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Comment by bane | Hacker News Reader

Well, I mean, sometimes word usage only goes one way. Not using it in place of something more widely understood just means that whatever is written will be more comprehensible to a wider audience. As an American I resist using highly localized idioms and slang (when I'm aware they're localized), I'm pretty sure Brits and Aussies, etc. do as well.

I've also only ever seen it in Indian sourced English language news -- and I have to look up what quantity it refers to every single time because it simply doesn't exist in any other English language using population I'm aware of.

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Sure, they're mildly confusing. But you don't go around changing the words that other people use, and I doubt you say "US English only", and I hope you accept that (eg) baseball references are baffling to many people (who have little exposure to this niche sport played by a small number of people).

One of the things missed by the "US / UK english only" crowd is that there are a bunch of subtle differences that have nearly opposite meanings.

Tabling something means either put it forward for discussion, or remove it from discussion. A moot point is something that's open for discussion, or something where discussion is pointless.

At least when someone uses lakh or crore I know I don't know what they mean and look it up. (and look it up is highlight + right click and select "search").

Most U.S. English speakers should be able to tolerate dialectal variants on some words and meanings, and maybe even have a passing familiarity with some idioms and slang. I generally think sports metaphors should be out in international forums, and I'm not even sure they should generally be assumed in local forums either (I don't even have a passing interest in most sportsballs and sometimes have trouble following references even to U.S. local sports).

Good points on the opposite meaning idioms.

Perhaps the most right way to deal with things is to just use the number, or use scientific notation?

I assume you use "football" for only its proper meaning.

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