IMO, OP absolutely escalated the situation.
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I set my chips down and asked the dealer "square the table please" as I sat down.
First missed opportunity to exhibit social skills. Maybe ask the players on either side 'excuse me, could I get a bit more room, thanks" rather than ask the dealer, which subtly delivers the message that you don't really want to talk to the other people at the table.
[QUOTEI The player to my left then aggressively pushed my chips to the right and gruffly said something I could not understand. I said "F*ck you man"[/QUOTE]
Player to the left is definitely in the wrong, but OP misses a chance he to diffuse the situation. OP's reply is an escalation, pure and simple. he's wrong for pushing your chips, but how do you think this guy is going to respond? If you didn't want to fight, don't poke the bear. Say something conciliatory and let the dealer intervene at this point.
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He then angrily says to me "what did you say"? I say "you heard me".
This just makes a bad situation worse.
I've been know to respond like OP did at times in my life, but to my mind, if I took OP's actions, after the situation was over, and looking back and realizing I contributed to the escalation, I'm saying no harm no foul, and not pressing charges.
Takes two to tango.