Are they cis guys who are attracted to trans women but don't know how to process that in healthy ways so it comes out in transphobia? Are they just transphobes and they get their jollies out of being straight up sicko creeps? Or something else entirely? I'm just curious as to what makes them tick.
Those are some sublime brainworms, the patriarchy really does a number on some men's minds.
Sorry you had to suffer through interacting with those people.