Last word: our readers' best comments this week - Sydney Morning Herald

Last word: the best of our readers Letters, comments, posts and Tweets this week

St John's College in Camperdown, Sydney. Photo: Janie Barrett

Every week The Herald receives thousands of comments, Tweets, Facebook posts and Letters to the Editor. These are some of this week's best. The standard of letters and comments from our readers this week, particularly around the US election, was outstanding. Take a moment to read through some of them here .

And join the conversation at smh.com.au; facebook.com/sydneymorningherald; twitter.com/smh and write to us at letters@smh.com.au

On the troubles at St John's College

Because it's an upscale school does not mean the problem is because of money, everyone has the opportunity to go there. The behaviour of these guys is a pack, a gang with the power to dominate others..after reading about the community service discipline from 5 to 20 hrs. I find irresponsible of the college. The term Untouchables is appropriate, it also asks Why? - I would recommend these names be noted and this article; for if there is criminal behaviour behind doors it appears their legal advises are telling them not to comment. Thank you SMH I appreciate your investigation, especially to provide justice for the innocent students and safety. If money and influence is manipulating the Church then who thinks they are above the law?

Robyn M Wharton, facebook.com/sydneymorningherald

While it seems St John's College students deserve the recent bad publicity, it is well known that they by no means hold a monopoly on bad behaviour at Sydney University colleges. In the mid-'90s I was an innocent full scholarship student at St Paul's College whose illusions of genteel scholarship in manicured sandstone surroundings were quickly shattered by the bawdy, lewd and sexist behaviour which passed for college culture. This included humiliating initiation rituals, drunken nude runs across the campus, allegations of rape and ceaseless homophobic harassment, the latter experienced personally. Fearing for my safety and sanity, I left after only one semester and still shudder in disgust every time I walk past the college grounds.

Simon Power, Letters to the Editor

"What is happening to our young people? They disrespect their elders, they disobey their parents. They ignore the law. They riot in the streets inflamed with wild notions. Their morals are decaying. What is to become of them?"

Plato, 5th century BC, smh.com.au

The US election

Praise the Lord and pass the biscuits please ("Obama wins", smh.com.au, November 7). Could you imagine having an investment banker, a man from the same tribe as the Lehman Brothers and the rest of that self-entitled ilk, in charge of the single biggest economy in the world? I think the Tea Party is over, folks.

Philippa Hunt, Letters

So, help me understand... when in four years we still have unemployment around 8%, 20 trillion dollars in debt, a budget that still hasn't been passed and small businesses laying off people because they are being handcuffed with new taxes to pay for Obama's spending...this is good news because...?

Bruce Wedderburn, Facebook.com/sydneymorningherald

I'm moving to Australia, because their president is a Christian and actually supports what he says.

@kristenneel- on Twitter

Let the American bashing begin....The person is a wack job, but it takes other wack jobs to think ALL Americans have similar views. I expect much more from the great people of Australia. Lance N Fogel, facebook.com/sydneymorningherald

The Melbourne Cup

Any shame the revellers may be feeling today is nothing like the shame I'm feeling. I was working at home yesterday and I completely forgot about the Cup. At times like this, all bogans naturally to the bard for solace. "But men are men; the best sometimes forget."

Paul, smh.com.au

I just got home from the Melbourne Cup. Amazing! This horse is fantastic. I don't gamble, but through work we each got allocated a horse and I got Green Moon. Great win considering the field and the pre race odds. Thank you Green Moon. lol.

Tom, smh.com.au

Honestly, what a sad & pathetic species we are. Congregating like sheep to kill our brains with alcohol whilst watching grown up men whipping the daylights out of their horses. women parade around like mindless zombies for what!? Horse racing should be banned completely. humanity should be banned completely. come on mother nature, hurry up & wipe us out and start again! I'm going for a surf

ban horse racing, smh.com.au