Not long ago, Michael Knowles unwittingly and metaphorically stuck his own neck in a noose. A week or two ago, he relayed on his radio show his recent experience on a college campus, asking a trans person to respond to the question whether they could be wrong about being female. He seemed to think this was some sort of slam-dunk -- as though someone transgender cannot entertain the notion that they might be mistaken. If only the person to whom he posed this question had been a little more alert! Because this is how the conversation should have gone:

MK: Is it possible you might be mistaken in believing you are female?

Her: Of course. Anyone can be wrong, about anything. Is it possible you might be wrong in believing that I'm not?

Knowles cannot answer the question without shooting himself in the foot. If he answers No, he is claiming to be omniscient, infallible; and this would destroy his credibility. On the other hand, if he answers Yes, then his program of "eradicating transgenderism from public life" loses its moral authority -- because, if it's possible that the trans woman in question is actually female, then morally Knowles is compelled to leave her alone and let her live her life according to her best lights.

I'd love to have seen the look on Knowles' face, had the student responded this way. He would have recognized his peril instantly. A picture would have been worth ten thousand words.