A Small comment On "I Could Care Less"

If one thinks of it logically, you do realize that the saying "I could care less" is not the same thing as saying "I don't care at all".

Because if a person could care less then that could mean they could care just a little bit but not a lot, because less is not the same thing as not having anything there.

It's like this. You have a bowl of candy. It's filled.

That's caring.

Take some candy out, that's less candy there was in the bowl.

So if one cares less, then they don't care as much as someone else would care.

Then there's no candy in the bowl.

That means one doesn't care at all, and wouldn't make an effort on the subject.

So, if one doesn't care, they shouldn't really say "I could care less" because that means they do care somewhat, if only a tiny bit.

Think about it.

.

reply to post by EvilSadamClone


Maybe you could, but I sure couldn't.

THANKYOU!!!!
I've been saying this for years and I only get blank looks when I try to explain my point.

One of my biggest pet peeves by far.

I thought about it. Indeed, people have been thinking about it for decades now.

reply to post by EvilSadamClone


You guys should get together and form a club.
www.abovetopsecret.com...
www.abovetopsecret.com...
www.abovetopsecret.com...

Everywhere is else it's "I couldn't care less" which is what I think American's are trying to convey with their "I could care less"


Never understood that.

Oh well.

Thank God somebody said this, i'm always on the brink of going into a hissy fit when I see "I could care less" and correcting it with "I COULDN'T care less"

I could care less = You care a bit, and there is room for caring less.

I couldn't care less = I am beyond caring, there is no room for any less caring.

Get it right!

Sometimes the meaning gets lost in translation or travel.



Another 'Americanism' that I find funny is Erb. By which I really mean Herb. Who first started to drop the H. It is there for a reason, pronounce it.

reply to post by MeesterB

.....I only get blank looks when I try to explain my point.

It is too easy for some people, to communicate through repetition, as opposed to thinking for themselves.

It happens all the time, in a variety of different forms.
Sadly, this is just one of the many examples.

I could care less about this thread....

...or is it I couldn't care less about this thread?

confused

******shrugs shoulders*******

reply to post by Agarta

Originally posted by Agarta

You guys should get together and form a club.
www.abovetopsecret.com...
www.abovetopsecret.com...
www.abovetopsecret.com...

Are you the Captain of the [color=D979FC]'It's Already Been Posted Club'??

reply to post by Agarta


I could care less about their club. Of course, by this I mean I'm mildly intrigued

reply to post by BrokenCircles


Oh no not captain for sure just a padawan attempting to spread my wings and learn its intricacies.

Edit to say: happy belated ATS anniversary

"I could care less" is a common idiomatic usage that is conveyed with obvious sarcasm. I'm annoyed by all kinds of usage and writing errors (possible rant of my own coming), but this one doesn't bother me at all. Its meaning is clear to all native speakers, at least in the US.

Attempts to be logical about I could care less... fail. Taken literally, if one could care less, then one must care at least a little, which is obviously the opposite of what is meant. It is so clearly logical nonsense that to condemn it for being so (as some commentators have done) misses the point. The intent is obviously sarcastic — the speaker is really saying, “As if there was something in the world that I care less about”.

More here.

I'm bumping this old thread because I'm still seeing it said everywhere. It's simple, if you 'could care less' then you at least care at some level in order to be able to care less.