Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)
New Year…mid-Winter break over how much college metaphor can we get away with in today, the first TToT of the New Year.
…you wanna know how committed to the spirit of this thing I am? this section is ‘off the book’, by way of a demonstration of the strength of my feelings, I will squander what, in the previous year, would have been Thankfuls enough for three weeks by writing it here, not in today’s list! (Bold words you say?) Well, that’s the new me… (who is kinda like the old me, but different). In any event, before we go any further, I just want to state, for the record, how much I am in awe of Lizzi and the thing that she has brought into existence here, in this here bloghop here. Sure, lots of us have ideas for blogs and even bloghops, some of us even do blogs and (a smaller group of us) try to start bloghops but very few succeed. Even fewer stay with (their) idea long enough for it to take on a life of it’s own. Lizzi has done this thing. That’s all I have to say.
Ten Things of Thankful 2014 (Saturday 1st)
1) …in the middle of one of the more impressively cold winters, I am grateful that I am not (still) fishing for a living. If that were the case I would so be colder than I am, it helps me to remind myself of that.
2) I am grateful for the Wakefield Doctrine Video chats, which started with Michelle and Lizzi, these live Posts (in a sense) are well on their way to becoming the next cool, blog-centric thing to do, people are starting to get comfortable with the format
3) Numbered Lists and bullet lists. Probably my favorite (and most used) ‘special effect’ available among the vast quantity of tools we all have at our disposal with Word. (‘though I should put in a good for superscript and subscript), wait wait! cannot forget italics
4) That there are other people, of like mind, here at the TToT, and I don’t just mean only the people who enjoy bloghops, not even just people who enjoy Gratitude themed ‘hops, rather it is the people who have fun with words and thoughts
5) I have to put my work (in the real world) here as an item, both as ‘List Item’ and my own deliberate use of this format with the aim to cultivate the difficult but good life necessity, an occupation not always fun, usually satisfying
6) the Wakefield Doctrine, for continuing to provide me with the raison d’être in terms of both the blog itself and the secondary benefits derived from the hours and hours invested in writing it, I have yet to feel like it’s a chore to write
7) dirty jokes! oddly enough one of the ‘Esprit de corps‘ features of the new vid chats!), credit to Lizzi and Kristi* as a way of dispelling the fear that what amounts to a live blog Post aspect might come off as snooty, otherwise intimidating
8) I am very grateful for both youTube and wikipedia, to be sure… the two mainstays of my blog-existence, I have not yet run into a word, a phrase, song or a song fragment that these two ‘places in the virtual world’ can’t flesh out
9) (Dirty Joke):” A man comes home from work, walks into his bedroom, and finds a stranger making love to his wife. He says, “What the hell are you two doing?” His wife turns to the stranger and says, “I told you he was stupid.”
10) The Book of Secret Rules (aka ‘the Secret Book of Rules) which, somewhere among it’s pages, clearly allows that if we choose to push past our own comfort zones in pursuit of self-development, you must be willing to take the chance and risk failure
Well there you have it! Ten x 44!
* I know it is not necessary and it goes without saying, but the Kristi credited with co-developing the ‘dirty joke’ feature of the vid chats is Kristi Campbell and not ‘our Kristi from the West’ (aka K2) not that it’s a bad thing, but one would manifest it as a virtue and the other would not manifest it as a virtue (this relates to the Wakefield Doctrine as follows: while we all live in one of three worldviews, that of the Outsider, the Predator and the Herd Member and each (of these three) have certain …aptitudes, affinities for common life activities, like: occupations, avocations, callings, talents, bad habits and proclivities, no one worldview can lay claim to any of these. Another way to put it: there are no ‘purely scottian‘ occupation, there are not hobbies that are ‘clarklike things to do’ all of these things/ideas/impulses exist in all three worldviews, it’s just that they manifest differently in each. Another way to put it, “everyone does everything, at one time or another”. So, using our example of the dirty joke feature and our two Kristi(s). ‘dirty joke’ manifests as something distinctly and discernibly different in Kristi (from the West)” worldview as compared to Kristi Campbell’s. And right there is the mistake that we all make and is the reason why the Wakefield Doctrine is so uniquely valuable! I said ‘as compared to’ and that is not the best way to say it (or think about it). It (‘dirty joke’) is a different thing in each of these two’s worlds. One is not ‘the real one’ and 99% of our inability to understand the people in our lives arises from insisting that one of these is real and therefore the other Kristi is in denial, is not accepting things for what they are or prefers to insist that what she wants is her right!. So, a little reminder that in order to use the Wakefield Doctrine you will need to allow for the fact that the reality the other person is experiencing can, in fact, be different.
