If you didn't know better you'd think the title of this Post meant a type of stereo, when in fact it describes something very different.
The term stereotype derives from the Greek words στερεός and τύπος: stereo and impression. An image or representation of an idea or theory.
The term originated from the publishing trade to describe a duplicate printing plate, or the stereotype, which is used for printing instead of the original or the master—like a vinyl record stamper.
Stereotypes abound in our industry: tube warmth, transistor harshness, digital brightness, analog warmth, subwoofer boom, tweeter sizzle, horn colorations, electrostat wimpiness.
They are everywhere. It's easy to use them so we can manage multiple concepts quickly, but there's also a danger to it. When we evoke a stereotype we pass judgment without thought, examination, evidence, or proof.
I do my best to question stereotypes because the answers to those questions often lead to learning and growing.
Don't get stuck passing judgment just because it easily falls into a stereotypical category.
