I Could Care Less

[Stevicus]

I have said, to a lot of people, who have said "I could care less"... "so you care".... none have yet understood what I meant.... without additional explanation

Either way, the phrase is illogical anyway. There's no way to adequately quantify someone's amount of "care" in concrete, measurable terms, so whether one says "I couldn't care less" or "I could care less," the entire phrase is utterly pointless to begin with.

 

[exchemist]

Hey, I got that one first! Somewhat undermines the authority of the writer don't you know.

Yeah, bigly.

 

[rocala]

Either way, the phrase is illogical anyway. There's no way to adequately quantify someone's amount of "care" in concrete, measurable terms, so whether one says "I couldn't care less" or "I could care less," the entire phrase is utterly pointless to begin with.

I agree that you are technically correct, however, I think it is unwise to disregard context. In my experience "I couldn't care less" is usually used in rather heated moments, regarding a specific issue at a specific time, or to express disdain. When a language has to be measured by strict logical standards then we all will be the poorer, poetry will be no more and Orwellian "duckspeak" will be well on the way to control.

 

[Little Dragon]

I agree that you are technically correct, however, I think it is unwise to disregard context. In my experience "I couldn't care less" is usually used in rather heated moments, regarding a specific issue at a specific time, or to express disdain. When a language has to be measured by strict logical standards then we all will be the poorer, poetry will be no more and Orwellian "duckspeak" will be well on the way to control.

Yes shouting "I am wholly indifferent to your concerns and anxieties!" is not quite so visceral.

Makes you sound like an angry Jacob Rees Mogg.

 

[Wu Wei]

Either way, the phrase is illogical anyway. There's no way to adequately quantify someone's amount of "care" in concrete, measurable terms, so whether one says "I couldn't care less" or "I could care less," the entire phrase is utterly pointless to begin with.

You have spent way to much time over thinking this

 

[Wu Wei]

Mine is Irish, she uses more colourful, some would say, vulgar, language to express her indifference. A fiery people, the Celts.

No vulgarity, just a lot of Chinese idioms I need to figure out...mostly said in Mandarin

 

[Stevicus]

I agree that you are technically correct, however, I think it is unwise to disregard context. In my experience "I couldn't care less" is usually used in rather heated moments, regarding a specific issue at a specific time, or to express disdain. When a language has to be measured by strict logical standards then we all will be the poorer, poetry will be no more and Orwellian "duckspeak" will be well on the way to control.

You make some good points, but then, that makes it all the more curious as to why one would call out phrases being used "incorrectly," when languages tend to evolve on their own anyway. The bottom line is to be understood, while strict attention to form and convention may sometimes be a bit overdone.

After all, most people know full well that the meaning and emphasis is pretty much the same when someone says "I could care less" or "I couldn't care less." The level of disdain being expressed is similar and perfectly understood, so what difference does it make in the grand scheme of things?

 

[Stevicus]

You have spent way to much time over thinking this

I could care less.

 

[rocala]

After all, most people know full well that the meaning and emphasis is pretty much the same when someone says "I could care less" or "I couldn't care less." The level of disdain being expressed is similar and perfectly understood, so what difference does it make in the grand scheme of things?

I have no problem here and have never expressed a preference. They are variations, it seems, created by time and distance. My interest here was purely regarding the idea of subjecting common expressions to the rigor of logic.

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

Colder than hell doesn't make a lot of sense.

It used to catch my attention when people called their food healthy when it's usually dead. The word for food that is good for you used to be healthful, but now both are acceptable.

I hear tough road to hoe a lot (it's a tough row)

I still don't know if one welches or welshes on a promise, but probably best to avoid both; reneg works.

 

[Stevicus]

I have no problem here and have never expressed a preference. They are variations, it seems, created by time and distance. My interest here was purely regarding the idea of subjecting common expressions to the rigor of logic.

Yes, although the point I was trying to make was that languages, on the whole, are illogical. But strict grammarians like to make it as if the rules are unchanging and etched in stone, and that's where I might take issue. Sometimes, a "mistake" can become so commonly used that it's no longer a "mistake," and the dictionaries are often revised and updated to reflect observations of contemporary usage.

 

[Quagmire]

Linguistic idiosyncrasies can vary from person to person too.

For instance; I once had a girlfriend who would say, "Why don't you get off your lazy *** and help out around here for once in your life! My girlfriends were right about you!!", when what she meant was, "Hey honey, why don't you grab a beer and sit down in front of the TV while I make dinner".

Fortunately, I always knew what she was really trying to say.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

I once worked with a Yorkshireman, an ex-sergeant in the Coldstream Guards. He had strong opinions about a person's appearance. If you were really well turned out, the highest compliment that you could receive was "smarter than a box of chocolate frogs."
I have no idea where this comes from and I doubt it is ancient, but it is a wonderful example, in my opinion, of the use of language.

"Dew picked and flow from Iraq, lightly killed and garnished in Lark's vomit..."

 

[Quagmire]

"Dew picked and flow from Iraq, lightly killed and garnished in Lark's vomit..."

Dude, some advice: quit using voice to text in a crowded room.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

I could care less.

I, on the other hand, could not care less!

 

[Wu Wei]

I could care less.

obviously

 

[Stevicus]

I, on the other hand, could not care less!

I could care less, but I don't.

Thinking further on this, if someone is so emphatic to deny that they care about something, does that indicate that they actually do care about it?

 

[Wu Wei]

I could care less, but I don't.

Thinking further on this, if someone is so emphatic to deny that they care about something, does that indicate that they actually do care about it?

You need to get out more..... you're making my brain hurt

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

I could care less, but I don't.

Thinking further on this, if someone is so emphatic to deny that they care about something, does that indicate that they actually do care about it?

I COULD care less...but why go to that effort? I care little enough about it right now...

 

[rocala]

But strict grammarians like to make it as if the rules are unchanging and etched in stone, and that's where I might take issue.

Yes @Stevicus and I am beside you on this point. The English of Texas, Jamaica or New South Wales is no less correct or beautiful than the English of London, Inverness or Dublin. The language reflects the incredible journey of people over time and distance, and through the arts and sciences.