I left it ambiguous. He was quoted as saying "I said I would replace some of the letters with stars but she was determined to issue a fixed penalty notice," so I infer it didn't, but he thought he could have done.
I mean, certain words aren't *supposed* to be banned, starring words isn't supposed to be inherently more legal, but doing so shows a willingness not to offend, which somewhat belies threatening intent.
If someone comes up to you in an alley and calls you an "asshole", it can be very threatening. If he says "beephole", it's more likely he's being ironic than about to commit physical violence :)
Yes, but one can be offensive without using taboo words. Being called an "arsehole" is probably less offensive than being called a "pus-filled lesion".
Of course, at the other extreme is where you need to say "You defenestratable spraintish prion asterisk, you! Asterisk: otter-shit-smelling sub-virus begging to be thrown out of windows." And threats involving footnotes can fall flat too :)
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(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-11 02:29 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-11 02:30 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-11 02:36 pm (UTC)I mean, certain words aren't *supposed* to be banned, starring words isn't supposed to be inherently more legal, but doing so shows a willingness not to offend, which somewhat belies threatening intent.
If someone comes up to you in an alley and calls you an "asshole", it can be very threatening. If he says "beephole", it's more likely he's being ironic than about to commit physical violence :)
(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-11 02:43 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-11 02:47 pm (UTC)Of course, at the other extreme is where you need to say "You defenestratable spraintish prion asterisk, you! Asterisk: otter-shit-smelling sub-virus begging to be thrown out of windows." And threats involving footnotes can fall flat too :)