Hogg,Sir Ed and the 'bastard'

Hogg's defense is that he used the word 'bastard' as a 'term of endearment' and to bolster his argument he is to quote Sir.Edmund Hillary's immortal words.

"Sir Ed's jubilant line after conquering Mt Everest in 1953 – 'we
knocked the bastard off' – will be used by Hogg's defence team as an example of
why the word isn't always intended in an abusive manner."

If we are to take his words at face value and accept what he says then isn't it subjective, what if the 'victim' feels otherwise.

For example, what if the victim is a bastard?

To take this argument to its logical conclusion, for example if we were to call a mulatto a 'monkey', as an endearment and as a reflection of his cheek, then it has to be considered as such.

However, here we have to take into consideration whether the aggrieved likes to be called so or as in a related case, whether he likes you to call him so.

Obviously it is the victims prerogative to consider or choose to consider whether the term is abusive or otherwise.

Sorry Hogg, to me your defense is pathetic and by the way, why is an Australian using the name of New Zealand legend to defend himself?

A paucity of gentlemen legends perhaps? Or is it an attempt to sully the fair name of a New Zealander?