I don't care what others think

What does this statement mean to you?
   I was recently dealing with a relative that was making quite a scene at a public park and when asked to use a more quiet voice, she said I don't care what other people think; I speak my mind.
This and the many "just saying" comments I have heard make me wonder about what these statements mean.
Do they mean they don't care about other people's opinions, do they mean they don't care how their actions reflect on themselves or others.  Do they only don't care if people think negative about them.  Do they mean that somehow if they don't care about what you think they have the right to enforce their views to be heard.  They don't care if you care.  Really what do they mean?  If they don't care what other people think does that mean that they somehow matter more than anyone else and we all have to put up with them.  Is it liberating to not care.  I  think in the above situation it was a somewhat selfish statement, that somehow this relative's needs superseded all those around them.

I like to try to teach my children to not care what other's think as far as empowering them to be their best self and not worry if someone else thinks it is best.  There is a certain amount of crippling that occurs if you are worried about what another will say, as we do answer to ourselves, but we should care about others while caring for ourselves.

I try to empower the parents I see to parent in the way they feel best and not let their children's actions reflect on them.  How many of us have been in a situation where someone thought we should do or say something differently to our children - but who knows your child best? You or the neighbor.  Do your best and let only yourself be the judge, not others.

I try to empower my teen patients to be happy with who they are.
But by being happy with who you, are you are infringing on another's rights then instead of saying I don't care what they think about me, you are in actuality saying I don't care ABOUT YOU.  While we can be empowered to be our true selves, by not letting other's opinions of us become our opinions about ourselves we should care about others, otherwise what is life for.  All the things we can own will never make up for the relationships we may have missed.

I care what other's think but I don't let it control who I think I am or how I behave: hopefully that is what the above statement would mean if I were to say it.

What do you think?