In another thread elsewhere - the subject of Aran sweaters as a sort of folk stereotype was brought up along with fingers in the the ear.

I have twelve Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem LP records and they appear in Aran sweaters in 8 and white shirts in the other four. So whilst it seems like they always wore them, not on record covers they didn't. And yet when describing "folk fundamentalists" this image persists. I don't know of anyone else who wore them.

No folk singer EVER put their finger in their ear - it ignores a basic rule of health and hygiene, nothing should ever go in the ear larger than an elbow. Singers cup their hand behind their ear to hear themselves better. Lots of singers do it. Not just folk singers.

Why does these stereotypes persist? Even to the extent that people on Mudcat use them?