"Does It Matter?"

Halfway through Steven King's Doctor Sleep. Having nightmares and such. I've noticed some emerging patterns but I'm not completely sure if they link quite yet. No obvious connection has been implied at the point I'm at in the novel right now, but the constant repetition of the phrase "Does it matter?" by various characters leads me to the assumption that this statement actually does matter. King consistently follows up this saying with the description as being a "cold tone". Along with the eerie tone behind this phrase, the only characters I've observed who say this are the ones involved in the phenomenon of "the shining". From my understanding, the shining is an extremely unusual ability that allows the possessor to look into the minds of others, recapture events from the past, and telepathically communicate with and manipulate others. Although some people have a slight touch of this gift, the main characters in this novel seem to have an overwhelming and at times troubling amount of this particular power. Rose the Hat is the primary leader of the life draining group called the "True Knot." She consistently uses this phrase to support her ideas if there is ever any questioning by her fellow tribe members. This group of people feasts on the souls of those who possess the shining, and have no mercy when it comes to the torture they implement while murdering these innocent people. The True eventually run into the extremely powerful Abra Stone, a little girl who possess enough power to telepathically communicate with others who have been born with the shining as well. The strength of Abra's "steam" draws the clan in, with desire in their eyes to feast on her and gain their much needed strength back. Dan Torrance is the man with whom she has communicated since before she could even read. This small world has lead Dan Torrance and Abra's parents to have close connections with the same people, allowing them all to assist Abra in her journey of defeating Rose the Hat. Now that I have completed the novel, I am able to say that there was no direct relevance to this saying and the overall plot of the book. It seems that the saying "does it matter?" was just a general thought of the characters and portrayed the bravery and confidence in themselves. Doctor Sleep was one of my favorite books so far, and the infinite plot twists and unexpected occurrences held my attention all the way through.