Bullying and How it Has Changed

I was never bullied in school. I suppose I was a lucky one because it was always easy for me to make friends and because I was so friendly, I usually had friends and a bunch of different groups. I did take it upon myself to befriend some girls that were being bullied though and we all still chat from time to time and they thank me quite a bit for helping them get through school. Unfortunately, there is a problem with bullying in this country and some of these kids decide that they can’t take it anymore and decide to end their own lives.

Earlier today I saw a petition started by a Michigan high school student by the name of Katy Butler, about the new documentary, Bully. She started the petition because she believes that the documentary should receive a PG-13 rating, instead of the R it received because of language, so that more middle and high school kids can see it. I signed the petition but I haven’t seen Bully yet. I do however think that it could be a very important movie for our time.

Now onto the actual topic of this discussion, bullying. If you go to the petition site, which I will link below, you can watch the trailer for the documentary. During the trailer, one of the parents says something that I have heard many times and that is that bullying has always been around. That is very true. Bullying has always been around but it is completely different now. You may ask yourself how that can be and there are two simple answers; cell phones and social networking.

In the not too distant past, say 15 years ago, most people didn’t have cell phones and social networking hadn’t really started yet. At that time, if you were bullied, it was done at school or on the bus and that was it. Once you were home you were safe from the torment. Nowadays, the bullies can not only get to them at school but can also send you hateful messages via text message or blast your Facebook wall. In essence, you can never get away from it.

That is the problem with people that think it has always happened. As I said, it has always happened but what is happening now is different in every aspect. So for anyone out there that knows of a student that is getting bullied. Step in and do something about it. If you are a student, just take them away from their tormenters and if you are an adult, make sure that you try and talk to them or at least let their parents know or let someone know what is happening. There has already been several suicides of teens and pre teens due to bullying and that is too many.

To check out the petition and the trailer for Bully, please go here.