To be more precise ~ is the default ssh escape character. It is only treated as the ssh escape character if it is at the beginning of a new line. From the ssh(1):
> The escape character followed by a dot (`.') closes the connection; followed by control-Z suspends the connection; and followed by itself sends the escape character once.
To be more precise ~ is the default ssh escape character. It is only treated as the ssh escape character if it is at the beginning of a new line. From the ssh(1):
> The escape character followed by a dot (`.') closes the connection; followed by control-Z suspends the connection; and followed by itself sends the escape character once.