During the course of my life, I have heard many times, "Don't judge a book by it's cover". Thinking back on this common piece of advice, I wonder if this is really a wise saying. the more I think about it, the more I am convinced it is not. Your thoughts?
Francisco Rivera
(If anyone does not know my period number, I'm sure you can find it someplace else on the blog, but I shall reiterate, pd. 5)
I think that when applying to people, this saying obviously should apply, or we would be back in 1900s when there was discrimination.
ReplyDeleteBut I can't say that I don't actually judge a book by it's cover, both literally and metaphorically.
So, I think that it is sometimes okay to judge a book by it's cover, depending on the situation.
Yuval S.
Period 3
I think it is foolish for anyone to say they do not to judge a book by its cover (either literally or metaphorically) . First, because everyone does it. Secondly, because its a survival behavior that has been ingrained into us (and learned as we experience more throughout life). I mean, you pass a dark, dirty alley while you're walking home one night (you live in the city), and out of it comes this brawny, heavily tattooed guy carrying a switchblade and a beer bottle. What do you do? You run! Maybe he's the world's nicest person and was throwing away the beer bottle because he found it lying on the ground. Maybe the switchblade is just him carrying around a method of self-defense. Maybe on closer inspection, the tattoos are all actually symbols from the Bible and famous quotes from classical books. However, chances are that none of that is true, so hightailing it outta there is a good idea.
ReplyDeleteNow, I myself am pretty quick to judge. I don't tend to follow racial stereotypes or anything, but I am one to judge people on pretty critical first impressions. I usually regret that and end up liking the people I first misjudged, but there have been a couple of instances where I was right on.
As for books, I have one rule of thumb. If books are part of a series and have one or more pretty girls posing either seductively or trying to look mysterious, I don't read it. Those books are usually (pardon the language) pretty crappy. So maybe I've missed out on a few good books by following my rule, but I know that I've saved myself checking out and reading the first few chapters of a hundred bad ones, too.
Thoughts?
Caterina Golner
Pd II
Another very common phrase-you snooze, you loose-can definitely apply to my situation; I was about to say nearly the same thing! In people I feel it is very important not to judge on looks. I'm not saying this is always possible. Sometimes you have an automatic reaction upon seeing someone, and that can be fine. The key to this bit of advice is not to let your judgement control your actions toward the person. Seeing someone and knowing someone are two very different things.
ReplyDeleteIn books, however, a cover can often tell what the book is about. You still can't rely completely on the cover, but you know its been chosen to relay the mood of the book.
Lauren Goboff
Period 3
Oops! I didn't notice Cat had posted. I was talking about Yuval's post being very similar to my own.
ReplyDeleteThere is no one who can claim to have never judged another based on superficialities, despite the “appearances are deceiving” hype we’ve been practically spoon-fed from birth. Taboos try to condemn us to "assigned seats"- women to the kitchen, Asians to the library, southerners to trailer parks- and sometimes we incorporate these into our perspective.
ReplyDeleteWhat I find intriguing is the fact that as often as I am the perpetrator of these…premature deductions… I’m also a victim. What details do others scrutinize of me in first encounters - my thick glasses? My accent? What impression does my "cover" give?
As for books, I have to say I don’t really judge to much from the cover - more from the inside flap.
Lisa B.
Period 4
Actually I agree with Francisco, but only if its in the right situation. Judging a book by its cover can be a great thing, or a terrible one. In a situation where there is something at risk or something important is being done, judging a book by its cover will save you. Let's say you have to do a project that will count for half of your grade, and you can have a partner. If you end up having to pick a person you don't know judging them would be a good thing, what if you end up with someone who will get you a bad grade. The bad part about this is, what if you judge wrong? Then you missed out on an excellent partner and you probably suffered the consequences. The key is to judge right. Obviously, it is impossible to always judge right, but if you follow your first impression, it will be easier to judge right.
ReplyDeleteI usually try to avoid judging things by their cover, but it seems that it is unavoidable. I feel this is a life lesson that is too often mentioned when it is not looked at as a reality. We are often told too "avoid" certain things based on other's experiences. Almost always people are not who they seem. What people don't realize is that our brain often relates people based on connections we can make between others. If a series' first few books are terrible, you can assume the later book that might actually be good is bad. This is only based on previous knowledge and others' knowledge. A cover is the same; therefore, I find that never judging a book by a cover is impossible. I can try all I want but it seems I will always somehow judge a book by a cover. In life, there are always opportunities that one can look back on and regret doing. I will look back and regret many of those decisions, but I can't change myself.
ReplyDeleteJake Ukleja Per 6