but if the consensus is (seems to be) that calling someone an !@#$%^& is acceptable,
No one ever said that. On the contrary, the rule proposes was do NOT be an !@#$%^&. Personally, I think there's a massive difference between a general statement like that and throwing that word at a specific person, but in the other topic the wording has already been changed simply because it might be misinterpreted, so the whole point is really moot.
