1 - the incident happened in Virginia. The law in Virginia applies. The conversation between Citizen and me involves persons both residing in Virginia.
The fact that the thread is not in the Virginia sub-forum has nothing to do with anything.
2 -
http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/assault - the Common Law definition of assault.
3 - The crime of assault defined in the Code of Virginia
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-57 .
That the same factors may not prevail where you reside is a wonderous and wonderful curiosity, as well as a mild amusement (as in it was mildly enjoyable to briefly explore the matter).
Do not spar with me. I am old. I know how the game is played and how to play the game.
Had you wished, instead, to caution me about attempting to generalize from a specific and limited situation I would have accepted that as appropriate.
And for your edification, I am a lawyer
http://thelawdictionary.org/lawyer/ I am not an attorney. Wirth a little bit more learning you too could be a lawyer.
stay safe.