by Jason Klepko

Created on: February 17, 2010

Most absolutely yes! First impressions speak volumes of an individual. Naturally, a human with the benefit of wisdom and life experience on his or her side is accustomed to life's little surprises (people don't always turn out to be whom they appear to be). The fact that "not every book can be judged by it's cover" doesn't exonerate those "books" that most certainly can. If nothing else a "book's cover" might just say, "The publisher didn't want to waste money on a cover." Even that says something.

Conscience and history should dictate to the individual that not every outward physical appearance is an accurate reflection of what lies beneath. This question has an intrinsically humanely obvious answer:  "Should people be judged by their appearance?" On the surface the answer is clearly NO, but beyond the obvious superficial virtues of giving an individual the benefit of the doubt there lies a deeper wisdom that demands YES!

Agreeably each person determines their outward appearance within the parameters of their ability (financially, fashion sense, time, genetics). Most people choose their appearance within their means and/or their desire to create it. If someone is too poor to be fashionable, they don't have to be unclean or disheveled. If someone has the means to be fashionable it doesn't mean they can't choose to be plain (according to whose norms?). The fact is that however a person appears physically says something about them because they chose that appearance within their means to create that appearance.

That old saying comes to mind: "If it looks like a duck, and it quacks like a duck, then it is probably a duck."  One must put it all into context: If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, is hanging out with other ducks, and is being treated by other ducks like it is a duck, then given all the facts it MUST BE a duck. If it is not a duck, then one must be curious. Does the saying "wolf in sheep's clothing" come to mind?

Given the FACT that (regardless of background) people exercise choice in how they appear, it is not unfair to "judge" them. One can infer at least one fair rudimentary conclusion about the appearance of another person: They have some choice about how they appear and would have left the house naked if not (actually that would also be a choice largely frowned upon by society). However a person appears, they had a choice involved in that appearance, and that says "something" about them.That means it is fair or reasonable to conclude "something".

One must concede wholeheartedly that there there is probably more to any person than meets the eye: biological, physiological, sociological, psychological. One must also concede that all of those factors play some role in a person's appearance (and how they chose it) regardless of how small or large a role those factors may play. It is decidedly best to concede that it is fair to judge a book by its cover; ever so lightly. Then it's best to judge the rest by what's inside. Just don't ever be surprised that the inside "often" finds it's way out.

Be glad when you find out it was a chicken and you waited to call it a duck, but when it quacks like you thought it would, don't let anyone shame you for calling it a duck!

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