A key distinction is that one doesn't accuse of name-calling, one moderates based on it. Accusations are also personal attacks, and are similarly against guide

A key distinction is that one doesn't accuse of name-calling, one moderates based on it. Accusations are also personal attacks, and are similarly against guidelines. Note too that it's member votes and flags which achieve the overwhelming majority of moderation results on HN, so going up against a significant, and reasonably plausible, objection, probably isn't a winning move. That said, I've overspent myself in this thread.