Sorry, I think your prescriptivist stance here is wrong.

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Post #293,887

9/29/07 8:26:18 PM

Sorry, I think your prescriptivist stance here is wrong.

Oversimplified, making you a victim of the "Ethymological fallacy"(*). Here are some professionals discussing the matter, at Language Log: [link|http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/000368.html|Post 000368], [link|http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/001180.html|Post 001180], [link|http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/001182.html|Post 001182], [link|http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/001202.html|Post 001202], [link|http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/001207.html|Post 001207], [link|http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/001209.html|Post 001209], [link|http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/001256.html|Post 001256], [link|http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002063.html|Post 002063], [link|http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002253.html|Post 002253](+), and here are some of their sources: A part of [link|http://www.yaelf.com/aueFAQ/mifcouldcareless.shtml|the alt.usage.english FAQ], and [link|http://www-personal.umich.edu/%7Ejlawler/aue/giveadamn.html|John Lawler's "Give a damn" piece].

HTH!

(*): Google for it, preferably at LL.
(+): I've tried to collect an exhaustive but not exhausting -- and relevant! -- sample from the somewhat larger number of posts that in some fashion touched on the subject (i.e, contained the phrase "could care less").

[link|mailto:MyUserId@MyISP.CountryCode|Christian R. Conrad]
(I live in Finland, and my e-mail in-box is at the Saunalahti company.)

Ah, the Germans: Masters of Convoluted Simplification. — [link|http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=1603|Jehovah]

The Caring Continuum - (pwhysall) - (24) - Sept. 28, 2007, 12:29:35 PM EDT

arnt you being as little careless with that assertion? -NT - (boxley) - Sept. 28, 2007, 12:43:52 PM EDT

In spoken American, the "n't" is silent. HTH! ;-) -NT - (Another Scott) - (1) - Sept. 28, 2007, 12:57:03 PM EDT

Innovative! - (pwhysall) - Sept. 28, 2007, 01:31:31 PM EDT

How about this interpretation - (Steven A S) - (18) - Sept. 28, 2007, 03:32:54 PM EDT

Or - (Silverlock) - (17) - Sept. 28, 2007, 04:27:56 PM EDT

The real question about this issue is - (jake123) - (2) - Sept. 28, 2007, 04:46:52 PM EDT

Well, there is that. -NT - (Silverlock) - Sept. 28, 2007, 04:49:47 PM EDT

Not you. - (pwhysall) - Sept. 29, 2007, 04:51:11 AM EDT

Riiight. - (pwhysall) - (13) - Sept. 29, 2007, 04:47:01 AM EDT

We who Care the Most - (Ashton) - (1) - Sept. 29, 2007, 05:40:46 AM EDT

:-D -NT - (Another Scott) - Sept. 29, 2007, 05:43:32 AM EDT

Not to belabor the obvious - (Silverlock) - (10) - Sept. 29, 2007, 04:53:37 PM EDT

Riiight. - (pwhysall) - (9) - Sept. 30, 2007, 02:43:25 AM EDT

Who couldn't care less about your opinion on this matter? - (Lily) - (3) - Sept. 30, 2007, 10:40:51 AM EDT

If you're not interested, don't post. - (pwhysall) - (2) - Sept. 30, 2007, 11:10:59 AM EDT

Can post where and when I want - (Lily) - (1) - Sept. 30, 2007, 12:00:13 PM EDT

No kidding! - (imqwerky) - Sept. 30, 2007, 01:06:29 PM EDT

If the correct meaning is understood, how is it wrong? - (Silverlock) - (4) - Sept. 30, 2007, 03:27:34 PM EDT

Alas, you're only correct in the US - (warmachine) - (3) - Sept. 30, 2007, 04:34:08 PM EDT

Only correct in the US? - (Andrew Grygus) - (1) - Sept. 30, 2007, 06:40:57 PM EDT

Stupid American language (new thread) - (warmachine) - Sept. 30, 2007, 08:50:04 PM EDT

Stop it? No. - (Silverlock) - Sept. 30, 2007, 08:27:37 PM EDT

Sorry, I think your prescriptivist stance here is wrong. - (CRConrad) - Sept. 29, 2007, 08:26:18 PM EDT

Ancient Mayans could care less. - (Another Scott) - Nov. 2, 2007, 10:36:10 PM EDT

They're behind the couch.
69 ms