[Wikipedia-l] Re: [Wikitech-l] Hyperlink convention

Mon Oct 18 19:52:20 UTC 2004

Jimmy (Jimbo) Wales wrote:

>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1921_in_Germany#Reparations
>
>I just wanted to point out that this example, which I think was
>universally agreed to be A Very Bad Thing(tm), still says "a plan was
>formulated by which Germany was to pay 226 milliard gold marks in
>forty-two fixed annuities".
>
>To my knowledge, virtually no speaker of English will have the
>slightest idea of what this might mean.  First, "milliard" which is
>apparently in declining use everywhere.  Second "gold marks".  A "gold
>mark" is worth approximately what?  I have no clue.
>
>--Jimbo
>  
>
Thanks to our wonderfull media, the solution should be simple. I created 
two interwikis; one to "milliard" and one to "gold mark". Somebody may 
know something sensible to say about the gold mark, but the milliard 
article is there.

It is one thing not to know a term, it is another not to be able to find 
it. People who are confused as to the meaning of a word deserve an 
article explaining a term. There is no need to dumb down. Because if we 
do that, people will not be able to read the sources of our articles.

Thanks,
    Gerard