I was just reading a thread in which a vendor was criticized for using "pigeon english", and as I was about to comment the thread was correctly closed, but I still have the comment.

We native speakers may be in for uncomfortable times, because it wouldn't surprise me if pidgin english became the standard. Maybe some people reading this thread will someday find themselves taking courses in pidgin english, in which they are deemed deficient!

Another comment that interested me was that the vendor was criticized for quoting the value of everything in American dollars. It reminded me of something that happened to me when I hadn't been in Russia long.

I was in a store looking for pants, and I saw jeans for about 500 each. I thought "wow," great deal, since 500 rubles was around $20 then. The pants were a great fit, and the store actually send in a tailor to alter them instantly, on the spot. So I decided to seize the opportunity, and I quickly told them I wanted two pairs!

You've seen the end already -- that was the only time I ever spent over $500 on two pairs of jeans! Many goods in Russia have the prices on them listed in American dollars...

Not for a while now. And I am sure you missed the "y.e." sign after that "250". Either way, I am not getting the reason for controversy here. Yes, we have got people from many countries in this forum, and they are not all supposed to speak perfect English. And yes, quoting prices in USD or EUR is pretty acceptable, given the popularity and relative stability of these currencies. I have no idea why it should cause problems.

lol it was me throwing both the criticisms you mentioned! mainly because the poster was supposedly from glasgow, so the post seemed very dubious to me, the prices looked too good to be true so i was thinking of dropping by next time i was up that way and making sure no maemians were getting ripped off, posts closed as you say so no need!

i also mourn the perceived shift to pidgin english, i'm not a grammar or spelling nazi by any means (i'm sure you can tell!) and i understand on a site like this where esl speakers have little option but to try their best on a english only site where all the experts speak english, that pidgin english is only to be expected.

Are you from Russia, fms?

new official t.m.o forum post translator..

http://speaklolcat.com/.

From the USSR, originally. I do live and work in Russia at the moment though.