I think I can provide some insight. In the mind of an alt-right person/Peterson-fan, there exists to them a “silent majority” who believes the same things they do, but are too afraid to speak up. This is the delusion that I was under, as well as the OP in the linked article who spoke out in the middle of class to lambast a trans person. In both situations, they think that others secretly agree with them and will come out of the woodwork to support them. Of course there’s no reason to assume that people are being quiet because they’re afraid, rather than because they actually disagree with you.