MovieChat Forums > A Girl Like Her (2015) Discussion > Some things that were a bit unrealistic

Some things that were a bit unrealistic


**I KNOW THIS IS UP TO INTERPRETATION AND SOME PEOPLE MAY FIND IT MORE REALISTIC THAN OTHERS DUE TO THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES**

As stated above, I am fully aware that everyone's experiences are different, so in my opinion, I found these certain things to be unrealistic. However, once again, some people might not find them to be unrealistic, which I understand.

The first one being that they showed Avery spammed Jessica's Facebook wall with multiple posts. From what I have personally seen, no one does that. Facebook messages, maybe, but their actual Facebook wall, that's a little....out there. The second thing being that Avery was spamming Jessica's email and text messages. This just isn't really that normal for someone to do when they are bullying someone else. A few here and there are definitely possible, but it portrayed Jessica as having 100+ emails. That's pretty unrealistic to what actually happens. I feel like this movie was what adults interpreted internet bullying to be like, but they didn't really execute it very well.

This next point is solely opinion based, but I feel as though the "bullies have a bad home life" is not always the correct stereotype. I boil it down to who they are as an actual person. When I was in high school, I wasn't a bully, but I was friends with bullies. The ones who tore people down often. They were all perfectly fine in their home life. They just enjoyed tormenting other people because that's how they were. And being well out of high school, they're still not nice people. I feel that bullies are simply mean-spirited people that enjoy power and enjoy torment. Sort of like when a kind-hearted person finds joy in helping people. I don't think it always has an underlying cause of their home life. All of my friends and I grew up in rich families, and we didn't have any significant home issues. Some turned out as bullies, and some were like me who just simply didn't bully people, but I was able to be on the outside looking in, and I could tell that my "bully friends" just found complete and utter joy in tormenting other people. Of course bullies most definitely can have a bad home life, but I think stuffing all bullies into a box that says "Hey, they have problems" is wrong. We're all taught that same theory throughout school. "Bullies are just jealous", "Bullies have their own issues", "Bullies are also being bullied by something else". You can't tell me you've never heard that rhetoric before. I don't think every bully has issues, I think some just love power.

reply

Unfortunately, all of these things are real. Facebook messages, email spamming, wall posts happen. Everyone can privatize their wall posts so only the person they're sending them to can see them. With all of the technology we have, there are so many ways people can harass each other without physically being in their face. Granted, the movie softened the *beep* the bullies usually say. Plus the bullies having a bad home life and vice versa are both very valid story lines. No ONE is just simply mean-spirited. There's a cause for everything. And I wouldn't even really say that Avery's home life is even that bad. Yes, her home life looks very annoying to deal with and possibly damaging to someone's values, but nothing jaw droppingly "woe is me;" especially since her mother enables her.

reply

Actually brain chemistry plays a role in personalities. Im not trying to take personal responsibility out of the equation as I don't think it's all if one and none of the other. Our behavior is some nature, some nurture.

Regarding your example you gave about depression, yes, some people are just depressed. They have clinical depression. Not all depression is environmental (something happened to them).

reply

I was thinking that maybe the emails were filtered/searched. That maybe it was a search result within the inbox of the total of all the emails sent by her bully.

I like what you posted because if there are bullies who have great home lives, then if there is any investigation done, they will be like ''oh well this is a good family, and a loving family, this student can't possibly be the one who is bullying anyone.''

Even if it is the truth that all bullies have a bad home life, we should never assume that because a family ''appears'' good looking and great on the outside, who is to say there aren't some skeletons in the closet? Heck the teens might be getting abused or abusing the parents (saw a video once of a young teen guy pushing his mom around).

reply

I doubt when you were in your friends homes you saw what goes on when others aren't looking. They wouldn't have confided in you specifically about it. You can only speak for yourself.

reply

I get ya, OP. For me, the existence of hard evidence like texts and posts kinda diluted the impact of the "secret footage" that all of a sudden was there.

reply

You forgot to keep in mind that what they were showing were messages that happened over the span of 6 months, so yes that many messages would be there. What I found unrealistic was the change of heart Avery had, I felt more like she knew she was in trouble and there was no way out so she put on a show.

“Give me but one firm spot on which to stand, and I will move the earth.” Archimedes

reply

Exactly my thoughts too, she was "shamed" into the position of needing to put on a show of remorse. What if she hadn't of been sat down to watch all her attacks or if no proof was ever shown?

reply

I don't doubt that some people would stalk someone like that, but damn girl, learn how to use the block function! Why would you let someone continuously text and Facebook nasty things to you? Delete. Block. Done. That made me think she enjoyed the attention. If you can't get away from your Facebook stalker, delete your account. It's not like social media is something you must partake in if its not fun anymore.

reply

Those were my thoughts also^

reply

Enjoyed the attention? Really?

reply

From what I could tell, Jessica didn't want to react in any way, because she thought it would make the situation worse. Maybe she thought, if she blocked Avery, that the bullying would escalate (ex: Avery threatening to physically hurt her).

reply

I agree. A mean, vicious person picks on someone smaller than they are, it's a control thing. Naturally, the parents think their kids are sweet little angels. The parents don't make them take responsibility so they feel they can get away with anything.

reply

Social networking is the same as note passing, except everyone sees it. That being said, a responsible parent should familiarize themselves with social media. Take a look at their kids wall to see what they are up to. Curtail computer time. Shut off the cell phone. We NEVER had teachers intervene on our behalf when there was bullying going on btw.

reply