Judging by cover

A common saying goes, "Don't judge a book by its cover".

This does not take in to account properly what we mean by 'judgment' which the Oxford dictionary defines as the ability to make considered decisions or come to sensible conclusions.

In making a conclusion about a person or other thing, we are influenced strongly by initial appearance, and this sets the scene for any suppositions we might make about their nature.

Take people, for instance. It is not unreasonable to be influenced by the first impression their appearance gives, and which often categorises them into a genre.

Superficial first appearances will very often be accepted unless there is the desire, motivation, or time to analyse that person more deeply. This could depend on whether they have fat, multi-jowelled faces, suggesting over-indulgence in food or lack of exercise (much in the manner of some female bureaucrats interviewed on television about health and its outcomes); whether they are males who sport dangling moustaches and droopy facial features which contribute to an appearance of sadness; whether they are people with bright sparkling eyes set in happy features, or those whose hairstyles tend to be a personal classifier particularly in the case of women.

They could be thin nervous people with darting eyes and a seeming lack of calm, or the opposite type, possessed of a steady visage and gentle movement; and a body language which reveals a great amount about that bearer, before he or she utters even one word.

Appearances apply to people who have a significant motivation for grooming and appearance, thus the wish to present a persona. This often extends to whether a person appears to be clumsy or competent, light or lazy, trim or turgid.

Speech will often be another revealer which helps to define the sort of person uttering the words; whether or not they speak clearly, quickly and incomprehensibly, the style of their speech, and whether they drop word endings or slur nasally-rendered vowels. Speech style can often be a reliable indicator of socio-economic status.

Of course, perceptions of appearance lie at the very heart of advertising with little time for rational thought. First impressions shape the product's impact, a true outcome of 'judging a book by its cover'.

Speaking of books, their appearance ranges from whether their covers are old and traditional-looking, or in modern, striking, newer presentations. This is applied product packaging which creates an impression, an image about the content, a justification for judging that particular book by its cover. A book cover's colour often relates to its content.

Serious works are generally displayed with covers in sombre shades, whereas sparkling comedy is often supported by a brightly coloured outer. The print style will often declare the content, with serious historical or political works captioned in bold serif fonts, and perhaps spooky dramas accompanied by a title printed with a ghostly or fuzzy edge. Book covers display their titles boldly.

Titles, or names, can do the same to people.

Given, or first names, trigger the impression that the name creates, and often give an indication of personality type. A Jarryd looks and behaves like a Jarryd, a Hayley like a Haley, a Trent like a Trent, a Cedric like a Cedric, a Josh is a Josh to say nothing of a Sharlene, a Caitlin, or an Edna Everidge chortling "hullo, Possums".

The concept of branding by name can extend to organisations whose products often highlight a function, e.g. Scoot Airlines, Mr. Snooze, Bi-Lo, Toys R Us, Carnival Cruises and so on. These books certainly do want to be judged by their covers.

So I suggest that the adage: "Don't judge a book by its cover" can be misleading. After all, it's the initial, and often the only point of reference you have to define the nature of a person, or thing.

What is important in accepting the old proverb is having enough time or interest to think a little deeper about those persons or services. That's how the initial impressions will be qualified, and it's particularly important with advertising, marketing, or any other operation designed to encourage people to exchange money for outcomes.

Judgment is the key to understanding the nature of a things or beings. That requiresmaking considered decisions, or coming to sensible conclusions, but the outcome can often be a marked battle between that careful analysis, and the instant impact of a first impression.

Judge a book by its cover by all means, but then make sure you read it!