While oil prices are at record highs...record profits?

[Wolfgang]

Yeah, I fucking hate it too, it should be "I couldn't care less" because it indicates that you have hit rock bottom on the caring scale. You care so little that it is impossible to care less.

The way you put it makes it sound like you actually do care a wee bit.

[rockouthippie]

No, eating haggus and wearing a skirt is backwards, not the word liberal

[Omega X]

Originally posted by Wolfgang
Yeah, I fucking hate it too, it should be "I couldn't care less" because it indicates that you have hit rock bottom on the caring scale. You care so little that it is impossible to care less.

The way you put it makes it sound like you actually do care a wee bit.

Grammar nazis strike again...

[zootm]

Originally posted by rockouthippie
No, eating haggus and wearing a skirt is backwards, not the word liberal

And yet, while you can't spell the word you're trying to write, and can't give a single reason to back up your claims, people keep on using a word which is defined as "personal freedom" to mean the exact opposite.



Also, haggis tastes great and I advise you to try it .

Originally posted by Omega X
Grammar nazis strike again...

I dunno, it just seems weird to me because it's saying exactly the opposite of what the words mean. It's just weird!

We have a phrase here (don't know how widely used it is elsewhere) for saying two things are the same, "same difference". I mean, that just doesn't make sense!

I don't have a problem with "weird" grammar or phrases, it's just when they're meant to mean the opposite of what the words imply it just seems stupid.

[xzxzzx]

Originally posted by zootm
I hate that phrase, because it's backwards. Like the common American usage of the word "liberal", too.

Hmm.

It is backwards. As an American, I'd like to point out that not all Americans say "could care less" (I don't — Q.E.D.), not that you technically said that.

Also, "liberal" has gained a new meaning ("having political or social views favoring reform and progress"), which is not exactly the same as simply using a word incorrectly. Personally, I use "liberal" only because there is no other equivalent word.

Originally posted by zootm
We have a phrase here (don't know how widely used it is elsewhere) for saying two things are the same, "same difference". I mean, that just doesn't make sense!

Weird. Personally, I use "same difference" when I am referring to a difference which is the same — as an example:

A: You want something sweet or sour?
B: Something sweet.
A: Ok, vanilla or chocolate?
B: Meh, same difference.

or

A: You came all the way to see me by train? Aww, how sweet.
B: I took the bus, actually.
A: Same difference.

[zootm]

Originally posted by xzxzzx
It is backwards. As an American, I'd like to point out that not all Americans say "could care less" (I don't — Q.E.D.), not that you technically said that.

I don't think I said it was an American thing ("liberal", yes, "could care less", no, but it's certainly most common on that side of the pond).

Originally posted by xzxzzx
Also, "liberal" has gained a new meaning ("having political or social views favoring reform and progress"), which is not exactly the same as simply using a word incorrectly. Personally, I use "liberal" only because there is no other equivalent word.

I mean, that's just a huge generalisation. It means very little or nothing, that's part of what worries me. Even with that meaning, it basically means "conservatives" favour status quo, where as "liberals" favour reform, in all things, when that's not the use it's usually given.

I suspect there's no equivalent word because the meaning is so wide as to make the term useless as anything except a call to emotion (either for, or against). What gets me is that I'd probably, in most things, consider myself a (classical) liberal, and there isn't another good word for that. And it was there first, dammit!

Originally posted by xzxzzx
Weird. Personally, I use "same difference" when I am referring to a difference which is the same

It still doesn't seem "right" to me. It's a difference which leads to the same result, not a difference that is the same to some other difference (that's a contradiction in terms, surely?), although I can see how that's one of the few logical interpretations of it.

I probably don't care as much about these things as it seems, though, my spoken English is rubbish!

[xzxzzx]

Originally posted by zootm
I don't think I said it was an American thing ("liberal", yes, "could care less", no, but it's certainly most common on that side of the pond).

Yeah, whatever, I'm tired.

Originally posted by zootm
I mean, that's just a huge generalisation. It means very little or nothing, that's part of what worries me. Even with that meaning, it basically means "conservatives" favour status quo, where as "liberals" favour reform, in all things, when that's not the use it's usually given.

Well, whatever.

Originally posted by zootm
I suspect there's no equivalent word because the meaning is so wide as to make the term useless as anything except a call to emotion (either for, or against). What gets me is that I'd probably, in most things, consider myself a (classical) liberal, and there isn't another good word for that. And it was there first, dammit!

How about libertarian (little 'l')? But maybe that's a bit extreme.

Originally posted by zootm
It still doesn't seem "right" to me. It's a difference which leads to the same result, not a difference that is the same to some other difference (that's a contradiction in terms, surely?), although I can see how that's one of the few logical interpretations of it.

Two differences can be the same.

The additive difference between 5 and 8 is the same as the additive difference between 1 and 4 — it's the same difference, right?

Originally posted by zootm
I probably don't care as much about these things as it seems, though, my spoken English is rubbish!

Meh, I don't speak nearly as well as I write. I blame computers.

[zootm]

Originally posted by xzxzzx
The additive difference between 5 and 8 is the same as the additive difference between 1 and 4 — it's the same difference, right?

Yes, but in your first one the difference is between chocolate and vanilla — in this case it's between 3 and, err, 3.

This is a long, silly, conversation though.

[Jay]

all this because someone didn't care about the difference between revenue and profit. Welcome to the winamp forums.

[xzxzzx]

Originally posted by zootm
Yes, but in your first one the difference is between chocolate and vanilla — in this case it's between 3 and, err, 3.

This is a long, silly, conversation though.

No, in this case, it's between "1 and 4" and "5 and 8". It's a matter of context — "same difference" is saying, essencially, "within the context, each is the same in the differences which matter to me".

What's wrong with long and silly conversations?

Originally posted by KXRM
all this because someone didn't care about the difference between revenue and profit. Welcome to the winamp forums.

The Grammar Nazis strike again!

[zootm]

Originally posted by xzxzzx
No, in this case, it's between "1 and 4" and "5 and 8". It's a matter of context — "same difference" is saying, essencially, "within the context, each is the same in the differences which matter to me".

I still think "same difference" doesn't make sense there. If it falls into usage, it falls into usage though. Bah.

[xzxzzx]

Originally posted by zootm
I still think "same difference" doesn't make sense there. If it falls into usage, it falls into usage though. Bah.

While I don't see the objection to this particular phrase, I disagree with that attitude.

If you think a piece of language is stupid, then you should resist using it (and allowing other people to use it).

Sure, if it "falls into usage", then it's part of the language, but language is also mutable. It's not like it's out of your control, you're a user of the language, right?

[zootm]

Yeah, but I feel I've made an enough of a case for my opposition here. I'm not against the language changing, I just get upset when it doesn't make sense.

[Mattress]

what about "near miss" ? does that piss you off too?

[CaboWaboAddict]

Originally posted by KXRM
all this because someone didn't care about the difference between revenue and profit. Welcome to the winamp forums.

Or didn't realize there was a difference.

[zootm]

Originally posted by Mattress
what about "near miss" ? does that piss you off too?

Nah, that's something that's near, but still a miss. That makes perfect sense.

[Omega X]

Originally posted by CaboWaboAddict
Or didn't realize there was a difference.

I understand the difference. I just don't give a damn about corporations. End point.

[rockouthippie]

I could'nt care less, but maybe it's just that I don't give a f***

Us wacky americans.

[xzxzzx]

Originally posted by zootm
Nah, that's something that's near, but still a miss. That makes perfect sense.

Quite. And you can talk about something which nearly missed with ... "that was nearly a miss"