's not the biggest fight we have, and this director, he's a big shot, I think they may get this changed. At least the flim is getting a lot of buzz from it, and for a doc it always tough to get anybody to see them, so in the end this may all help. I mean I never had any trouble "sneeking in" and it was always more fun.

[+] -7 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

No it is not the biggest fight. But they are all related. We need the government serving the people and the rest can be addressed as we move forward.

But given an opportunity I think we should speak out as each issue is brought into the light.

Regain the service of our governments State and Federal is 1st.

[-] 0 points by factsrfun (8310) from Phoenix, AZ 12 years ago

Hey I agree this diffidently belongs here, we should be talking about this. I will mention that this is an industry group not actually government per say, but still the general rule would apply, stupid is stupid and this group has made a stupid choice in restricting this film from it's audience.

It really does point to how certain people think that they know best for everyone else, what words they can hear, who they can love, when they have children and so on.

[+] -7 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

It really comes down to another aspect of denying reality.

Do not feed awareness and keep the people in chains.

Manipulation 101.

[-] 0 points by factsrfun (8310) from Phoenix, AZ 12 years ago

True, once you start attacking truth it becomes your enemy everywhere, climate change, sexuality, economics and what really goes on in schools, ect..

[+] -7 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

And the belief that you do not need to treat your workers fairly to make a profit. Or you can do toxic business on a world wide scale and not have it effect the economy. All the sick shit in the world is supported by denial of reality.

[-] 0 points by factsrfun (8310) from Phoenix, AZ 12 years ago

This as old as three people getting together too, somebody gets the mic and tells their own truth, that fits their needs. Then the people’s mic changed that, at least I hope so. The thing we have is the truth is strong and easy to see once you brush off the bullshit, so on we go..

[+] -7 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

We do as we have the corrupt show their hand more clearly day by day. The public gets more opportunities to see the truth appear before their eyes as the corrupt get more blatant.

We go On.

[-] 1 points by RedSkyMorning (220) 12 years ago

Teachers are often the worst bullies. Or maybe I just cared what my teachers thought. If you show it in schools, the kids won't take it seriously. Anyhow, this is likely a better film for parents to see with their kids, so they can talk about it together. Bullying is a private problem and kids feel ashamed if they are a victim.

[+] -7 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

I can understand your view.

But kids are smart and they see a lot more then they are given credit for.

When I was in grade school I had an older kid threaten my life. I was 6 or 7 and he was 8 or 9. Laughing he said he could kill me and all he would get would be a slap on the wrist perhaps some juvey time and no record when he became an adult.

This from a child.

I believe this film if it is any good. Don't know as I have not seen it or heard any reviews. But I believe that if it is well made that it should play for kids of all ages.

Kids experience see and are exposed to so much more than some can remember or than some could imagine.

[+] -7 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

Dan -

I have some amazing news to share.

Last month, I saw the new documentary, Bully, which reveals the raw and honest reality behind bullying in high schools and middle schools. I cried when I watched the movie because I was horribly bullied in middle school. That’s why I was shocked to find out that other young people like me might not be able to see the movie because the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) gave it an “R” rating.

Outraged, I started a petition on Change.org asking the MPAA to change the rating to PG-13. After more than half a million people signed -- including you! -- the MPAA agreed. When Bully is released on April 13, it will be rated PG-13, and the most controversial scene in the film will remain unchanged, reflecting the reality and brutality of bullying.

This happened because people like you -- 500,000 strong -- came together to say that we think the issue of bullying in schools is important, and if this movie can help, then kids should be able to see it. We were even joined by people like Ellen DeGeneres, Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Michael Jordan, Drew Brees, Justin Bieber, and 35 members of Congress. My petition was covered by almost every major TV station and newspaper in America.

When I was bullied, I felt alone. But today I feel the power of half a million people standing beside me. Thank you so much.

  • Katy

If there's something you want to change in your community, it only takes about 2 minutes to start your own petition. Just click here to get started.

http://www.change.org/start-a-petition?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&me=aa&utm_campaign=PWZbbkDYGl&alert_id=PWZbbkDYGl_hesrSmOfnt

This email was sent by Change.org

[+] -7 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

Required education for our young?

A series for social studies?

I think so yes.

Bullying is something that needs to be addressed, and it needs to be addressed where it happens.

Sane individuals will take good material ( food for thought ) from this sort of thing, those who need help may 1st experience an outreach from something like this.

[+] -7 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

Can't be aired in schools. Where it would do the most good with a proper lead in and follow-up.