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Perceptioncheck
Joined: 13 Oct 2008
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 Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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| djsmnc wrote: |
| Perceptioncheck wrote: |
Do you know what I really hate?
"I could care less".
I mean, if you could. . .then why don't you?
Is this peculiar to the states or is it a North American thing? |
I hear this one from English speakers of all nationalities, actually |
Oh dear. Do you think they're taking the mick?
@ Roknroll
Cheers for the explanation. I've read the phrase "I couldn't care less" in books written by American authors no later than the 1960s. So I always thought the phrase had somehow evolved, kind of like how some people from the States have taken to dropping the "have" right out of "I have seen". The fact that you say both is very interesting.
And no, sadly, I'm not being sarcastic. . .when did my life come to this? |
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roknroll
Joined: 29 Dec 2007
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| Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 9:31 pm Post subject: |
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It probably has 'evolved' (or 'devolved') as you mentioned. I don't actually say both, probably don't even realize which one I use when it actually comes out. Probably similar to others such as 'irregardless' where one hears it growing up and doesn't really think about it. Likely starts from confusion with similar 'ir'-somthing words, like irrespective. I've heard people say 'prevasive' (even an educated individual on tv) instead of 'pervasive', again probably miscontrued with other 'pre'-something words. Anywho, being as bored as I was, thought I'd rationalize a context in which it could actually make sense but not letting grammatical correctness get in the way of humor (or an attempt at it anyway  ). |
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DorkothyParker
Joined: 11 Apr 2009
Location: Jeju
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| Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 3:42 am Post subject: |
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This isn't nationality based. The phrase should be, "I couldn't care less" to imply the impossibility of a greater disinterest in the topic. It has just been said incorrectly for a very, VERY long time.
I suspect as result of laziness as well an a disinterest in English as a whole.
It's definitely on a list of pet peeves right there with the insensitive misuse of good (adjective) vs well (adverb). |
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morrisonhotel
Joined: 18 Jul 2009
Location: Gyeonggi-do
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| Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 4:30 am Post subject: |
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| Perceptioncheck wrote: |
Do you know what I really hate?
"I could care less".
I mean, if you could. . .then why don't you?
Is this peculiar to the states or is it a North American thing? |
We normally use "I couldn't care less" in the UK. When people "I could care less" it annoys me no end. |
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Khenan
Joined: 25 Dec 2007
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| Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 8:57 pm Post subject: |
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| NCdan wrote: |
Don't like:
1. rednecks
2. hippies (aka Oregon)
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First, there are more rednecks than hippies in Oregon; and second, I'm pretty sure San Fransisco has a higher population than Oregon. |
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NCdan
Joined: 17 Apr 2009
Location: Bucheon
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| Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 9:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
This isn't nationality based. The phrase should be, "I couldn't care less" to imply the impossibility of a greater disinterest in the topic. It has just been said incorrectly for a very, VERY long time.
I suspect as result of laziness as well an a disinterest in English as a whole. |
I say "I don't care" all the time in my classes when my students say something like, "So-and-so spoke-oo Korean 3 times," or, "Teach-uh, my hand-uh hurt-suh." And then, I get to hear my kids go, "I don't ca-a-a-a-a-are, I don't ca-a-a-a-a-are. I don't care..." I need to learn to stop saying that in class. |
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Perceptioncheck
Joined: 13 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:44 pm Post subject: |
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| DorkothyParker wrote: |
This isn't nationality based. The phrase should be, "I couldn't care less" to imply the impossibility of a greater disinterest in the topic. It has just been said incorrectly for a very, VERY long time.
I suspect as result of laziness as well an a disinterest in English as a whole.
It's definitely on a list of pet peeves right there with the insensitive misuse of good (adjective) vs well (adverb). |
Sorry Dorkothy Parker (you see, I took the time!) but I must disagree with you on your first point. In my experience, "I could care less" is nationality based. I am an Antipodean and have never heard "I could care less" on my own fair shores. Similarly, I've never heard a British person utter the phrase, which Morrisonhotel backs up in his post.
I was simply wondering if it is an American thing, or if Canadians do it too.
