Paglia considers herself &quot;a transgender being&quot; and supports the right for everyone &quot;to modify their body at will&quot; (<a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;bit.ly&#x2F;1rFwGRx" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;bit.ly&#x2F;1rFwGRx</a>). She also claims to have struggled with gender identity her whole life.<p>I wanted to understand your perspective, which so brashly denies Paglia her own experience, so I watched the Youtube clip. Unfortunately the easy to find one cut off mid-word, right before she was apparently about to explain her provocation. She wasn&#x27;t eloquent, and I guess I can imagine how the 30 seconds might be mildly upsetting. But transphobic? A bigot? As just one expression of an inner darkness so vile that all she might ever say is poisoned?<p>I think a more charitable interpretation of what she was trying to get at is that we should be careful that media attention doesn&#x27;t encourage some troubled people---who are troubled for whatever reasons---to make a huge commitment which, for whatever reasons, they later regret. And that in some cases maybe other &quot;solutions&quot; would be preferable. Or perhaps her opinion might be contingent on the current state of technology? Or perhaps---IDK---she&#x27;s even wanting to challenge the framing of the condition as a problem in need of a solution. The point is just it&#x27;s not really obvious to me why we should rush in with the pitchforks and righteous anger just yet.<p>There&#x27;s plenty of room to disagree with her here and lots of needed expansion, but surely she gives a reasonable enough start to a conversation? Maybe you personally don&#x27;t want to have it. That&#x27;s fine. Me neither. Everyone who participates comes off as a dick or an ass or just can&#x27;t be heard over the yelling.