Like Fingernails Dragging on Chalkboard

I couldn%27t care less

People. It's "I COULDN'T care less". I'm just saying.


tags technorati :


Like reading The Splintered Mind? Share articles with your friends, link from your blog, or subscribe!

Comments

Anonymous said…
i am really curious what you mean by this...
does the chalk board there not say exactly what you did ("I couldn't care less")? or is the fact that your "couldn't" was in all caps significant?
December 10, 2007 11:45 PM
D.R. Cootey said…
LOL It was an uncharacteristic gripe. I had read several "I could care less" comments yesterday - more than usual. It set my teeth on edge.

The expression is "I couldn't care less", meaning that one is at the perfect nadir of disinterest. The common misspoken version of this expression implies that there is room for more disinterest and apathy, showing that the expression doesn't mean what the speaker thinks it means.

I found the Bart blackboard program somewhere on the web and enjoyed the double message by having Bart writing this message. Bart truly couldn't care less if he spoke with proper grammar or not. Drives the point home.

Thanks for commenting.
December 11, 2007 11:59 AM
mkchen said…
Hey Douglas! Ming in Seattle here. I'm with you on the "could/couldn't" thing. Other pet peeves of mine: "irregardless" instead of regardless, and "consensus of opinion" instead of consensus. Hey, people, we've got a language. Let's use it!

Hope your immune system kicks in soon!
December 13, 2007 7:44 PM
Claire said…
How about 10 items or less in the checkout lane (s/b fewer)? Or borrow vs. lend (Will you borrow me that ruler? No, but I'll lend it to you!)

When I was a kid in High School, we used to joke around with this phrase all the time. I was fond of telling people "Yea, I could care . . . but I won't."

:)

Claire
December 13, 2007 9:03 PM
Soozcat said…
Gahh, I am so with you! I also wince when people say "Nuke-you-lur" instead of "New-clear," and don't even get me started on the written use of "persay" instead of "per se."
December 15, 2007 12:54 AM
D.R. Cootey said…
Thanks, everybody. Love your comments. I'm glad I'm not alone in this one. You bring up some other great pet peeves, too.

I was twittering with Grammar Girl and apparently I've inspired a future tirade for her. ;) Good! She'll set them all straight.
December 15, 2007 8:56 AM
Anonymous said…
I could care more about people who butcher the english language. Lets keep everything positive.
December 17, 2007 7:53 PM
D.R. Cootey said…
It's all in good fun, John. ;)
December 18, 2007 4:24 AM
Post a Comment

Somewhat Liked Posts

I Could Get Where I Was Going if Only My Mind Weren't in the Way

I've been wondering how to tackle today's column since I'm experiencing what I call the "slow tick". Whereas most people think of flailing arms and jerking necks when the word "tic" comes to mind, slow ticks are like being played in slow motion. There is an odd disconnect in my mind as I am aware of what to say in realtime but my mouth has a hard time keeping up. Walking becomes fun as well. Brain: Shift to the right. Let's avoid that wall. Me: Wha? Brain: Shift! Shift! Me: The wall? Boof! It's not quite unlike wading through jello. I can see where I need to go but the world is all woogily and I'm unable to get through it with any manner of celerity. But get there I do. I refuse help whenever possible. I'll be darned and knitted if I'm going to let this stupid disability get in my way. Don't be fooled by my bravado. The disability gets in the way all the time. Like this morning as my sweet four year old tried to help me ...
Continue Reading…

AD/HD: Speaking without Thinking

Image
I would like to thank Blogger for selecting my column as a Blog of Note . I am thrilled to find so many like minded individuals making the comments section an intellectual treat. Curse you! I haven't been able to get anything done for a whole week. One of the comments from last week's column was a terse reprimand by a woman (I assume) who urged me to not think so much and do instead. Ignoring the fact that her short comment judged my life by only the words of a humorous column I write each week, she also showed a lack of understanding of the AD/HD mind. Not think so much? If there is any one defining aspect of AD/HD it is the lack of contemplative thought before action is taken. We are masters of the instantaneous impulse. Take today's subject matter for an example. There you are, grieving family members around you, the organ plays in the background, and you've got this really funny joke to tell. Happen to you? No, me neither, but I do know a guy who appa...
Continue Reading…

Depression: Ten Ways to Fight It Off, Part 1

Image
Update 2016: This article was featured in my book "Saying NO to Suicide" Part 1 | Part 2 Some people have asked me how I manage depression without medication. Please keep in mind that medication is not the answer for everybody. Some people either can't afford medications or are hypersensitive to them, which is the case with me. I can't take any medication without worrying about side effects. So today let's get down and dirty. This will be a little lengthy, but I'll list ten steps I might take on any particular day to shake off the black beastie. My challenge today is to make you smile about depression. I may have just conceded defeat with that last sentence, but I'll make the attempt anyway. Since anybody can make up a list and put it on the web, let's make this real. I'll take an actual bout of depression and chart how I dealt with it. It is 5:30pm and I hear the lilting voice of my wife as she comes home. Instead of happiness I have an instan...
Continue Reading…