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