Monday, August 19, 2013

P&M VI - I don't care

There are some phrases that mean one thing when they are said in sentences and another when they are used as a complete sentence. Of course, when my friends say, "I don't care if I never see you again" they are merely joking. (What do you mean you are not joking? Maybe you are not but I am talking about my friends) but in the normal course, when someone says "I don't care if....", he actually means that he does not care.

But what if someone just says, "I don't care"? When this phrase is used as a complete communication, it very seldom means what it says. It may mean, "I don't care to discuss the matter" or "I don't care to let people know how much I care" BUT it, almost invariably, does not mean that you do not care about the matter.

"I am sorry you did not get selected"

"I DON'T CARE"

Now, that was loud enough to let the other person know how little you cared about the matter. How utterly indifferent you were about getting selected. Yes, we know.

"I am sorry she did not accept your proposal"

"I DON'T CARE"

 The entire hostel knows how totally indifferent you are to the girl's charms and how carefree her turning down of your proposal left you. They all know you are going to paint the town red celebrating your joy.

"I am sorry you lost your job"

"I DON'T CARE" 
The entire city knows how much you care..umm, don't care about losing your job. Everyone and his aunt knew how little you cared for it and how much you were hungering to be free to do your own thing.

If you are sorely tempted to write something negative in the comments please understand that

"I DON'T CARE"

You hear me? I just don't care.
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27 comments:

  1. AnonymousAugust 19, 2013 at 8:39 AM

    Ha true... But in my book 'I don't care' comes after 'Whatever' Now that's a phrase I want to wipe off the planet!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. C SureshAugust 19, 2013 at 10:17 AM

      As do the parents of every teenager - that's the most aggravating phrase ever - "Whatever" :)

      Delete
  2. Alka GurhaAugust 19, 2013 at 9:09 AM

    This simple phrase can have several connotations depending on the context.

    ReplyDelete
  3. RachnaAugust 19, 2013 at 9:54 AM

    hehe I do care! Yes, the difference brought out really well. Have you noticed how two positives -- Yeah right! never mean anything positive :).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. C SureshAugust 19, 2013 at 10:18 AM

      Now will I be accused of plagiarism if I use it in a subsequent post of this series? :)

      Delete
    2. RachnaAugust 19, 2013 at 12:30 PM

      Of course not! I didn't coin the phrase, did I? :).

      Delete
    3. C SureshAugust 19, 2013 at 1:31 PM

      great :) That's one more to the P&M series then :)

      Delete
  4. RituAugust 19, 2013 at 12:34 PM

    As Rachna pointed out - its such a sham isn't it and it doesn't fool anyone :)

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    Replies
    1. C SureshAugust 19, 2013 at 1:32 PM

      And yet a lot of people use it and still expect the others to believe them :)

      Delete
  5. T F CarthickAugust 19, 2013 at 4:02 PM

    This post became a bit more of senti and less of humor than your usual posts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. C SureshAugust 19, 2013 at 4:10 PM

      Not all phrases lend themselves readily to humor :)

      Delete
    2. Shivakumar ThirunayamAugust 19, 2013 at 8:40 PM

      I thought you would have said "I don't care" ;)

      Delete
    3. C SureshAugust 19, 2013 at 9:22 PM

      Hmm! Missed a bet didn't I? :)

      Delete
  6. ʞɐAugust 19, 2013 at 9:10 PM

    Whatever! I Don't care. And I am not even a teenager.

    Truth aside, a very well written post, indeed. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousAugust 19, 2013 at 11:27 PM

    Suresh ji, I used the same phrase when IBA did not offer me an award in the comic section where we were only 16 contestant and a 17th one won , someone who was never there till the last date of nomination .. and trust me how much I meant it .. :D :D ..I almost cried :D ..

    I dont care !! hahaha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. C SureshAugust 20, 2013 at 12:58 AM

      Hahaha! Did you say it loud enough for the entire country to hear? :)

      Delete
  8. PurbaAugust 20, 2013 at 12:20 AM

    I don't care usually implies the contrary :/

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    1. C SureshAugust 20, 2013 at 12:59 AM

      And the louder you say it, the more contrary it is :)

      Delete
  9. AnonymousAugust 20, 2013 at 7:14 AM

    Isn't it trendy to say 'fuck it' nowadays instead of 'I don't care'?

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    Replies
    1. C SureshAugust 20, 2013 at 7:56 AM

      I am not au courant with the latest expessions

      Delete
  10. VajraAugust 20, 2013 at 11:27 AM

    Very well executed and tuned phrase of explanation Suresh Sir.. I don't care what I am writing but I care about what I have read now....:) :)

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    Replies
    1. C SureshAugust 20, 2013 at 11:30 AM

      Thanks Vajra! Great to be seeing you around these days :)

      Delete
  11. Diwakar NarayanAugust 21, 2013 at 1:34 PM

    I don't care leaving a sensible comment here :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Jayashree SrivatsanAugust 24, 2013 at 2:31 AM

    I had left a comment here earlier today , guess Google goofed it up. ' I don't give a ' followed by some word or the other seems to be replacing ' I don't care' in the slang world . sentences that mean exactly the opposite of the actual reaction :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. C SureshAugust 24, 2013 at 7:35 AM

      Google is goofing up all too often these days :) Yes - and the stronger the slang the more you..umm...don't care :)

      Delete

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