(..yeah, Christine. I kinda made up for the 44-words-only-for-each-item, huh?) lol
About clarkscottroger
OK! Didn’t understand the last part (too impatient) but it was very fun and inspiring to read your TToT and the dirty joke was VERY funny.
jnnn
While jean does not yet appreciate nor aspire to first comment ststus as yet…I weep!
No.not really
huh?
good morning Jean! If you’re going to be part of this club you need to know some of the stupidity that we ascribe to. And one of the things is to get first comment status during the T tot on people’s blogs. So congratulations you’ve done it and you didn’t even know you were star!
Hi!!! I was preoccupied/busy trying to take a photo of myself with my thermal shirt pulled over my head like a hat, because it was 10 degrees below zero here when I woke up and I “invented” the thermal shirt/hat. Otherwise I would have been greatly honored, I bet! xox jean
ok
…were is it?
(the photo, of course!! I mean serially!! this is the internet/virtual world if we can’t get to see putative photos of imaginary people (especially with thermal shirts on*) then the terrorists have won!!
back in the day we called them long-underwear shirts… very hot
lol
As they say ‘Pics or it didn’t happen’.
Pleased to meet you here (again, because you did this once before, right?), and forgive me for jumping right in here, but there’s been so much confusion over your NAME!
So the way I see it, it sounds like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLbi6y4ktgc
Which really, seeing who sings it, feels quite fitting.
I think she’s talkin ’bout you Jny
J…Hahaha. ..only you!…
First Comment is, of course, simply the first person who gets to Comment on a new post… (with most Comment-recording apps), the first in is at the top of the list… and hence the clearly demonstrated virtue (of First Comment)
(not unlike, in a different way from yelling ‘Shotgun’ as every runs out into the parking lot, ya know?)
so while I’m not sure anyone else notices ,but I’m sure that you do because it’s what you do, I tend to get quiet when everyone starts arguing a specific point if I’m either in confusion or total and utter disagreement with the point. And I’m sure you noticed last night that I shut up a bit towards the end when we were discussing things about the video blogging idea. I think that’s mostly because I’m such an Internet virgin…there has to be hope for my virtue on some front at least…when I don’t really have ground to disagree or time to figure out the confusion behind my stance I tend to shut up. But I was thinking about the conversation this morning and I have a ton of questions but I also I think I have a totally different idea what you were talking about. And realizing now that this is gone way over forty four words I think what I’ll do is send you a quick email. That might be more productive. I guess that’s my way of shutting up in writing as opposed to in person.
I will go and check my email… yes, you are correct (of course), but one of the things that I like the most about this particular form of social gathering is that I am comfortable with my belief that everyone is totally capable of ‘taking care of themselves’ and the (concomitant) lack of false ‘responsibility’ that, paradoxically clarks, of all people, find themselves indulging in, i.e. ‘oh man z is awful quiet I should do something’
I realize this is obvious to anyone with a social maturity rating over the median 11.5*, but I am, after all, a clark!
* I made up that median number**
** but you knew that, didn’t you? lol
I would have never known you fabricated that stat! Dropped the line in email…(hadn’t done it when you said you were checking….)
