Growing up, I was taught that "you can't judge a book by its cover." And well, in my 23 years of existence, I've decided sometimes you have too, and sometimes you should... but not always.
Quick origin lesson:
Looking at the origin of the phrase I found that the phrase orientated in the US (kind of ironic... just me maybe?). It was first documented in the journal 'American Speech.' and has since appeared and been used lots and lots of times. (somewhat legit source)
This common phrase came up in my life in the past week a lot. Most recently the good old public library. I regularly go the library, and sometimes think I'm the only one left in the world that does this. I've never tried a Kindle, or any of the comparable, but at the same time I've never been drawn to the idea. I like turning the pages, I like the whole experience of borrowing books, not knowing where they've been or will go, but taking them briefly on my journey! These things are what come back to the "judging a book by it's cover." I look at the covers when I pick a book. I look at the shiny new ones, then the worn and tattered ones. It's always fun to have something new, but the worn and tattered, they must be good I always think, or they wouldn't be that way. I go back and forth looking at graphic covers and plain ones with just text. I like hoping I picked the right one (cause I won't just get the other ones on a different trip;) ). I like judging the books by their cover, then forming my opinion after I'm done...
While you might not feel the same way about books as me, this next situation is more realistic to everyone's daily life. I went with a friend to get a tattoo (not that part applies to everyone but bare with me!). The tattoo artist is someone we know (and really good so get your tattoo's done by him!), so on a Friday night we went to the tattoo shop where he works. Skulls, black crows, horror images adorn the shop. Seems like a common atmosphere of a tattoo shop. I had no issues with it, but looked around after an hour or so and observed the decor wasn't my style. I engaged in conversation with the staff, even some customers! (I was there probably 3-4 hours.) I cringed and asked questions to the coolest piercer I've ever met, Joe, about all of his piercings and tattoos. (I'm a major wimp when it comes to pain.) Then as I was leaving, I joked with my friend, about how I never thought I'd spend a Friday night at a tattoo shop. Not for any reason other than I have had no reason too! The people there were some of the coolest. Their stories, their passion for what they do, it's awesome and admirable. And I expected nothing less, however up till this point I hadn't put myself in a position to know that for sure. I didn't judge the book by it's cover exactly, but I'm not naive in that people don't. This book, each other, I think people most often judge. Not always intentionally, but if someone/something is different than us, we automatically form an opinion. For better or worse...
Finally. The biggest challenge I've been facing is my career search. While yes I'm working, I still am searching for that PR career. The hard part I've found is finding entry-level positions. I've often found myself applying for jobs where I barely meet the minimum years of experience. The job search I know is ALL about judging a book by it's cover. There are tons of resources to help you perfect your resume, so your 'book' gets the judges attention. And there are even more tips on how to dress, what to say in the first :30 seconds, how to even shake the interviewers hand. These are ways to influence their initial judgement. One of the most important decisions for a lot of people, and it's all based off the first impression, a piece of paper, and what someone else thinks of them...
The examples of judging books by their cover are probably endless, some good instance and some bad. A lot of the instances, while we try not to judge, it's almost ingrained in us to. A sort of survival mode where you have to see where you rank in comparison to your surroundings. Since everyone forms those initial opinions it becomes not about them, but about not letting that opinion direct subsequent opinions. I mean really, if the first time you came across my blog you read the title and saw I spelled cake with a 'k' and let that stop you from coming back, you probably wouldn't be enjoying me so much now! ;)
-M
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