I have long wondered why so many smart people use “I” incorrectly as the object when the sentence involves something happening to two people, and one is the speaker.

Like:  “Karen told Tim and I about the concert.”

This is interesting stuff indeed.

Look:

I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say, “Karen told I and Tom about the concert.”  So, we can assume that most people understand that, when referring to oneself and another person, or persons, as objects, courtesy dictates that one should put oneself second, if there are two objects, and last, if more than two.  (Though, now that I think about it, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear, “Karen told Tom, I and Sam about the concert.”  So, who knows, eh?)  Yet, this seems like a more difficult concept than the nominative/objective pronoun issue.

(I don’t know what to make of those folks who totally foul it up:  “Karen told he and I about the concert.”)

And, no one ever says, “Karen told I about the concert.”  So, when the speaker is the only object, everyone seems to understand the objective form must be used:  “Karen told me about the concert.”

So, why do so many smart people lose their minds when the object is two or more people?

Frankly, I think it may be that people just outsmart themselves by trying to sound smart and end up sounding dumb.