I have noticed it's more prevalent in people with very strong routines, perhaps mundane jobs and a very structured life. I imagine it's because they've got stro

I have noticed it's more prevalent in people with very strong routines, perhaps mundane jobs and a very structured life. I imagine it's because they've got strong incentive to maintain the status quo but they're also tired of talking about the same thing over and over, so they serve as social shortcuts to getting to a new topic (or getting you to go away). One other thing I see it used for is to divert from negative topics people are tired of re-hashing. Talking about drought in a farm town gets pretty tiresome as the months go on, that's when you start getting the "it is what it is" statements. They care really, they just gain nothing from talking about it constantly.