Number 10 the Wakefield Doctrine “…you talkin to me?” | the Wakefield Doctrine Number 10 the Wakefield Doctrine “…you talkin to me?” | the Wakefield Doctrine

Number 10 the Wakefield Doctrine “…you talkin to me?”

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

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Comments on Posts. These are, without doubt, nearly as good as ‘getting the book deal’, (the book deal that all bloggers dream of, even if they are not willing to admit it). The other day, I used an old saying, ‘when the pupil is ready, the teacher will appear’. For the purposes of today’s Post, lets adjust the aphorism to, ‘when the blog is ready, the Comments will appear‘.

Blog Post Comments are the difference between writing and being read. When we start out writing, we are rewarded for our efforts with wishes of luck expressions of encouragement, from friends and loved ones. That these would be the last time they visit our blogs did not diminish the enjoyment of seeing ‘Comment Awaiting Moderation’ in our email. Then came the Comments that were really exciting! Comments from  locations (and email addresses) that we did not recognize! …finally we’re going viral! The Comments written by people from countries that we last heard about in 10th grade geography, while puzzling, were still Comments! They told us of their gratitude and pleasure to read our latest Post!  “I read your article with gladness, it is just what I look for in my term papers, Keep up the great work!” But like sex, after the amazement wore off, we sought, in these random validations of our most inner thoughts and feelings, a connection. And, like the frantic and exciting frenzy of youth, eventually we realized that it can’t be all parties and one-night stands.

Here at the Doctrine we are currently in a more serious, yet still exciting, and at times, scary stage of developing our readership. Sort of like when you get a job that requires moving as part of the advancement path. Settle in a new neighborhood, meet people, (as many as possible, at first), find people you seem to click with and write Posts. Then, when you think you’re settled in and know all about your neighbors, the call comes and you have to meet all new people and co-workers.

Comments are a lot like that. Comments tell us that we’re reaching our Readership enough to cause people to make the effort, and, (what took us so long in the beginning to understand), take the chance that is as much a part of writing a Comment as it is writing a Post.  They tell us about how much they enjoyed or appreciated what we wrote. Comments sometimes tell us that what we think we wrote is not what is being read. Comments tell us to look at our message and be sure that we are sure we really wanted to say what we believed we were saying. Comments make us improve or they make us fall out of love with this blog life.

I’m still excited by every Comment I find at the bottom of a Post.  And, being in the ‘niche post’ part of the ‘sphere, Comments are invaluable, they keep me trying harder with each Post to get my message across, in simple and direct terms.

(Seeing how this is the Wakefield Doctrine), let me address today’s topic in Doctrine terms:

  • clarks always ‘get’ the Post, which aspect of the Post they choose to make the theme/thesis of their Comment is….well lets say, there will be a connection, although I often have to think about what they say, re-read the Post (yeah, the one I wrote) and read the Comment again….   and it’s all worthwhile
  • scotts are, in Comments, as they are in person, in the ‘real’ world: direct and funny, aggravating and provocative and, at times make a blog writer glad that this is through the internet…. the levels of stimulation (good/bad/really good) is always amazing
  • rogers… lol  (I need to say this about rogers…. if the Wakefield Doctrine hadn’t already defined the rogerian worldview, reading and analyzing the majority of Comments on blogs (not surprisingly the same ratio as there is among people in general) would allow us to re-invent the rogerian worldview.

(That’s friend of the Doctrine, Alex, on holiday in Greece. I do believe that’s the Acropolis.)

 

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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. zoebyrd says:

    uh …. Now I wish I had a really good comment but i’m lacking today… It’s totally me not you though… how’s that?

  2. Kristi says:

    That’s funny that Zoe was lacking in comments today. I feel that way often–that I don’t have the time necessary to compose a well-thought out comment. Many of your posts, though I might relate via the secondary clark, make me wonder if I’m really getting what is intended. Lately, your posts have seemed more accessible to the herd, which is what I think you are going for. Being easier to read does not necessarily mean being less thought-provoking; the best authors can be read on many different levels of understanding. So, good job!

    • clarkscottroger clarkscottroger says:

      thank you, Kristi, that means more than I can say*.

      *plus (I sense) a Post in the idea that hear in your Comment. lol

      …now to respond to Lisa’s follow-up Comment to her intial Comment to Post Number 9. wish me luck

    • clarkscottroger clarkscottroger says:

      Kristi

      I am glad to hear that thought expressed by another blogger, “… I feel that way often–that I don’t have the time necessary to compose a well-thought out comment.”

      …it seems to take me like 10 to 15 minutes to write a Comment. Very slow. But I have (the ego or the sincerity) to want the person who went to the trouble to write the Post that I found something in that I could personally relate to… preferably something clever and insightful, but I’ll settle for ‘getting it’.

  3. christine says:

    I used to get excited when I would get one comment. Now, if I only get one, I’d wonder what in the world went wrong. Funny how our expectations and reactions change over time during this blogging thing.
    I feel bad when I read a blog and leave without commenting. I know how much people appreciate them, but sometimes, like Kristi said, I can’t come up with a good comment. Either the words just don’t come or I don’t have the time. The time to write a comment?? Yup, it takes me more than a few seconds to write one. For instance, this one has taken me about 5 minutes so far. :)
    Very nice post about comments. “The difference between writing and being read” Yup.

  4. Oh do I love me some comments!!! This is just so true. There is no greater feeling than coming back to your laptop to find comments from a newly published or even old post waiting for moderation!! Best writer’s high ever! Because you explained it so well- us writers need NEED to be read, understood and if there is a response? Then the reader must feel SOMETHING from what we wrote. That is our high. That is our purpose, really. Isn’t it? To ‘move people’. At least that’s mine.

    Now, which one am I anyway? I have no clue. Clarks? Rogers? Scotts? No clue. ;)