Is the MPAA the Real Bully?

It is unusual to see parents groups complain that a movie with crude language has gotten too strict of a rating. But that is what has happened with the documentary "Bully," which depicts the physical and emotional abuses that some kids face. "Bully," which takes on a serious real-world problem in a graphic and realistic way, received an R rating from the Motion Picture Association of America, a non-governmental group backed by the six largest movie studios. This rating makes it difficult for "Bully" to reach the audience that could actually benefit from seeing it. The Los Angeles Times reports.

Questions...

•Do you and your parents pay attention to the movie ratings? How do you (or they) use them?
•Do the ratings seem too strict, to permissive, or just about right?
•How should the ratings be changed, if at all?
•Should a movie's topic be a consideration in determining its rating? Why or why not?