The Book of Secret Rules? Hmm. Must find out more about this one! Thanks for the mention and will join you tomorrow for the brunch, Clark.
cool
Okay, several TToT posts that I have read this morning have reached me in ways that I needed to be reached (especially K2’s). Then you hit me with #9 and I realize there’s more than one way to be reached. Thank you for the terrific laugh this morning! And I SWEAR I’m going to join a chat again SOON.
Dyanne
(you have Lizzi and Kristi (Campbell)) to thank as #9 was my contribution to elevating and uplighting portion of a regular Friday night vid chat lol
Please do. There has been definitely DEFINITELY not enough Dyanne on these vidchats of ours. And bring your very best dirty joke next time, ‘kay?
Thanks for clarifying for everyone which Kristi came up with the dirty joke idea. I linked to your blog in my TToT this week, and when reading your post at first I thought, “Oh, great, now my friends and family will be wondering why I’ve changed so much!” Then I saw you differentiated. [I couldn’t tell whether I’m in denial, or Kristi is, or we both are, depending on the perspective, but no matter.] Even though all involved in the video chats knew who authored the joke idea, anyone linking from my blog might not, so I do appreciate the asterisked comment.
(And though we view the dirty joke idea differently, there are plenty of things with which I agree with Kristi. I love her “Our Land” feature on her blog, for instance, and I’ve had to read some of her other posts aloud, after being asked, “What’s so funny?”)
Kristi
…my pleasure. and though written almost as an aside in today’s Post, the thing about the Doctrine suggesting that we allow for different realities is one of my favorite, but most challenging to express in writing. While some may suggest that ‘everything has the potential for being in some manner different from person to person’ invites moral relativism, I will say that, while some may seize upon this premise to provide cover, it is not necessarily the case. Even as I type this, I see the difficulty in understanding different worldviews, i.e. a scott would respond to my statement with, “who care what others thing, do what you feel it best” and a roger, with exactly the same premise, would observe “that there is an objective and non-negotiable Right and Wrong simply points out a flaw in the rationale underlying the whole Wakefield Doctrine premise.
interesting (said the clarks)
I’m so enjoying all the Blog Hops I’ve joined this past year, especially the TToT.
ADDENDUM ADDENDUM AND EVERY KIND OF POST-SCRIPT!
Lizzi had AN IDEA.
Lizzi DID NOT CARRY IT OUT IN A VACUUM.
Others (notably) were involved and have been from the inception. They count. They matter. They make it, every bit as much as I do.
But thank you :D It is a WONDERFUL thing.
Good list of 44s, you :)
And thanks again for the joke.
Pfft. You did the work to start it, you do the best promotion of it, you do the code and all the behind the scenes stuff to make it special. You deserve the credit. Say thank you. :)
What she said. Pfft.
lol
…and you.
Oh bugger off.
Pfft. I love it when you talk all British.
*grins too huge to reply with more swears*
I DID say thank you. Y’all just skipped over that part and read what you wanted to read :p
I didn’t
(but they did and you know how they can be, they can be so many ways)
Suck up. Is that the bus I feel on my back? Lol.
‘they’…was that a referential….NAH, surely not! And yet roger, you’re there – I SEE YOUR FACE!
Ha! I actually did think, “So much for brevity” when I got to that last bit. And from what I can tell, it was all to say, “Dirty Joke Kristi is Cambell, not K2.” :)
One of these days I’ll be able to get in on another chat. I’ll try to find a good joke. Yours today was pretty good!
Love your number 10. Pushing out of our comfort zone. At midlife, I’ve finally started doing that — it’s scary. I hate feeling stupid. But some wonderful things have happened because of it.
Jamie, I’m with you on this one. And maybe it does have to do with age. You know, “maturity”. There comes a time when you say wtf, why not.
For me it’s about moving forward always ‘cuz let me tell you, the older you get, the more inertia sets in. Life is too short. Live it while you can:)
Denise
yeah there is an old saying, ‘if you’re not moving forward, you are sliding backwards’
Jamie
scary is not fun, but at least it is a thing that can be resisted or (at very least, opposed)… I sometimes get a more insidious form of keeping everything the same, resisting improvement…a little voice that says (usually after a gigantic effort) ‘hey, you’re looking like an idiot’…. that’s not fun either lol but you’re right, it is totally necessary to push (ourselves) out of the comfortable
Dirty jokes are the best :-) I’m way too tired right now to think straight, but I think I like your list!! Nighty-night!
