Don't Count on Bully Free Zones

Bully free zones have become a popular solution to the problem of bullying. Such zones may be ideal, but they are also artificial. In a bully free zone the bullied must depend on others to behave well. This restricts potential to learn how to handle unpleasant human behaviors, such as meanness and carelessness. Even worse, if someone does happen to be bullied in a so called bully free zone, they'll be all the more bewildered because what's happening to them "shouldn't" be happening at all. Instead, I suggest taking the defiant stance of accepting bullying as problem to overcome. This sends a signal of calmness that will eliminate bullying more than any rule or community ideal ever could.