I agree with you on the good vs well thing though. Absolutely! 100%! The phrase "Hey, kid, you done good" actually sets my teeth on edge.
I'm not one of those people who have to go around correcting other peoples grammar. Mine isn't always perfect, and let's face it, my spelling leafs alot to be desired. But perhaps this is part of the problem? Perhaps the world needs annoying grammar nerds to tell people off when they don't do so good. |
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Observe
Joined: 28 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 5:33 pm Post subject: |
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Last edited by Observe on Sun Jan 03, 2010 6:05 am; edited 1 time in total |
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.38 Special
Joined: 08 Jul 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 8:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Observe wrote: |
I done said it on another thread already man, but cos it's Christmas, I gotta say it twice to you dudes :
America forever ! Go USA ! You got to keep on rockin man. Keep on rockin in the free world. The world America made free for all of us. God bless America at Christmas time, and raise a glass to good Americans everywhere.
Ok, maybe I am a little drunk right now, but I love my fellow country people -- my Americans. Whatever some of those might say about America -- we keep the world a free, good place to be. Without America, real democracy and freedom wouldn't mean nothing dude.
Don't let no one tell you nothing different.
We rock !
NO to commies, and NO to any religion that stop us from being FREE and NO to anyone who don't dig the American way, the FREE way.
God Bless America.
Truth is, lots of dudes in Korea , specially those European dudes and Canadians like to knock America and our boys in Iraq -- but truth is man, you'd all be under a commie flag if it weren't for Americans. And we sure saved those English dudes asses in the WW2 from those Nazis. If it weren't for USA, those Brits would have a nazi govt or a commie one by now, though they are too proud to admit it.
The Americans came in at the end of WW2 and showed those Brits how to fight a real war -- got the show cleaned up in no time and went home, though those Brits don't thank us enough for it. They think they done won the war themselves.
USA is doing the same thing in Iraq now man, keeping the world a free place, so y'all can rest easy in your beds at night. |
While I may not agree with your take on history, as a fellow Nationalist I gotta throw out the Hells-Yeahs.
America: Damned finest place on planet Earth. 9 out of 10 historians agree: America is the greatest civilization throughout human history. It meets and beats Rome on every level and exceeds it in Benevolence, Humanitarianism, Liberty, and Charity.
And remember boys and girls: If it's red it had better get dead  |
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Perceptioncheck
Joined: 13 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 8:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Observe wrote: |
NO to commies, and NO to any religion that stop us from being FREE and NO to anyone who don't dig the American way, the FREE way.
. |
LOLLES 'That's irony on a base level, but I like it.'
Merry Christmas anyway!  |
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Observe
Joined: 28 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 9:19 pm Post subject: |
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Last edited by Observe on Sun Jan 03, 2010 6:07 am; edited 1 time in total |
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morrisonhotel
Joined: 18 Jul 2009
Location: Gyeonggi-do
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| Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 9:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Observe wrote: |
Well, thing is man, I said those Brits would have a commie govt if it weren't for us: But truth be told, why, I think they already done got a Commie govt now anyhows. Look at the state Britain is in these days.
Why, I hear they even got other religions besides our Christian one running whole counties over there.
No wonder our ancestors bailed out of Britain and sailed to the free world. Sure did the right thing man. |
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MollyBloom
Joined: 21 Jul 2006
Location: James Joyce's pants
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| Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 10:08 pm Post subject: |
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| BUFFALO WINGS |
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ReeseDog
Joined: 05 Apr 2008
Location: Classified
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| Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 11:59 pm Post subject: |
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| jmuns wrote: |
| NCdan wrote: |
Like:
1. punk rock
2. In-N-Out
3. cheap electronics
4. diversity of races
5. Carvin
Actually, I think I just like Socal... The rest of the US can become part of the European Union for all I care.
Don't like:
1. rednecks
2. hippies (aka Oregon)
3. fat chicks
4. rap music (or whatever they call it these days) |
SoCal can become part of Mexico for all I care. |
Yup. Again.
It would be no great transition, anyway. |
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