Non-physical bullying (in general, regardless of motivation) is a lot harder to prohibit without unacceptable infringement on free speech. Not, and I want to emphasize this, not impossible. Just a lot harder.

And so long as physical and verbal attacks are considered the same thing under this general term of "harassment" -- which, whose bright idea was that? -- the inherent difficulty in prohibiting verbal attacks is being extended to cover physical attacks as well. Which is frakking ridiculous, and which (it seems to me) should be much easier to stop than the larger issue.

I would love to prevent kids from making other kids miserable, period. I would settle for preventing kids from putting other kids in the hospital.