Gordo should have simply dealt with his own life

Yeah! Gordo needed to grow up!

Gordon should have dealt with that punks ass. A good beating would have put Bateman in check.

toddjacobucci2002: You have some excellent points. There is an argument for Gordo moving on with his life. They were kids and kids do dumb things. But maybe Gordo was psychologically damaged. His father tried to kill him over a lie that a jerk told because "he could". I personally would not have done what Gordo did especially as it pertains to Simon's wife or the poor fish. But I remember thinking while watching the film that if more bullies thought that they might have to answer for their actions one day would they still bully people? If somebody had told Simon that one day his actions would leave his life a unraveled mess would bullying be something he would engage in? The coworker situation was interestingly used within the context of the story. It showed along with another scene that Simon had NOT changed very much over the years. He was still a bully willing to lie to get what he wanted. Robyn was right about Simon still being a bully and not really knowing who he was. I liked the movie too because it does make you stop and think. I also thought the ending was kind of gutsy too. There are no definitive answers and we the viewers are left in the same position as Simon; Wondering what the truth is and knowing that we may never know. Gordo got Simon where he lived....literally.

He was; then he accidentally ran in to Simon. A chance for settling the past is just that.

Jebus knows, I've ran into the same from both sides; I was decent enough to give a heartfelt apology though. Also got the same from many of them, if not in word, then in deed.

"I do not like mixing up moralities and mathematics."
Churchill

Yeah, let's see you man up over false accusations of pedophilia or possession of child porn charges where your wife, your coworkers, your family, your neighbors all treat you like some diseased, twisted maniac.

Simon destroyed Gordon's early life. He was committed after his own father tried to kill him because of the gay rumors (remember this is most likely in the mid 80s).

Gordon went off to the military was he had no home, didn't finish high school, no college option. Gordon is messed up--military dismissed Gordon for conduct unbecoming etc, he had a B&E arrest, and something weird about corrupting or harassing a minor (don't remember exactly). Everything that preceded all this was brought on my Simon and his friend's bullying of Gordon.

I think Gordon was giving Simon multiple chances to seek genuine forgiveness for the horrible lie that unraveled his life.

Yes, Gordon's father was a d-bag, yes Gordon is an adult at some point and responsible for his own actions, and yes, Gordon should have made every effort to move on with his life.

That is no way alleviate Simon from his responsibility to make true and proper amends to Gordon and to seek, genuinely and sincerely, forgiveness for Gordon. Giving Gordon the chance to forgive helps Gordon to truly let go and move on.

You sir are not honoring the responsibility and accountability that Simon had to Gordon and carried for all the time that he failed to make amends.

I think all of us have had some minor or major bullying at some point in our lives and I agree you got to move on. You can never let anyone have that power over you in life. Like you I don't condone what Simon did, however, he was a stupid, selfish kid and some times they don't make the best decisions. Some times adults too don't make wise decisions. :)

I agree with you partially. I was bullied from 5th to 7th grade by guys and girls. I had a strong mother who loved me unconditionally which I think helped me through it. I never got apologies from any of them even though a few later wanted to be my friend. A few years ago I saw one of the girls waitressing. We were pleasant to each other but I did enjoy that she was serving me while I was on a work lunch for my job at a big company (yes I know I'm not right for feeling that way either, but when one is bullied a little bit of life justice goes a long way). I felt justified in being smug. Sue me.
I moved on with my life. Have a great job and friends. It did mess me up though. I still look in the mirror and have those days where all I see is the big nosed ugly girl that no man could possibly love. Then I have days where I feel pretty. If it weren't for the bullying I wouldn't have those ugly days.
In the case of the movie, Gordo's entire life was turned upside down (I never say ruined because that's always to be determined). His father beat him, kids thought he was gay and he was sent away (where life may have also sucked). That one lie flipped the kid's entire life and future. Maybe he still would have been a "loser" but maybe not. His actions towards Simon and his family were not right, but I do love me a revenge story especially in the case of bullies. Add the fact that Simon screwed up another person's life in the present, and proved he hadn't matured or changed. Revenge was justified to me (but not raping his wife...that's where he lost me).

Thankfully I was never bullied in high school was quite popular in fact and even served on Student Government. However, I empathized with Gordo. Simon took away a part of his childhood. He lied about him being gay which drove Gordo's father to light him on fire. Or did you all miss that? Gordo's father went to jail for attempted murder. Gordo was taken out of school and sent away. And Simon didn't give two f@cks.

So, um...yeah, I could understand Gordo's life being affected. How would you like your family torn apart, losing all your friends because of some kid's lie? Maybe I need provide an example. I had a high school mate falsely accused of raping his white girlfriend because her racist father found them together. He went to jail for eight years. Should he have a grudge? Oh no, he should just let it go like Gordo because it happened years ago.