That's one way to see it, but clearly for some set of the population, the phrase is either meaningful (otherwise it would cease to be used) or it gets relabeled

That's one way to see it, but clearly for some set of the population, the phrase is either meaningful (otherwise it would cease to be used) or it gets relabeled, rebranded, repackaged. Your mind can get comprised, but you can also have the sense knocked into you. These things aren't invariant conditions each person either is or isn't. 3 generations go by and all the while, everyone who isn't an outlier, everyone who conforms to a norm of having esteem - is there a point to labeling it for those people? Would they carry that word around if they found no purpose for it? Weird mantra, sure, or just talking - seeking, finding.