Where’s the harm in Bully?

“The Hunger Games” is extremely violent. You know this if you’ve read the book or seen the movie. If you haven’t, I’m telling you it is violent. I’m not going to get into the details of the book or movie, except that I enjoyed them both very much. Although the book was more realistic than “Harry Potter” or “Twilight”…at 30-years-old, I’m mature enough to be able to read it for what it is, fiction.

Since my son is still into The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Brown Bear, the ratings and whether or not my tweenager should be allowed to see it isn’t on my radar. I’d like to say I wouldn’t alow it, but I’ve never felt the pressure of a 14-year-old wanting to do something that all his/her friends are doing. Plus, I think it would have to be a decision I make based on my specific child at that time.

Speaking of pressure of a 14-year-old, have you heard of “Bully?”

This is a documentary, not fiction. It is the version of “The Hunger Games” that alot of our children are or will go through, except it is an actual part of our society. Unlike Hunger Games’ PG-13 rating, it received a rating of R for its use of profanity. For example, a schoolmate tells another that “I will f—in’ end you.” So yes, that’s profane, but more profane than a teenager getting harpooned in the back? I think not.

So while I don’t think that “The Hunger Games” should necessarily be Rated R (I think they did a pretty good job of not dragging out the gruesome scenes), I don’t think that “Bully” should be either. I think it should be shown in every school in America, honestly.

Sometimes it’s easier to see things for what it is when you’re watching it on the big screen. Maybe something like this is happening at their school, but they’re so jaded that they don’t realize how wrong it is.

Both “The Hunger Games” and “Bully” have gruesome undertones. The difference is that one is fiction and one is not. The question is which one would your child benefit most from watching?