OP, I share your concern. I think there are several reasons: 1. As many others have said, most normal people are afraid of being shamed. People who are aware of TRA overreach are also aware of the way they use manipulative language and coordination to generate social censure campaigns, including mobilizing people who aren't political enough to be aware of their tricks. 2. Their censorship does work. If you go over to Reddit and get to a trans-ralated post early enough, you'll see plenty of highly upvoted, non-extremist people expressing concern. But in short order those concerned people are modded away or downvoted until hidden by the TRA brigades. Understand that instinctive morality operates as a kind of herd behavior. Many people will have trouble believing that behavior is wrong if they see it going uncriticized, so the TRAs are able to normalize their behavior by censoring criticism. 3. Huge swathes of the population are actually fully indoctrinated to believe that all activism is good activism, and that suffering the TRA overreach is a form of charity. I once had an apparently-normal acquaintance break down, nearly to tears, when I explained that I don't feel guilty for my "white privilege." He explained that his white guilt has been a part of his identity ever since it was explained to him, and he can't bear the idea that I don't feel it too. These people who are indoctrinated but act normal are actually extremists. They're just not activist extremists.

And yes, as you alluded to the other side is also getting more extreme. Partly because they're being pressured in many ways, but also because the extremists on the right are taking advantage of the situation. I live in California so the leftists are the only ones I have to confront, but it seems the right has gone all-in on MAGA and Christian conservatism, which has just as much overreach if you get too close. Independent thought truly is a lonely way to live. Remember that it's not possible to control the seething masses with logic. Everyone is told to hate someone, and most of them will obey. Hold yourself above hatred and try to survive.