"Anyone who thinks about this sees that these phrases are gimmicks, designed to demonstrate participation rules and prevent meaningful discussion."
I like how you describe this tendency towards "attractive" phrasings designed to end thought. Because I agree; they have a purpose that is not nefarious. Once you've thought something through and decided on an answer, these cliches save you from relitigating the issue mentally every time you encounter it (for one). But they can be used for manipulation and control as well as they can be used to reduce cognitive load; I guess a fair definition of manipulation is the use of salutary and helpful features of human psychology and communication to work towards your own specific end, rather than explaining inductively and deductively why what you desire should be followed.
I relatively recently read the book "Cultish" by Amanda Montell. She had a rather interesting set of behaviors of "cultish" groups, and one of the characteristics was "thought-ending cliches"; these are phrases intended to cease a conversation or line of thought. Things like "it's all a part of God's plan." It's a cliche that ultimately doesn't mean much, but functions as a reminder of What We Believe; don't think through your current questions or doubts; remember What We Believe. (The book is interesting; I recommend it. She talks about a lot of groups like fitness groups and other "mainstream" contemporary groups that act in many important ways similar to things we traditionally recognize as cults, like Heaven's Gate.)
"Anyone who thinks about this sees that these phrases are gimmicks, designed to demonstrate participation rules and prevent meaningful discussion."
I like how you describe this tendency towards "attractive" phrasings designed to end thought. Because I agree; they have a purpose that is not nefarious. Once you've thought something through and decided on an answer, these cliches save you from relitigating the issue mentally every time you encounter it (for one). But they can be used for manipulation and control as well as they can be used to reduce cognitive load; I guess a fair definition of manipulation is the use of salutary and helpful features of human psychology and communication to work towards your own specific end, rather than explaining inductively and deductively why what you desire should be followed.
I relatively recently read the book "Cultish" by Amanda Montell. She had a rather interesting set of behaviors of "cultish" groups, and one of the characteristics was "thought-ending cliches"; these are phrases intended to cease a conversation or line of thought. Things like "it's all a part of God's plan." It's a cliche that ultimately doesn't mean much, but functions as a reminder of What We Believe; don't think through your current questions or doubts; remember What We Believe. (The book is interesting; I recommend it. She talks about a lot of groups like fitness groups and other "mainstream" contemporary groups that act in many important ways similar to things we traditionally recognize as cults, like Heaven's Gate.)