Stephanie
I was surprised how difficult it was to pull off… but then if it was easy, it probably would not be as satisfying.
I like that you included that we can bullet and number lists, when I just began NOT numbering my lists.
Also, I totally agree with youtube and wikipedia…what would I do without it. And speaking of, how DID we get along in the world without them?
Mrs. A
well, that’s what libraries and bookstores were for…which makes me think, the internet is like the biggest book/magazine store in the world and easy to get to!
This post seriously was too much fun and you know by the way how much I hate the cold and seriously couldn’t imagine fishing in this weather. I think if I had to, I probably would either cry and bitch and complain more then necessary just to be heard, lol! But seriously, Happy Weekend and thank you as always for hosting :)
Janine
lol… crying on board a commercial fishing boat is considered by many to be bad luck
I’m so on board with every single “one thing thankful”.What absolutely hit home for me was your #3 and not for love of Word numbered lists, but the principle behind it, the “God is in the small detail” thingy. I really believe that, that the little numbered lists and such that make us experience comfort and satisfaction on a rather minuscule and mundane level are our connectors to happiness on a bigger scale. Wow, did I just say that? I guess philosophizing was in the stars for me after all. Great post, Clark, and I too am thankful for the opportunity to have joined the Wakefield Doctrine’s chat :-) Maybe next time I’m lucky enough to catch Kristi.
Katia
lol as above so below, eh? the chats are enjoyable to me, perhaps mostly because it is a new enough ‘medium’ to allow for that sense of license… sure, we there to have a discussion about various topics, but there is no right way to do it and so it is allowable to experiment… that combined with the concept of (a) ‘peer group’ makes for a pretty fun and interesting time.
she’s a trip, I like her
I agree Katia. It’s always about the “little” things…
Hee hee #9. And agreed, lists, YouTube and Wikipedia are all awesome. I sometimes wonder if there is anything Wikipedia doesn’t know….
Lousie
hee, indeed. as to the wikipedia missing something, I can’t say but…. (wait a minute… (god, I hope so!) no! not you, I was talking to myself…hey I gotta get back to you…. no nothing wrong,,, ) hey thanks
This was too interesting. What an interesting play on words. Funny dirty jokes too. Speaking of which…I had a funny one that happened in my house because of a dream my husband had and we laughed about it for like 10 minutes. I just don’t know how to tell everyone about it. Write a post? I’m not sure. :)
Brittnei
(to quote Bob Dylan), “there’s only one place I know”
join us next Friday night for the Wakefield Doctrine Friday ‘yes-I-know-how-this-looks-but-really-I-was-staying-home-anyway’Night Video Chat… all you need is good;e+ hangout on your computer and be a part of the Wakefield Doctrine circle and, with your funny dirty joke, you will be totally in!
Tell us here…we’ll let you know if it’s post-worthy ;) (and get to hear it first, which would *never* be an ulterior motive…)
My mantra for this year is “doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will” and I totally agree with pushing beyond fear. It really is the only thing standing in our way.. I’m so happy I found you via Bloppy Bloggers. What a great site you have here and a great group on FB.
Happy New Year! :)
thanks for coming by… the thing about this (for me) is that there is a core reason (cultivating gratitude and such) but it is done with a spirit of fun and, (hopefully my contribution) a touch of anarchy… a place to come hangout, practice er…’good practices’ lol learn from others and bust people up… and you get to jump into Comment threads as the spirit moves you (for some reason that’s one of the big things about the TToT for me).
Fishing for a living? Can you please tell that story?
Am I allowed to say I’ve missed you? I guess if you’re not gonna come to my house anymore, I’ll have to come to yours. I also have been thinking….maybe? Maybe Fridays? Well, we’ll have to see. I am never without my 8yo attachment, although since he is much funnier than I am anyway, it might be a win win.
