KATHMANDU, MARCH 16

Contrary to the proverb 'rolling stones gather no moss' that my father drilled into my malleable mind, Mick and Keith's Rolling Stones have been collecting mosses or money well into their 80s, which they will be in a year or two.

As they inch towards their 80 summers, they have announced their 60th tour this summer with a replacement of Charlie Watt, who died at 80 just in the nick of their 59th tour.

The Nepalis, who talk of youth, would not believe that people nearing 80 years would play the guitar as Kieth does, or Mick stutters on stage, flashing his assets, which still attract many female admirers. As much as I like the Stones, I don't consider Mick the greatest frontman as his diehard fans would have us believe.

I would reserve that place for Queen's Mercury, Prince, AC/ DC's Bon Scott or Angus Young, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, and the Family Stones, among others, who can set the stage on fire with their scintillating performances.

So I was not surprised when Roger Daltrey of the WHO commented that Mick's is more of a pub band, which created a furore. Later, Roger corrected himself and affirmed that Mick is indeed the greatest frontman in the world, perhaps realising that he could not win the argument on social media.Now we come to the gist of the story.

A week and a half ago, social media restricted me from posting comments, informing me that one about dead dogs and their nemesis, the drivers, in the street violated their values.

But I seek strong retribution for anyone that infringes the animals' right to life and live peacefully. It did not go down well with the social media, which warned me not to repeat the offence. What shocked me was just about 12 days later, social media made a one-off exception and allowed people posts promoting violence.

As a liberal, plural democrat at heart, I don't accept such nonsense about changing goalposts.

But I have restricted my use voluntarily and have ignored posts telling me that ''your friends are waiting to hear from you'.

Now we return to the caption: 'Ewe peaking English'. A member did not like my comments 'Cups and lips' about Mick's bliss with a new woman on each post that appears frequently.

He posted in my feed: 'Ewe peaking English'. Without a second thought, I sent him into silence by retorting: 'No, sir, I am pissing English.' He never crossed my path again.

Does a new woman guarantee blissful times, as some would have us believe? I don't know and don't care. But I would have loved to 'peak' with him on this in broken French, Japanese, Bengali or fluently in Bhojpuri, Hindi and, of course, Nepali and Newari, putting the snob in his place.

A version of this article appears in the print on March 17, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.