This is like when some melt goes "you calling me an idiot?" when you call something they said idiotic. It's perfectly possible to say or do something that appears misogynistic without hating women. Some people use fag or faggot as generic insults, not really seeing them as homophobic slurs. The problem is that they're still used as such, so you risk inadvertently causing upset or offence by throwing them around indiscriminately. You intentions mean jack shit when you're using a word you know is still used as a slur.
Now, I wouldn't say cnut is at that level. I'm well aware of its ststus as a generic, gender-neutral insult in the UK (or term of endearment if you're Australian.) Still, in other English speaking countries, it's still considered a pretty vile thing to call someone, especially a woman. One of these is the US, and their cultural footprint is a lot larger than the UKs. Naturally, then, a lot of people will read the word like an American would, rather than a Brit. This being an internet forum, with members from all over the globe, questions are going to be asked when you refer to a woman reporting harassment as a "cnut that ran crying to the police." It looks bad, and warrants an explanation.
Energy here is similar to "saying Lukaku has a big dick is a compliment, how can it be racist?" It's willful ignorance, plain snd simple. Anyone with half a brain understands how or why these things are or can be problematic.
