why learn the Wakefield Doctrine?… a brief interlude | the Wakefield Doctrine why learn the Wakefield Doctrine?… a brief interlude | the Wakefield Doctrine

why learn the Wakefield Doctrine?… a brief interlude

Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)

me: so how was your get together last night*

Phyllis: not bad, Scott and Kathleen and Kim and Lisa were there

me: how is everyone doing?

Phyllis: good. Pat was also there a little later in the evening.

me: Pat?

Phyllis: yeah, you know him  tall, sort of round face, short hair

me: roger?

Phyllis: yeah, him. In any event, he was telling Scott how his father died last month.

me: really?

Phyllis: interesting…the guy had been healthy his entire life but one night started feeling bad, took some aspirin…but it wasn’t getting better. finally told his wife to call 911 because, he said, “I’m dying”  and proceeded to do so

me: wow… Scott must have hated the story…

Phyllis: yeah, as a scott he would have been mad that he wasn’t informed.

me: I like Pat’s father’s style

Phyllis: yeah, we’ve both had practice… most people would not be able to die without un-necessarily upsetting the people around them

me: (laughs) well, we would have, unfortunately having had the chance to practice with Ola and Bella**  oh well

The Wakefield Doctrine not only provides a helpful aid to remembering people, but it is also of use in conveying the reactions and responses in situations. As illustrated in the story above, even though I was not present and witness to Pat telling Bob about his father, knowing that Bob is a scott allowed me to know his likely response (to the news that Pat’s father died).
You know how we are always saying, “...with the Wakefield Doctrine, you will know more about the person than they know about themselves.” ? well, this is a good example. Phyllis, while listening to the conversation, knew that Bob would not be listening after he absorbed the fact that, even though Pat was a member of the same social group, he (Scott) was not informed of the very significant fact of a death of a family member. In other words, as a scott, Scott was stuck struggling with the fact that as a presumed pack leader, he knows that he should have known.

How useful is the Doctrine? As a result, I was able to get much more of a sense of how Phyllis’ evening went, without having to leave the house! lol

So…study your Doctrine. It has more to offer than you (or me!) even realize.

If I may, I have had the following song stuck in my head all morning.. sometimes it helps to put it in a Post. Old, old song.

* actual conversation this morning.

** Ola and Bella were our dogs. Anyone who has the terrible/wonderful privilege to be there for a pet when they die, knows that, dogs being so incredibly sensitive to emotion, it is necessary to feel the calm and serenity that they deserve to feel around them, no matter how awful you know you could feel at that moment.

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clarkscottroger About clarkscottroger
Well, what exactly do you want to know? Whether I am a clark or a scott or roger? If you have to ask, then you need to keep reading the Posts for two reasons: a)to get a clear enough understanding to be able to make the determination of which type I am and 2) to realize that by definition I am all three.* *which is true for you as well, all three...but mostly one

Comments

  1. Yet again the doctrine comes to the rescue. You know I love it when it works out so perfectly like this, Clark!! :)

    • clarkscottroger clarkscottroger says:

      @Janine

      well, it’s funny like, that I didn’t have the slightest idea that this Post was going to show up until a couple of hours ago. lol in vivo veritas (sorry guys… a little obvious)

  2. Cyndi says:

    That last line REALLY brought back memories of my Hash Brown.
    Anyways, I am not to that point, yet, where I can predict conversations, LOL. BUT, I’ll keep learning from the wise ol’ grasshopper. ;)

    • clarkscottroger clarkscottroger says:

      @Cyndi

      lol now is that the (wise old) grasshopper of the Aesop’s Fable or a variation on the affectionate name that Master Po had for Kwai Chang Caine in the 70’s TV series Kung Fu
      God this internet…every clarks dream…(near) un-limited (fairly) accurate information on a very wide range of topics

  3. The Wakefield Doctrine is ridiculously valuable. How can it not be an advantage to know how a person will react to a given situation or under a particular circumstance?!
    In the case of talking about the death of a person or our 4 legged people, the Doctrine can save a lot of time. Since I am a clark, I can affirmatively say that for clarks, few words are necessary when talking about the deceased “person”. If you know the person you are talking to is a roger or scott you adjust your “expression” of the event accordingly by recognizing how that person relates themselves to the world.
    I can imagine that Pat’s Dad was a clark. A clark would indeed avoid any sort of undue excitment even facing death. He/she would not want to draw any extra/unusual attention to themselves, even then. lol

  4. Interesting! Who knew there were so many ways to use the Doctrine in everyday life. Have a great weekend, Clark!

    • clarkscottroger clarkscottroger says:

      @Melanie

      …same to you and Geoff (thats right for you it is Autumn…so have a good fall weekend)

      yeah there are so many ways that the Doctrine can be useful…my challenge is to put it all down in a form that anyone can easily use* hope to make progress on the book by end of May

      * you guys… the ones that Comment are atypical, you pick up ideas and different perspectives faster than the average person…but I appreciate any and all feedback

  5. Watched a movie last night called Lake Effects. A lesser character is a male high powered LA attorney. He refers to himself as “predator” and everyone else as “prey”. Particularly good scene when he accidentally discovers his girlfriend (in the early morning) on another guy’s houseboat. After he sees the girl, scantily clad, he immediately attacks the guy, throws guy overboard all the while yelling “predator”…. “prey”.*
    See, the guy knew he was a scott. That Wakefield Doctrine is all the hell over the place.

    *he makes the predator/prey reference at least 2x in the movie

  6. Jen says:

    It’s more fun than actually having to be there, isn’t it. I’m gonna work on that. Sorry honey, I can’t come to your office party, but when you come home I want you to tell me all about it.