I read your original response to the poster and I didn't think that it was overly aggressive or demeaning, unlike some of the other posts.
Most of what you say is entirely reasonable.
However, I can't empathise with the level of offence that you have taken. Sure, the OP could have been more careful about his wording and your suggestions for how he might have improved were valid. Nonetheless, I don't think that this carelessness should warrant the level of vitriole that followed from others.
Offence is in the eye of the beholder. I freely acknowledge that I am not the authority on what is and what is not offensive to others. Equally, I am free to assert my own interpretation and I did not find it overly offensive. There is no absolute truth to the matter. I do think that erring on the side of remaining civil rather in these forums is a good general principle. I don't say this to lecture you in particular as my original comment was a more general one. I respect the fact that you are also viewing this from a legal/moral framework. My motivation for posting was to raise awareness about the kind of unnecessary aggression that I see in all kinds of forums - not just about computers. I maintain that my position was a valid one. I hope you understand that I am not attempting to demean you by saying this.