Winter Solstice
- skirtyscot
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Re: Winter Solstice
Nobody says "I could care less" when they mean "I couldn't care less". Nobody except people who aren't paying attention to what they are saying!
Keep on skirting,
Alastair
Alastair
Re: Winter Solstice
As in " I couldn't give a toss". Yep, that's the UK way, lol.
Re: Winter Solstice
The phrase itself is confusing. You say I couldn't care less to mean I don't really care yet the phrase is a double negative meaning, on face value, you could care more. And that isn't what you mean colloquially. So maybe the phrase I could care less is the more correct.
I believe in offering every assistance short of actual help but then mainly just want to be left to be myself in all my difference and uniqueness.
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Re: Winter Solstice
I've aways assumed it meant that I care nothing at all about this thing, so I could not care less than that.
There is no such thing as a normal person, only someone you don't know very well yet.
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Re: Winter Solstice
I agree. That's the way I understand it.pelmut wrote:I've aways assumed it meant that I care nothing at all about this thing, so I could not care less than that.
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Namaste,
Gordon
Namaste,
Gordon
- beachlion
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Re: Winter Solstice
If we assume there is no such thing as negative care, the least amount of care should be zero care. At least this is the way I look at it as en engineer.
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- crfriend
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Re: Winter Solstice
Well, "negative care" could be loosely translated into hostility, in intensities directly proportional to the negativity. However, in the colloquial case, "I could not care less." (to get rid of the potentially confusing contraction) specifies a "care-level" of zero, if outright hostility is not implied.beachlion wrote:If we assume there is no such thing as negative care, the least amount of care should be zero care. At least this is the way I look at it as en engineer.
Of note is that a negative level of "caring" implies that somebody does care about the thing in a malicious sort of way, so that may be muddying the waters as well.
So, in conclusion, "I couldn't care less." strictly implies zero care. Work the maths both positive and negative with "more care" being defined as the distance from zero.
I still like, "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn." It's a bit more genteel than, "[expletive] you! ... and the dog you rode in on."
Retrocomputing -- It's not just a job, it's an adventure!
Re: Winter Solstice
Yes, and that's what people mean, even when they say "I could care less".Gordon wrote:I agree. That's the way I understand it.pelmut wrote:I've aways assumed it meant that I care nothing at all about this thing, so I could not care less than that.
"I can't get no satisfaction" is literally equivalent to "I cannot fail to get some level of satisfaction", but that's not what is meant.
Sooner or later someone will say "I don't got no more time for none of this" and all our heads will catch fire, then halt.
Daryl...
Re: Winter Solstice
"I don't got no more time for none of this" In colloquial conversation I have often heard such confusing constructs but the strange thing is that at the time they have seemed to make sense in the context of the conversation. Of course you certainly couldn't write none of this as it wouldn't make no sense in no way Jose.
I believe in offering every assistance short of actual help but then mainly just want to be left to be myself in all my difference and uniqueness.