People Seem to Prefer to Talk Rather Than Think

As you've no doubt noticed, I have issues with the English (or American) language. Like many of us I have a real problem with things that are said not-quite-right. Of course, a certain amount of this is to be expected since sometimes our tongues don't wrap themselves properly around a word or phrase here or there, but in my thinking, there are a few times where this sort of error just should not happen.

What I'm thinking of at the moment is those times when a thing is said intentionally, but not correctly, and not...uh...intentionally. Hmmm...ok: they meant to use that word, and it's not the right word, and they don't care enough to use the correct word.

For instances:

I know a guy who, no matter how many times he says it, or how many times I've opened the subject (sometimes not too tactfully), insists on saying, "I've got a pension for that". It's 'penchant', not 'pension'.

Things that I've heard on the local network news (which I think is a real problem, since news stories are drafted by (ostensibly) professionals, written by professional writers, edited by professional editors, and re-written by more professionals before airing):

The car halted to a Stop
He spoke verbally (this one could be arguable, since there are other forms of communication)
...was murdered until he was dead.
The victim was murdered and then burned alive.
...where police found a dead carcass.

Other things people say that drive me buggy:

Irregardless -or- Disregardless

Using "eminent" when they mean "imminent"

It's a mute point

Suposably

And on a related note: why might it be that people will sometimes insist on NOT correcting themselves when they know the difference? It's one thing to intentionally say something a little wrong (like when I say that something is "gooder", or when I refer to that great country looming just north of me as "Canadia"...another fellow with whom I used to work often said "Just shows to go ya."), but that fellow referred to above still has a pension for things, and those things are often mute.

So what, I wonder, is behind this? Do people not care (I do often get the "you know what I meant" argument, but being me - very square, dull, and literal - I usually *don't* know what you meant)? Do they not notice? Is it the further evolution (or de-evolution) of language?

Is it ignorance or apathy?
I don't know, and I don't care!

:)

And: "Hi, Kellie"