If those were my 10, I wouldn’t have 10 left! And I totally agree about Wikipedia and YouTube, I even donated to Wikipedia during their drive this year, without them and my boyI fear I would have no blog.
It was a pleasure to read your words again my friend, until next week…
Jen
thank you for that thought… of the ‘hops out there I think I get the most out of TTMT. I thought that the holidays were a good time to try and reorganize my time, I trust it will be all right for me to sneak in the back door now the the New year is probably a sure thing and not just a rumor. (lol…it’s like 2:55 am…) In any event I am totally glad to ‘see’ you hear. you have that clarklike enjoyment of anarchy that I have been mentioning in a couple of comments, and Lizzi is so amazing for running a bloghop (the difficulty of which you are aware of with your multiple of cool hops) and, …and! she loves the ‘random element’ totally good.
the Vid chat? yes! stop by, even for a few minutes… the group is very eclectic and never boring and always fun
(lol one of the things I really like about you is the synchron-whatever that has us doing not just kinda like, but exactly like… on the wikipedia donation! exactly have done that and for the reason that they are so cool… a resource that no clark fails to appreciate… )
# 9 is my favorite :) Your post makes me want to become a regular on TToT..It’s a great way to document the year in a positive light. Enjoy your blog!
lol yeah! (though I must admit #9 was one of those things that came as to me as much as a surprise as it did to everyone else)… hey you totally need to join us next Friday for the Doctrine Friday Night-out Vid Chat!! (all it takes is google hangouts and send me something so I can add you to my ‘circles’ (the google thing, like friends on FB but I can send a hangout invitation on the night of the chat…makes it way easy to join in on the actual chat(
Bahaha! love number 9! I wish I was brave enough to tell dirty jokes on my blog, but you know, my mum reads it and she would Disapprove with a capital D. Maybe one day I’ll get over that and do it anyway. In the meantime, you’ll just have to keep posting them on your blog so I can indulge in them :) Oh, and I am very impressed that you used to fish for a living. If I had to fish for a living I would be dead. Even if it wasn’t cold. I do love how you put winter in perspective like this!
Lizzy
(the) next Saturday morning (in your time) when you have a few minutes free…definitely stop by the vid chat! it is an entirely interesting bunch of people who stop by for a minute or an hour…
the fishing was interesting (as something I did, as an actual job not always such an interesting job).
Happy New Year Clark! I’m so jealous of all of you up there with your snow. We’ve had such heat waves here, some days we didn’t set foot out of the house. Just sat still with the fan on full blast. Luckily, it’s been raining today – bliss! I’m with you on the bullet points… love, love, love them! Have a great day!
Melanie
(you know what I am thinking! how, if it were possible I would totally swap you for that terrible heatwave…) lol yes, I know what you mean and it serves as the perfect illustration of the underlying principle of the Wakefield Doctrine!
hey, Melanie, we totally need to join us on one of our Video chats! Friday’s is, I think, about midnight your time? and Sunday is mid afternoon… it’s turning into a real enjoyable 21st Century thing to do!
I can definitely see why you would be grateful for you (1.) A fisherman’s lot must be a hard one in cold weather. I like your number 10!
lmao! I’m so glad you aren’t a flasher too. Well, you know. In this cold weather, there could be a problem with shrinkage (stealing this from the Seinfeld show.) I agree that it is nice to be part of a group of like-minded people. You said it well. And I liked your idea of dirty jokes and the dirty joke on top of it. My husband tells your #9 on a regular basis. I, on the other hand, have only one joke that I can remember, therefore tell. Isn’t that a sad story?
Linda
Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine! it is always: a)fun, 2) interesting or c)’ok! I think I know what you mean/how could you know that??!’ Always lots to do around here.
…ya gotta tell me the joke! (it’s easier, I know from personal experience, to ‘tell it right’ in print, than it is in person.)