Could or couldn't I care less?

[Zekurom]

I'm going to strike this debate up here. The two phrases "I could care less" and "I couldn't care less" carry almost identical meanings in our common language today, although coming from a strictly logical sense, the first one means "I do care a bit".

How do you use each phrase, if ever at all?

Personally, I use them differently. If I make a character say "they couldn't care less", that really does mean they don't care one bit.

But if they say "I could care less", it means that they don't really care, but it's not like they care so little as to completely blow it off. Basically, they're saying they should care less.

 

[Roulette]

it makes no sense to say "i could care less". if you could care less, why arent you?

 

[Zekurom]

From the comment on Chapter 27 of my fanfic:

My usage of “could care less” is in league with, say, the phrase “could be higher” when looking at marks. By saying “could be higher”, you’re acknowledging that the marks are already high.

Or, the phrase "could be better". That phrase, contextually, means that it's good, but not really good. In the same way, I use "could care less" to mean, "I care little enough as it is, but that can go down very fast."

It’s a context thing. I will use “couldn’t care less” differently.

 

[Der_Neuevenmenschen]

I couldn't care less about debating these logical fallacies. It's like reading hentai, you hate it, but you find it humourous and want to see more. And it gives you a boner. Wut? :naughty:

 

[Zekurom]

I couldn't care less about debating these logical fallacies.

I certainly could, but I like watching the debates that go on. Also, because I don't want to be flamed by a grammar Nazi for using "could care less" in a contextually different manner.

 

[Aladar]

I think it's 'couldn't'.

 

[Giratina!]

I rarely use 'I could care less'. It doesn't seem like the most practical thing to say in the assumed normal situation, wherein someone really doesn't care about what someone else is doing or talking about. So yeah, I usually use "couldn't".

 

[Blastoise]

 

[Zekurom]

I saw that picture like four times already, and that's some pretty smart-ass logic.

It's like reading hentai, you hate it, but you find it humourous and want to see more. And it gives you a boner. Wut? :naughty:

Are you talking about the fic in your Favourites list?

 

[Blackjack Gabbiani]

I think it depends on the character.

...which probably says more about Cyrus than the writers wanted to, since he says "could care less".

 

[Kayi Rowling]

I could care less about this topic but, Hell, I don't...

However, there's people out there that couldn't care less, and aren't replying.

...makes sense? ;-)

 

[Zekurom]

I could care less about this topic but, Hell, I don't...

So you don't care less? Meaning that you do actually care?

...makes sense? ;-)

Not entirely. Especially because you're taking it out of its idiomatic context.

 

[Kayi Rowling]

Not entirely. Especially because you're taking it out of its idiomatic context.

Hee hee hee... :ksmile: It makes as much sense as making a topic about it, from my POV.

 

[Der_Neuevenmenschen]

Are you talking about the fic in your Favourites list?

No. I do not get a boner from that. I get a boner from real stuff, aka, staring at chicks on the beach. Also, I was joking. I just put that in my favorites list because I need to be reminded that Rule 34 is always there to haunt me. Like the Slender Man. :scared:

Yes, I'm a psychopath. Deal with it. Also, Rule 34 just got the heck off my FF.net faves. I put it there for fun (and to give Zekurom an example of what I meant by sour lemons), and now it's gone, because I feel like an idiot if it stays there any longer.

 

[Zekurom]

Yes, I'm a psychopath. Deal with it.

I'm dealing with it just fine. I "couldn't care less" naughty that you're a psychopath.

Also, Rule 34 just got the heck off my FF.net faves. I put it there for fun (and to give Zekurom an example of what I meant by sour lemons), and now it's gone, because I feel like an idiot if it stays there any longer.

I'd feel like an idiot too. Good choice.

 

[Lugion]

I really think it depends on the character and situation. If your character is prone to sarcasm, he could care less. If said character is outright rude, he couldn't care less.

 

[The Outrage]

I'm going to strike this debate up here. The two phrases "I could care less" and "I couldn't care less" carry almost identical meanings in our common language today, although coming from a strictly logical sense, the first one means "I do care a bit".

How do you use each phrase, if ever at all?

Personally, I use them differently. If I make a character say "they couldn't care less", that really does mean they don't care one bit.

But if they say "I could care less", it means that they don't really care, but it's not like they care so little as to completely blow it off. Basically, they're saying they should care less.

"I could care less" while basically meaning "I could not care less" when people say it actually has two very different meanings when you look at it.

"I could care less" means you care and can actually seem positive if you (or your character) is weird like that. "I could not care less" actually means that if you can quantify your caring, it would be at a 0.

If you're going for the "I don't care at all" meaning, I'd probably see a character who was a prescriptive grammarian(or as I usually call them, anal-retentive) to use the "couldn't" variety, well "could not" as I don't think they'd use contractions.

For every other character, especially teenagers, I don't really see them using proper English.

 

[revolvingscott]

Couldn't. None of the other make any sense in the situation I would use them. Using 'I could care less' even when it is technically correct makes me cringe and wince. *winces*