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Comment by radoslawc | Hacker News Reader

> One of the detractors was an archaeologist with a background in Egyptology from the University of Queensland, Dr. Serena Love. “I was like, ‘Who is this guy?’ I don’t have an Xbox, I could care less about Xboxes,” says Dr. Love.

Couldn't care less. Dr. ...

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Perhaps the only thing he cares less about is pedantry.

Webster says either are acceptable now: https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/could-couldnt-...

But if it doesn’t square with the rest of the language, especially since negating it somehow still means the same thing, can we really accept it even if some grand institution like “Merriam Webster” adds it to the collection?

I guess I’m a soft prescriptivist

Quoting an authorities opinion on this matter is kind of oxymoronic when their opinion is that this isn't something to be dictated by authority. One wonders if it isn't slightly self-sabotaging of them to take this position.

You’re assuming the level of care the Dr. has. Maybe she specifically means to say that she could care less.

Probably in the same way as people specifically mean 'you're' when they write 'your' ;)

No, because then there would be no need to point out how much she cares. She specifically said that to highlight how little she cares for it, but said the phrase incorrectly.

Whenever I hear this I automatically think "Oh, so you have stated you care a certain amount. This amount is greater than zero. Therefore, you are stating you do care?"

"could care less" is sarcasm.

It's also a nonsensical expression which some English speakers (rather good-naturedly) find bothersome, as comedian David Mitchell explains:

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

I was going to post that video. but got distracted with work. I absolutely love David Mitchell.

I know what it means and it could be interpreted as a sarcastic expression - so there's nothing to be bothered by.

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