The layout makes all of the difference. The numbers aren't right next to each other on hackernews, so there's enough visual difference between the two.
The numbers weren't right next to them on the list before (they're now gone). The difference is that the point total is under the news item on HN, where the list put it next to it.
There was more space between the numbers on the list than on HN. HN is only separated by the up arrow.
