Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)
Better look to the bottom of the post for this image to make any sense, at all.
1897 Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS
‘A playground of giant Lindy pens, blue plastic bottle caps and bubblegum-pink slide’
A pastel schoolyard. Swings and rings, climbing castles and a table and benches under a dark blue canopy.
The sand is the color of a beach that’s just a little too far from the water. The wall of trees and bushes look like a green castle wall.
‘A ancient barge stranded on land’.
Perhaps following a storm, or maybe due to the captain’s inattention, the sea has retreated, a once far-roaming ship rests, land-bound on a tired foundation.
It now tries to find purpose and value as a building.’
‘A view of a horizon so distant it bends under its length, sinking down to the far side of the world’
‘A glass shield guards the entrance to a church. The altar at the far end is lit from behind, the internal space, with curved-ribs showing above, looks like a boat turned upside down. When the faithful gather, this vast hull, fashioned to carry them above the depthless water, now prevents direct access to heaven.’
Weddings and Receptions and the Doctrine, oh my.
Next to airport terminal, there surely is no more enjoyable a place to observe people, (through our favorite perspective, the Wakefield Doctrine), than a wedding reception. Phyllis and I were at Table 10 which was on the outer edges of the main concentration of tables in the banquet hall. It was perfect. We could see the whole room from where we sat, without having to turn in our chairs.
Speaking of weddings and churches and such. While not inclined towards organized religions, my people* are adept at appreciating both ceremony and demonstrations of faith. So I’ll take advantage of the apparent theme of this week’s post to provide a lead-in for my favorite gospel singer, Fred Hammond.
* you know, clarks**
** lol no, you’re correct.That footnote was not intended for clarks… rather for scotts and rogers. Were there any scotts at our table? I’ll say. Actually it was rather interesting. We had one scott at the beginning. He talked and charmed and entertained and had a good time, (how could he do otherwise, as scotts are self-narrating). Then, lo and behold, the couple that came to complete our table? A scott and a clark. (male scott, female clark). The two scotts conferred and dealt (privately) with the matter of hunting rights and worked it out in typical scottian fashion, i.e. they took turns. (no! really! read your Doctrine!) They both roamed the room, the majority of their time spent apart. The dominant scott got to spend the greater time at our table. The clark that accompanied the scott was delightful. She was an example of why sometimes, including yesterday, I will turn to a close confidant, Phyllis, in this case, and ask, in total sincerity: “You’d tell me, if this Wakefield Doctrine, clarks, scotts and rogers thing was simply a projected figment of my imagination, wouldn’t you? Do you see the way she’s pressing her lips, rather than smiling, putting her hand in front of her face too often, laughing but turning away…. that’s not just me, right?”
10) Secret Rule 1.3 which states, in part, ‘the completion of items (be they photos or videos, music or poetry) that feels like at least Ten Items and are totally things you are grateful for, can, in and of itself, be counted as an Item. Tradition holds that this item be the final, deca-ulitmate1 Item in a given list. And… also if Una is mentioned.2
Come on! Join us… a bunch ‘a people we haven’t seen in a while are there!
1) not a ‘real’ word
2) or whatever life form of your preference
About clarkscottroger
Perfect TTOT.
Thank you for accompanying me and being my guide through the journey.
Just wanted to shout out to Phyllis who left a glorious review of the TOL journal. THANK YOU! Oh, I am sending you hugs and I just am so *grateful* to know you! <3
I am grateful to know you also!
it was interesting
EXCELLENT, ALL.
Go Fred. Yeah.
The pictures and their captions were particularly…exceptional today. Was it me or did they totally capture that which is there but not always “seen”. Cool.
No! The Doctrine is not a “projected figment” of your imagination. Surely not, as I have witnessed it in action my own damn self. I’ve used it successfully as a life tool. It’s real.
Sounds like you and Phyllis had a great time yesterday witnessing the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers in action :)
Hm.. getting ideas… maybe time for another Doctrine tee….
thank you, the pictures sorta whispered at me… lol I remember my own warning, ‘It’s not that you’ll start seeing the clarks, scotts and rogers in your world, it’s that you won’t be able to not see the clarks, scotts and rogers in your world, acting like they were reading from a script’
Next, I have really enjoyed your TToT. Well, I always do. I have been thinking about the Doctrine so much lately. I have returned to work in a world of rogers in the office and remembering a conversation about how rogers will sometimes “push a clark” around if they think they can get away with it. I’m in that stage right now. I completely recognize it. Now, the fun part is when the clark knows exactly what’s going on and in a few days’ time, I’ll come back with a comment that will blow them out of the water and make them think twice about pushing me around. Not in a mean way, or a bad way. And the rogers are just being rogers. But, I also know that me as a clark, if I DID just “let it go” the consequences down the road would be…not good. So, a little trajectory adjustment along the way is in order. There is the one scott in the bunch who really doesn’t know what to do with me at times, but I have come to really enjoy her presence. And that is entirely hilarious, the little story you included here about the two scotts. I would have loved to have been sitting at the table while you commented on and assessed this situation with Phyllis. While I don’t always stay still to be as observant as you are (I feel like a hummingbird most days), I do enjoy watching the interplay between the three worldviews. It IS entertaining.
