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Discussion in 'Chit Chat' started by Vesalius, Apr 10, 2015.

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  1. Vesalius

    Vesalius
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    This is a question for all my American cousins out there. I understand there are differences between us. We play manly rugby whereas you fanny about in protective armour calling it Football. We fancy a good cup of tea while you are more pertinent coffee drinkers. I embrace these differences, that's what makes our individual countries so great.

    However, there is one small thing that really winds me up. One question I just need someone to explain to me ...

    The phrase "could care less." :bang:

    In the UK we couldn't care less. This means that we couldn't give a damn. We physically could not care any less about someone's silly little life and problems.

    Yet in America you "could care less". That means you do still care a bit, right?

    So please America, I emplore you. For the sake of our continued relationship over the pond, explain this one thing to me. Put me out of my misery! (*hug*):eusa_danc
     
    #1 Vesalius, Apr 10, 2015
  2. ForNarnia

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    I've always wondered about that too :

    The irony is that you know someone is going to reply with "I don't know and I honestly could care less"
     
    #2 ForNarnia, Apr 10, 2015
  3. HappyGirlLucky

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    I'm not an American and I much prefer tea, but here is an explanation:

    Word Fact: I Couldn't Care Less

    Basically, because it's an idiom it's exempt from logic. :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes: I always use "couldn't care less", because I like making sense when I talk to people.
     
    #3 HappyGirlLucky, Apr 10, 2015
  4. Kaiser

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    I believe most people say "could care less", because they aren't thinking when they say it.

    However, saying you could care less, implies, not only you really not caring a lot, but that you could flat out hate something, if you so wanted. It's actually more cruel like this than not caring at all, because to care and then intentionally not care is putting salt in the wound.

    Think of it like this:

    If, say, somebody hates you from the beginning, it can suck, but it isn't as bad as somebody caring about you, suddenly, hating you. There's more of an impact in the latter way, but... again, I believe most people who say "could care less" do that, because they aren't thinking.
     
    #4 Kaiser, Apr 10, 2015
  5. Vesalius

    Vesalius
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    If you could care less though, it could also mean that you care a lot. There is no scale as to how much less caring there is for you to do?

    http://youtu.be/om7O0MFkmpw

    This illustrates it rather well.
     
    #5 Vesalius, Apr 10, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 10, 2015
  6. Manitoban

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    Well as a proud resident of the Americas (continents)
    I notice we typically say "couldn't care less."(sorry I couldn't help it :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:)

    In all seriousness i'm not from the country you're likely referring to but I've never noticed this before. I do believe most people at least in this region of Canada say "couldn't care less."

    It's always interesting to me how our speech is a strange mix of American and British styles here.
     
    #6 Manitoban, Apr 10, 2015
  7. Kaiser

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    If you want to get literal, sure. But how many people, when they say "I could care less" really mean, 'I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY care, I just don't REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY care'?

    They lean more towards the lesser side.
     
    #7 Kaiser, Apr 10, 2015
  8. Vesalius

    Vesalius
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    I don't know them, I don't know their lives :wink:
     
    #8 Vesalius, Apr 10, 2015
  9. Kaiser

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    I could care less if you know them! :wink:
     
    #9 Kaiser, Apr 10, 2015
  10. biAnnika

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    You've got it wrong. This isn't an American thing. This is a stupid person thing.

    And I embrace the difference between "American" and "stupid person" in much the same way as you embrace the differences between "American" and "English". That is to say, the differences are few, but significant...and more in some people than in others.
     
    #10 biAnnika, Apr 10, 2015
  11. AwesomGaytheist

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    There are some very big differences between rugby and football. Granted rugby is what football evolved from, they are fundamentally different. Personally I enjoy both, however I'll never understand how you can enjoy what's properly called soccer.
     
    #11 AwesomGaytheist, Apr 10, 2015
  12. Vesalius

    Vesalius
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    I don't understand how people enjoy Football (soccer) either, it's so boring. I don't understand American Football either though, there is too much stopping and standing around for me.
     
    #12 Vesalius, Apr 10, 2015
  13. BryanM

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    I use "couldn't care less". I don't really think it's an American thing either, it's more a thing of people not thinking when they speak.
     
    #13 BryanM, Apr 10, 2015
  14. tscott

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    Much ado about nothing. Whether or not I use the expression "I couldn't care less" or "I could care less" I'm dismissing any interest in the subject regardless of what it is. To me, they both imply that something is unworthy of my notice or something contemptible. There are no subtle shadings, no degrees of caring.

    I played intermural rugby and prefer it over American football, by the way. It is a subject for which I have an abiding interest. :icon_wink
     
    #14 tscott, Apr 10, 2015
  15. MyFlowerKing

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    wait what? I live in the states and I've never known of people saying that (at least where I live) I know people around where I live say couldn't care less if they say it like that. People have gotten more blunt and just outright say "I don't care", at least to my knowledge.
     
    #15 MyFlowerKing, Apr 10, 2015
  16. Austin

    Austin
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    People who say "could care less" mean "couldn't care less" but are saying it wrong. We all understand what they mean, and it's common enough not that we couldn't care less if people say it wrong.
     
    #16 Austin, Apr 10, 2015
  17. LiquidSwords

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    Apart from being contact sports played with similar shaped balls they are fundamentally different as you say. They each have their merits but really there's no point comparing them. Saying that I've never actually managed to sit through a whole American football game why is the pace of it so sloww
     
    #17 LiquidSwords, Apr 10, 2015
  18. AlamoCity

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    It seems to be in the same realm of "flammable" and "inflammable." :lol:
     
    #18 AlamoCity, Apr 10, 2015
  19. Kaiser

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    To much too ask two use proper grammar.
     
    #19 Kaiser, Apr 10, 2015
  20. TENNYSON

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    True. Grammatically it may be incorrect, but semantically, we understand it.

    I don't think it has to do with region either. "Could care less" is just as wrong in America as it is in the UK.
     
    #20 TENNYSON, Apr 10, 2015
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