> > In the USA, the symbols @#$%^&* and such all run closely together as you
> > did would be used to denote expletives.  I don't know about other
> > countries, perhaps it is the same elsewhere.
> >
> > Basically, you just told the Americans on the list that you have no
> regard
> > for them and wish them a terrible year.
>
> Geez Andy loosen up. This is the global village. If Vishram, says "@#$%^&*"
>
> say "Gee thanks Vishram and same to ya!"...GJ

Andy was not attacking Vishram; he was merely trying to prevent Vishram
from potentially embarassing himself in future.  A couple of related
examples:

[1] A foreign student at my college had been given a windbreaker with a
    cartoon figure of a cat and the words (in large letters): "MAX: The
    best little cat-house in Nevada".  She strutted this gift proudly
    until someone discretely informed her that a "cat-house" was not a
    feline residence (for those unfamiliar with the term, it refers to a
    house of prostitution which is legal in Nevada).

[2] Heard second-hand, but related: A person was trying to hitchhike in a
    foreign country (Egypt I think) using the American "thumb's up" ges-
    ture.  The person got honked at, but nobody offered a lift until fin-
    ally a polite motorist stopped and said "You're an American, aren't you.
    Around here, the hitch-hiking signal is [waving palms down].  The ges-
    ture you were using means 'f___ you'.  I'm not surprised motorists didn't
    take kindly to that."