Things That Annoy Me, But Shouldn't

It's not sarcasm, I don't think. In practice it means the same thing as "I couldn't care less."

 

Yes, they mean the same thing, because if it's sarcastic, it has the opposite meaning. Look, I can't prove this, because it's been popular since at least the 1960's apparently, but before it became idiomatic, it was said with sarcasm. It had to be, otherwise it never would have made sense in the first place. Why would it have been said at all, if it made no sense. It may not always be used sarcastically now, but that's because idioms don't always make literal sense. Either way, when I say it, I know what I'm doing.

Arguments over which it should be are moot anyway. It's a little like the misuse of "literally" conversation. Whether grammarians like it or not, and I'm including myself in that group, the word "literally" now has a hyperbolic, non-literal usage. It even makes sense to a degree. If I can say it's a million degrees outside, why can't someone use the word "literally" as the ultimate hyperbole? It's already done with the word "infinite," and I could give an infinite number of examples.

Lexicographically speaking, if enough people say it's a thing, then it's a thing. That's just how language evolves. According to google statistics, more people say "could" than "couldn't" now, especially in the US. It's not going anywhere.

 

Well I'm not going to pretend I knew it was sarcasm (or not, depending on your view) but maybe it's an American thing in that case, because here in the UK we say "I couldn't care less." It's a bit like the idiom 'Cheap at half the price' that people say when they find a bargain. That's always annoyed me too because if you think it's already cheap, then of course half that price would be cheaper still ('cheap in this case meaning 'inexpensive')

 

Ya think? Pointing out people's typos is fulfilling, isn't it?

 

I'm not trying to make any normative argument. Just observing that when I use it it's not with sarcastic intent.

 

I don't think so. It amazes me how many writers (writers!) make these sort of claims. The word 'literally' has a perfectly good meaning and I can't imagine wanting to read work by an 'author' who also uses it to mean the exact opposite. Since we still don't have a sarcasm font, I, as a reader, am forced to try to divine the meaning (this time) through context, which is more work than I usually want to have to apply to a story I might have otherwise enjoyed.

The perpetuation of errors is not 'evolution'. I know that many writers, being the high-strung creative people we are, bristle at the idea of 'writing rules', but there is a pretty simple set of rules that can and should be followed, if only to make reading one's stuff a more pleasant experience for the readers. If one is writing solely for oneself, fine. Writing for the rest of us requires that the author make the experience as smooth and hassle-free as possible. Using words to mean any damned thing the writer thinks they should doesn't help.

 

I know this is a writers' forum, but nobody suggested using it in your writing. What I said was that whether we like it or not, it's now part of the lexicon.

 

Jaguar. I'll put up with jag-you-are in deference to my British friends, but please keep your jag-wire to yourself.

 

Here in the states, I specify because not all of us are here in the US, they allow pharmaceutical advertisements in all sorts of media; TV, radio, print, on the internet. The part that irks me is that tag line at the end “don’t take this medication if you’re allergic to it.” WOW. Such novel advice, I’ll have to keep that in mind.

 

I say jag-you-are. How do you say it?

Hold on... or do I say jag-ure... or jag-yar.

Oooh, nice jag-ure. Yeah, I say jag-ure.

 

Jag-war

 

Crossguard lightsabers. For whatever reason I can appreciate some lightsaber innovations/variants, like the saberstaff (double bladed weapon). But the sight of a crossguard lightsaber looks so wrong that it bothers me.

 

That's how posh Brits say it

I think I say jag-u-ah. And here you go. I think this is the first 'pronunciation' video I've ever agreed with.

 

Actually this belongs in the 'This should annoy me, and does' thread', but I didn't see one, so I'll post it here.

Things that annoy me and should, are screenwriters who have several gigs under their belts regardless that they consistently get bad reviews. I have seen too many really crappy films that should never have been made, with some A-list talent and multi-million dollar budgets, only to hover in the low 20s and teens in their approval ratings (some in single digit numbers), and all the critics agree that the problem began in the writing. And yet, this writer/s keeps getting gigs, with each as bad as the last, and each ripped apart by critics. How do they keep getting writing jobs if they are poison to the production? As a long-time screenwriter, this pisses me off. I won’t name names.

 

Do their movies make money?

 

And no notes to work from. Yup, impressive.

 

the British pronunciation sounds so goofy

 

Made a rare stop at Taco Bell for lunch and forgot to ask for my free World Series taco. Seems like they could have offered.

 

There's your British Jag-u-ah, and I raise you the American a-lu-mi-num.

 

I'll see your aluminum and raise you an herb and a garage.

 

This could go on all night but my mobile.. sorry, mobill, phone is ringing.

I rest my case.

 

When people rip/shred large clumps of cotton wool and drape them over their front door and windows at Halloween. I’m guessing they’re supposed to be cobwebs/spider webs, but no, they look like large clumps of cotton wool that you’ve ripped up and draped over your front door and windows.

 

The "I love Secret Santa" person in every group.

I loathe doing secret Santa.

"Let's do a Secret Santa! That'll be fun! What do you think, Wrey?"

"Murder, Greg. I'm thinking about murder, that's what."