Comments on: Will you watch?

By: Sean

Sean — Sat, 12 May 2007 03:13:31 +0000

It was right in the beginning. Ask any English major.
It is a compound sentence joined by the word or. The second part of it needs a subject: "or couldn't YOU care less." Otherwise it is a fragment.
Larry D's explanation is correct only by definition of those statements alone (could care less - couldn't care less). The original statement needed a subject (you).
Hey, Alan brought it all up, yes jokingly, but also an apparent attempt to top an editor (which we get often in this business).

By: larry d.

larry d. — Wed, 09 May 2007 17:56:50 +0000

Alan was right. If someone "could care less" aren't odds pretty good they would watch? If they "couldn't care less," they definitely wouldn't watch. The original sentence was an either/or question–will you watch or won't you (couldn't care less).

By: Alan Tucker

Alan Tucker — Wed, 09 May 2007 15:26:31 +0000

But Bill, that wasn't Ron's intent. It was wrong. Period. Jeez, Louise. The fact that you're still carrying on about it makes you far more anal than I'll ever be, even though I was just joshing about it in the first place.

Those cannibals might benefit by adding you to their C.C. and Bartolo buffet.

By: Bill

Bill — Wed, 09 May 2007 14:02:18 +0000

Ron, sadly you caved in to a moronsky.

Once again, Anal: Yes, a person would say "I couldn't care less."

However, Ron was asking the question, "Will you watch or could you care less?" Could. You. Care. Less? NOT: Could. You. Not. Care. Less.

Consult anyone with a basic understanding of language to realize you need more grammar lessons.

By: Alan Tucker

Alan Tucker — Wed, 09 May 2007 04:35:50 +0000

Sean, it wasn't correct, but like I said, I truly couldn't care less. Rat's patootie.

With respect to Ron's question, yes, it works. It's more perfect than a cannibal meal featuring Bartolo Colon and C.C. Sabathia twirling on a spit.

By: Ron

Ron — Wed, 09 May 2007 00:59:05 +0000

Does it work for everyone now.

By: Sean

Sean — Tue, 08 May 2007 23:49:29 +0000

Bill is correct. It's the correct wording.
"Will you watch or couldn't care less" doesn't make sense.
Perhaps a comma before the word "or" would have helped, but geez, it's a blog.
Yes, he's an editor, but blogs are often done in addition to the editor's real work of putting out the paper, and rarely are edited.
I try my best to make all corrections before posting something, but mistakes are much, much more likely on a blog.
Give the guy a break.
Other than that, I couldn't care less (about the draft :-).

By: Alan Tucker

Alan Tucker — Tue, 08 May 2007 17:28:37 +0000

Bill, you're wrong, and any language maven, like James Kilpatrick, would tell you the same thing. But then again, you're too dim a bulb to realize I was writing totally tongue-in-cheek, so who gives a rat's patootie?

By: Bill

Bill — Tue, 08 May 2007 17:15:15 +0000

Hey, Anal…(at least you got ONE thing right):

Ledger used the proper wording, but you're too stupid to know it. Try reading it again, real slow-like…sound out the words. Sheesh, Anal. Bet that's what your teachers called you, too.

By: Alan Tucker

Alan Tucker — Tue, 08 May 2007 15:25:30 +0000

Call me incredibly anal, but it is "couldn't care less."

You are a professional editor that supervises professional writers, even if they sometimes write like starry-eyed fans. Your error is a common mistake, but there is a reason you get paid the big bucks. You should know better.

Thank you for letting me get that off my chest. My Prozac refills ran out.