Glad you mentioned that! We’re always looking not only for examples of real situations where the Doctrine can be useful but also chances for insights into the three worldviews. (It’s given that we’re all of one worldview with the potential of the others but that being said we can usually see only so far into the other worldviews, in our effort to understand. We do get lucky when we discover artifacts from too far in the others worlds to normally see. The best example of this is ‘referential authority’ which is a primary element in the dynamics of the rogerian worldview. It was discovered when I wrote a scenario that described a job applicant waiting for her interview in a very busy restaurant. Rather than sit and wait, she decided to get up and help clear the tables for the over-worked waitress. Without exception, rogers who read that said ‘No way! She can’t do that! She’ll never get the job!!’ It was the unanimity and vociferousness of their response that made me look up and say, “What?” and, with a little thought (and a lot a Doctrine) the concept of referential authority was identified. From religious leaders to middle managers (who are only following orders) to office managers who refer to the SOP as ‘the Bible’ when rogers want to exert direct, overt force on those outside of the (immediate) Herd, they will, without fail, invoke an (external) Authority.
So, anyway, Phyllis and I were talking about a workplace situation with an unruly roger. And since I have come to realize that the most effective way to communicate with rogers is (in part) by metaphor, we came up with the idea that to contain unruly and rebellious rogers, riding up to them on a horse and giving them a nudge is totally ineffective. While the instance of force may have a temporary positive effect, the cost of highlighting one’s outsider status totally out weighs the benefit of a temporary improvement. (Staying with the rancher and rogers metaphor), the most effective strategy, provide one has the power and resources is to build and instal electric fences. Properly installed, the roger will encounter a negative feedback that is not from an identifiable source and, being rogers, if it’s new (and not a person) then it’s part of the world (and therefore natural).
You’ll have them doggies movin’ along right peaceful before ya know it.
Good to see you again, my friend. Loved the pic’s as well as Fred Hammond. Year’s ago, when I first moved to a small town in Alabama for a radio job, I found myself covering an A.M.E. Church service every Sunday morning. Fred brought back the power and spirit of those services and reminded me of a time past, but feeling still there. Well done!
yeah, hey! long time no vidi, droog.
Phyllis and I went to see Fred back in the day on three occasions, excellent. The R&B, funk and gospel is a totally effective fusion.’specially love the horn section (in the clip). this is one of a full concert DVD and there are a couple songs where they (the horns) go total motown. very fun
I like your captioned description of the church, especially “When the faithful gather, this vast hull, fashioned to carry them above the depthless water, now prevents direct access to heaven.”
That open support design (surely there is a cool architectural term for it) has always made me think of boats.
Great photos and nice list of thankfuls.
Thank you!
ave been out of action so long I forgot how much I like hangin at your place. Most excellent of listation!!! HI PHYLLIS! HI UNA! HEY CLARK! Sorry my Roger just got loose for a second there…no worries I just stuffed her in a bag.
Hi Zoe!
Hey! zoe! good to ‘see’ you again… alls well ’round here (allowing for the fact that Summer is over, of course) Una and Phyllis are doing well (yes, Phyllis defaults to the same ranking when asked about me and Una)… Trust you Joules are ready for your insane (relative to down here) idea of Fall into Winter.
Reading your thankful list is always intriguing!
thanks, Mimi!
89 percent loaded.
This and the other photo explanations are lovely once again Clark.
The one I reference here is a lot like a piece of writing I’ve just finished about what the horizon means to me and my brother, both visually impaired/blind, as he has never seen one and I have…at one time anyway.
they (horizons) are one of those things that can be so many things (and) mean so many things to everyone. The ocean horizon is, to me, what a horizon is supposed to be, i.e. ‘the edge of the world’. There are horizons everywhere else, of course, but of varying distances and ‘intensities’. For example, where we live, our house is set back a little off the road in a clearing of pines. The horizon is halfway up the sky! No, serially! it gets dark earlier at our house than it does on the street that out driveway starts at….
the playground was interesting in being almost a candy schoolyard, the colors and the shapes
Finally I arrive here today, and am pleased to find such an eclectic collection of sights, thoughts, and reasons to be thankful! Not surprisingly, I found myself drawn to each photo, differing as they are, and the musical selection of the day. Sometimes I just stop and look at an image or scene in front of me and realize how much of a story is told in just that small piece of my environment. It does indeed sound like you were given the perfect-for-a-Clark table at the wedding, and I know beyond a doubt that you enjoyed yourself. The church as illuminated was truly beautiful. I love to visit them to experience the architectural mastery and mood created, but I will choose the shore and endless horizon from your photo as my place of closest connection to all things spiritual. I was happy to see Una make it into the final thankful, I would have been disappointed had she not! I hope you’re having a good week, I will actually be here this coming weekend so my comments shall be more timely!
I enjoyed this group of photos this week. varied in appearance and in (the) impression they create. The Doctrine is such the perfect companion when engaged in people watching!