Negative+Positive or Positive+Negative?

[Nordic Bill]

This one has me stumped, although I suspect both options may be correct.

Where do we insert the negative in a sentence relating to your friendly neighbourhood prowler?:

"Nobody like that should be walking around loose!" or

"Somebody like that should not be walking around loose"!

[Casiopea]

What oddity do you see?

[Nordic Bill]

I was just wondering if the negative portion should come at the beginning of the sentence (i.e. "Nobody") or if one generally starts off with positive (i.e. "Somebody") ending with the negative element, namely "not".

In many cases it may be interchangable, but not always. I had been staring at this one for so long I thought I'd better get a second opinion.

[Casiopea]

Interesting . . .

[1] Nobody like that should be walking around loose!
=> No person like that should be walking around loose!

[2] Somebody like that should not be walking around loose!
=> A person like that shouldn't be walking around loose!

I like [2]. I don't know why. Hmm.

What do you think?

[Nordic Bill]

I'm split on this one. That's why I turned to the forum, just in case there was a correct and an incorrect answer.

[Casiopea]

You might also want to try the Delphi Forum. They've great debates.

Look up, top left corner, where it says English Forums.

[Nordic Bill]

Thank you.