Context changes meaning

[anna_wing]

In most rich Asian countries, public benches divided into individual seats with armrests are not "hostile architecture" aimed at driving away the homeless, as perhaps they are in other countries. They are assistive technology for the elderly, who generally far outnumber the homeless, and quite often need arm support to stand up easily.

So go bugger yourself with the pineapple of your assumptions, youthful and ignorant (pre-COVID) tourist, desperately trying to show off how enlightened you are (I refuse to use 'woke', the grammatical horror of which makes my teeth hurt).

Comments

[hhimring]

In my area, such armrests pretty clearly really are aimed at stopping the homeless from stretching out on the benches. But of course, this combines with other clues to the intent.
As you say, context does count.