Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#125115 03/13/04 12:39 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Jackie Offline OP
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
A friend and I were talking about food the other day, and he indicated that he doesn't care for cold soups. I said, "Me either", to which he responded that he'd usually say, "Me neither". What do you all say, and which is correct--er, less incorrect perhaps?


#125116 03/13/04 12:46 AM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
either, usually, I think.



formerly known as etaoin...
#125117 03/13/04 12:54 AM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475
J
veteran
Offline
veteran
J
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475
Hmm, gazpacho, vichyssoise, borsht. Yum.


#125118 03/13/04 02:27 AM
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Z
Zed Offline
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Z
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
I don't either (pronounced eye-ther) or me neither (pronounced nee-ther). Hmmm, consistant I ain't.


#125119 03/13/04 02:41 AM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Dear Jackie: I think the replies "Me either" or "Me neither"
are idioms, and so not susceptiable to grammar.
I did find a joke with your friend's version:
'Me neither'

Bob and Joe sat next to each other taking a test. When they
finished, the teacher called them up to the front of the room and said, "Boys, I will have to give both of you a zero on this test"

"W-why?" they wanted to know, though Joe was shifting uncomfortably.

She said, "Your answers were too nearly alike. One of you cheated and the other one let him do it."

"What makes you think we cheated?" Bob asked. "That could
have been a coincidence."

The teacher said, "I might have believed that if it wasn't for the fact that when you came to question #10, Bob wrote in 'I don't know' for the answer, and you, Joe, put 'Me neither'!"





#125120 03/13/04 02:53 AM
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Z
Zed Offline
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Z
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154



#125121 03/13/04 07:25 PM
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 322
B
enthusiast
Offline
enthusiast
B
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 322
I would say "Me neither" or "Neither do I". My mother would say, in her stilted English, "Me not either". But even she would not say, "Not either do I".


#125122 03/13/04 08:39 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Seems like you oughta have a negative in there somewhere. 'I don't either.' 'Me neither.' Also the 'n' works as a nice little epenthetic cushion between the 'e' of 'me' and the 'ei' of 'either' (which I pronounce ee-ther). I wonder how many of us say 'me neye-ther'?


#125123 03/13/04 09:16 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619
G
addict
Offline
addict
G
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619
epenthetic cushion

Hey, we're not paying you to be a thinker, Faldage.


#125124 03/13/04 09:42 PM
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 74
S
journeyman
Offline
journeyman
S
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 74
>we're not paying you to be a thinker, Faldage.

I think that putting a smiley on these doesn't much mask the Snideness Quotient.

The Lone Haranguer


The Lone Haranguer
#125125 03/13/04 10:07 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619
G
addict
Offline
addict
G
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619
snideness quotient

No snideness, snoot. It's an "in" joke. Faldage chiding me for being a "tinker", me chiding him for being a "thinker".

It seems of Troy is not the only "t-h-inker" around here.

I'm very partial to "epenthetic cushion" actually.

My admiration isn't even grudging.



#125126 03/14/04 06:40 AM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619
G
addict
Offline
addict
G
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619
The Lone Haranguer

Hey, I thought I was "the Lone Haranguer" around here.

Maybe we should team up ... Tonto?


#125127 03/15/04 12:36 AM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
B
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
B
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
I'd most likely say "neither do I" instead the ones your mention Jackie.


#125128 03/15/04 01:03 AM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Given that the expression is ungrammatical in the first place, if pushed for casual purposes, I'd say, "Me neither," for "Neither do I" for the same reasons expressed in posts above.


#125129 03/15/04 01:38 AM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475
J
veteran
Offline
veteran
J
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475
I am reminded of the ancient joke told to me in 9th grade by one of my English teachers: Saint Peter has closed the Pearly gates (tm) for the night and is just about to retire when there comes a mighty banging asnd knocking. "Who's there," he asks. "It is I!" is the reply. "Oy, another goddam English teacher," says Saint Pete as he retires for the night.


#125130 03/15/04 12:59 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619
G
addict
Offline
addict
G
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619
"It is I!" is the reply. "Oy, another goddam English teacher," says Saint Pete as he retires for the night.

Yes, but you failed to finish the story, jheem.

The next morning, after a leisurely breakfast and choir rehearsals, Saint Peter admitted the not-yet-sufficiently-humbled english teacher.

He directed the english teacher to his room, stopping only to introduce him to the person in the room opposite, a lawyer in his former life.

The lawyer's room was palatial, furnished with every tasteful amenity. There was even a phone next to the bed for room service.

The english teacher then espied his own living quarters through the open door off the hallway. The room was drab and spartan, empty except for a cot.

The english teacher reeled in righteous indignation. "I am an english teacher and this is what you have for me! He's a lawyer. Look where he's living!"

"Yes", replied Saint Peter, unperturbed. "We have many english teachers up here. But we only have one lawyer."



#125131 03/15/04 01:38 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
i first heard that joke over 20 years ago, when the last pope died.. (and then it was wheels, not accomadations..)the newest pope was unhappy that his transport through heaven was a pair of roller blades.

and the comparison of hundreds of popes vs 1 lawyer was a good one!


Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,316
Members9,182
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV
9,182 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 469 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,533
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5