Get a band aid
I WAS dismayed to read that you advertised on page 18 of The Herald, November 25,  a band called “C… (you printed the full word) Snot” playing Mojo’s.
The name, I hardly need say, is denigrating and disrespectful to women.
This is in the same edition where you printed an excellent Thinking Allowed by Simone McGurk, announcing 16 days of hope, a campaign raising awareness of our collective responsibility to stop violence against women.
It is not the c…. word in itself that I find denigrating; used in the right context in the right conjunction of other words it can be affirming and even intimate in a healthy way, but used in conjunction with snot, which is for most of us raises our disgust, it becomes a name denoting disrespect and disgust.
It is naming women’s genitals as disgusting.
Hardly a good start to the ‘16 days of hope’ campaign.
I contacted Mojo’s and was told by staffer Andrew Ryan they would “never seek to adjust the creativity” of the band by censoring their name.
Mr Ryan also informed me that the responsibility for the name being printed in the Herald resides with both the band for choosing it and with the Herald for printing it, but not with them, Mojo’s, which is allowing the band to play under that name.
To quote Mr Ryan,”Your problem lies with the band and the paper, not Mojo’s Bar.”
Mr Ryan fails to see that by allowing the band to play Mojo’s venue under that name denigrates and disrespects women-and also shames men.
Of course the band can call themselves whatever they choose, Mojo’s took responsibility for advertising it and you, the Herald shamefully are responsible for printing it.
Would you please clarify your position on this?
Not withstanding the above I would like acknowledge your very good support for new and local bands and venues.
Susan Grace
Bellevue Terrace, Fremantle

The Ed says: We were a little taken aback by the name, particularly as the lead singer is a woman. It’s a vexed question, because on one hand they’re not breaking any laws performing under that name so it would be a bit unfair to censor them, yet on the other it’s clearly and deliberately an offensive name to some. Having mulled over the issue, we’ve decided it might be best to hedge our bets and publish their name with punctuation marks in appropriate places. After all, we did note recently that most people already fill in the  blanks, so it’s unlikely too many fans will miss their favourite snotters.

Hypocrisy
YET another bleeding-heart article on reffos (“Refugee fears”, Herald, November 25, 2017).
This Mehdi chappie says there are 60 to 70 of the Manus Island reffos now living in a new centre, but there is conflict with the locals.
Then this: “It’s understandable from their point of view too, this is a big change for their society and naturally leads to resistance”.
Really? No shit Sherlock.
What a red-letter day: I’m gobsmacked to hear something like that coming out of the mouth of a reffo advocate. Well, turn it around fella, from Manus Island to Australia.
Flooding the place with reffos is a big change for our society too, and that naturally leads to resistance.
John McClane
Farrington Road, Leeming

“A festering scab”
MAY I offer my opinion on the disgust felt on viewing the front page photo of The Herald which highlighted the vandalism and anti-social behaviour in Fremantle and King’s Square in particular (“King’s Fall”, Herald, November 25, 2017).
The cop-out of trying to implicate the building owners for the following this to occur is not the solution. The solution to anti-social behaviour lies in the hands of our elected representatives, i.e. Josh Wilson, Simone McGurk and Brad Pettitt, who stood for elections and gained our trust to be custodians of law and order in Fremantle.
Under the collective watch of our elected leaders, Fremantle has turned into a festering scab of low-life social misfits and drug addicts who have zero respect for our residents city.  Our parents, grandparents and previous civic leaders would be turning in their graves if they could witness what you accept as normal behaviour.
I am sure many of our long-term residents share my dismay and hope you will reflect on your privileged positions and make changes to remedy this problem.
Thank you in anticipation of my letter being published.
Name and address supplied
Fremantle

Tipping point
I FEEL like I’m living in a tip.
My street, Davies Street, has been full of rubbish and thrown-out junk since September.
The situation has literally grown now into a very concerning state for health and safety.
I have repeatedly contacted Fremantle council regarding this issue and whilst I have had many return phone calls from various officers, not a lot was actually accomplished. The area pick-up was scheduled for November 20, and to date, no truck has come into this street. I am unsure what my rates are paying for.
Karen Englishby
Davies street, Beaconsfield