A Third issue for thoughful debate - proprietary book stores - Page 2

OtterBooks · 01-18-2011, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teadonkey

The reason why I don't care that I'm locked into the Kindle store when it comes to BUYING books is because I like what the Amazon store has to offer, and the prices that it offers at. Before I got a Kindle, I was already an Amazon customer for everything from books to tea to purses. When I was looking to get an eReader, I already had Amazon on my mind since I already bought almost all of my books from them. I don't know if you've noticed, but when it comes to paperback, you can't beat Amazon in the US. Unless you can find the book used, of course.

I also, though, did a lot of comparing. I made a list in Excel of all the books I was currently thinking of buying at some point in the future. I put the eBook price for every book for three different stores, and Amazon won. For the books I wanted, they had the most of them in eformat and at the lowest price. So... I don't need another store. That's why I don't want one, and that's why it doesn't matter to me. I'm sure there are a lot of other customers who think the same way I do, and that's probably why Amazon is selling ebooks and Kindles so well.

We shall not stand for such happy-customer talk around here. Please report to Room 27 for re-education.

Dulin's Books · 01-18-2011, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

LOL

. Thanks, Paul - that's brilliant!

problem being that its a shortened expression. its "Like(as if) I could care less" implying that you can't. however its shortened to "i could care less" which causes the confusion.

hold down the fort is certainly correct as well if you know the origination.

the video was brilliant

OtterBooks · 01-18-2011, 09:45 PM

Quote:

hold down the fort is certainly correct as well if you know the origination.

Furthermore, the phrase and its variations came into popular use as a result of an American Civil War telegram. Thanks for lecturing us on our own colloquialism, genius. (Actually I really like that fellow.)

screwballl · 01-18-2011, 09:50 PM

Why bring up a question that already has at least 5 other threads already dedicated to it... not cool!

teadonkey · 01-18-2011, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

We shall not stand for such happy-customer talk around here. Please report to Room 27 for re-education.

Eeek! My parents always told me not to take candy from strangers and not to go to room 27s!

Xanthe · 01-22-2011, 01:36 PM

Actually, the phrase "I could care less" meaning "I couldn't care less" is common usage in my neck of the woods. It might not be proper English but it's a common figure of speech.

Andrew H. · 01-22-2011, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xanthe

Actually, the phrase "I could care less" meaning "I couldn't care less" is common usage in my neck of the woods. It might not be proper English but it's a common figure of speech.

"I could care less" is no less proper than "I couldn't care less" and is about as old. Both mean "I don't care."

Linguists use the term "etymological fallacy" to describe the mistaken belief that the "true" meaning of a word or expression can be determined by examining its roots. This is simply not true. Something "awful" doesn't fill you with awe; nor does "silly" mean "blessed" anymore. And of course "flammable" and "inflammable" mean the same thing.

Logic only has a limited applicability to language anyway. Double negatives are not proper in English anymore, but not negating a negative makes it a positive (i.e., because "I don't need nothing" logically means "I need something.") Double negatives were completely cromulent in Shakespeare's time, for example, and are common in other languages as well. Formal logic like this just plays no real role in language usage - early modern English speakers (or present-day Russian speakers) are no less logical than we are.
The prohibition against double negatives in modern english is simply an arbitrary rule, like most language rules (I mean, why add an -s or -es to 3d person singular verbs anyway...)

HarryT · 01-22-2011, 03:24 PM

Andrew,

Greatly though I admire anyone who can use the word "cromulent" in a post, I really can't agree. The apparent contradiction in "flammable" and "inflammable" only exists to someone who is unaware of the etymology of the two words. Saying "I could care less" when you actually mean "I couldn't care less" is simply wrong.

Andrew H. · 01-22-2011, 08:31 PM

I actually feel that "cromulent," like "chortle" before it, is well on its way to becoming a real word.

Not sure about incromulent, though.

HarryT · 01-23-2011, 02:33 AM

"chortle" is most certainly a real word; in British English, at least.

Andrew H. · 01-23-2011, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

"chortle" is most certainly a real word; in British English, at least.

In American, too - but it was invented by Lewis Carroll.

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01-18-2011, 09:50 PM	#19
screwballl NewKindler Posts: 504 Karma: 1865773 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: NWFL Device: Kindle3 Wifi	Why bring up a question that already has at least 5 other threads already dedicated to it... not cool!

01-22-2011, 01:36 PM	#21
Xanthe Plan B Is Now In Force Posts: 1,894 Karma: 8086979 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surebleak Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2	Actually, the phrase "I could care less" meaning "I couldn't care less" is common usage in my neck of the woods. It might not be proper English but it's a common figure of speech.

01-22-2011, 03:24 PM	#23
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Andrew, Greatly though I admire anyone who can use the word "cromulent" in a post, I really can't agree. The apparent contradiction in "flammable" and "inflammable" only exists to someone who is unaware of the etymology of the two words. Saying "I could care less" when you actually mean "I couldn't care less" is simply wrong.

01-22-2011, 08:31 PM	#24
Andrew H. Grand Master of Flowers Posts: 2,201 Karma: 8389072 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Naptown Device: Kindle PW, Kindle 3 (aka Keyboard), iPhone, iPad 3 (not for reading)	I actually feel that "cromulent," like "chortle" before it, is well on its way to becoming a real word. Not sure about incromulent, though.

01-23-2011, 02:33 AM	#25
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	"chortle" is most certainly a real word; in British English, at least.