I could care less, or I could not care less?

[Red Squirrel]

Something I've been seeing a lot latetly not just here, but any other forum/site is people who do not care about something saying "I could care less". I always thought it was suppose to be "I could not care less". Which one is it? Have I been saying it wrong this whole time? I've always said "I could not care less" or "I couldn't care less".

Round 1. FIGHT.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

You are correct, sir!

 

[FoBoT]

i depends on how much you care and if you know what you are saying, or not

 

[Juked07]

People who bother to think about how this phrase can make sense tend to conclude "I couldn't care less."

On the other hand, people who say "I could care less" still successfully communicate that they don't care, and they do it in less syllables.. Who's the real winner here?

 

[JujuFish]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om7O0MFkmpw

 

[destrekor]

Nothing to debate. "Could not care less" is the only appropriate answer, unless of course, one wishes to argue that, you do not really care much, but honestly could probably care even less. But then, that only invites the other person to believe you care *enough* for them to continue doing whatever it is you don't care about. That's too risky. 😛

 

[JulesMaximus]

I could care less=I do actually care a little bit because there is a lesser amount I could care based on my own admission.

I could not care less=My level of caring is at zero and it is impossible for me to actually care less than I do right now.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

People who bother to think about how this phrase can make sense tend to conclude "I couldn't care less."

On the other hand, people who say "I could care less" still successfully communicate that they don't care, and they do it in less syllables.. Who's the real winner here?

Sloppy communicating not only doesn't get the job done outside the individual's microcosm, it's disrespectful, lazy and, demonstrates a lack of education.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I could care less=I do actually care a little bit because there is a lesser amount I could care based on my own admission.

I could not care less=My level of caring is at zero and it is impossible for me to actually care less than I do right now.

That's pretty much the logic I had in mind as well. So good, I guess I have been saying it right after all. 😛

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

I could care less is correct because stating "I could not care less" is a falsehood. You can always not care less, you just have to try a bit harder.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Sloppy communicating not only doesn't get the job done outside the individual's microcosm, it's disrespectful, lazy and, demonstrates a lack of education.

I've given up personally. So many people use "I could care less" that it has become like the word nuclear. Only complete idiots and dumbasses pronounce it "nukular" but since one of those dumbfucks was our president for 8 years I guess we give them a pass.

 

[zinfamous]

this is like, the oldest grammatical complaint in forever, and has been addressed on these pages several dozen times.

 

[clamum]

Could NOT fucking care less.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

I have never seen anyone on here post I could care less. Don't even consider counting the topic about the pope. 😛

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I occasionally say "could care less" solely for the sake of irony, and because sometimes it just sounds better. But "couldn't care less" is the only "correct" way to use the phrase if you want it to make sense. I prefer "I give two shits" anyway, because people are forced to think about that one, and conclude that it means nothing.