Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)
Friday. Friday in May, no less. Where does the time go? Which can only mean it’s time for ‘Finish the Sentence Friday’
Lets hear from the hostinae of this fine, fine bloghop
Hi all! We’re live on Thursday, May 3 at 10pm with the sentence “My favorite thing about my neighborhood is…”
The linkup will remain open through late Sunday evening.
Write about your neighborhood! There’s always something to say right? The park around the corner, a favorite path, a friendly family nearby… Kenya G. Johnson and I hope to see you there! Link up with us here:
https://www.kenyagjohnson.com/
or here:
http://www.findingninee.com/
So, what they’re saying is that I should consider the following incomplete and do my best to make it whole.
“My favorite thing about my neighborhood is...”
“… that it, is very much of a New England tenor.”
The photo above pretty much illustrates our familial/Doctrine demographic. Phyllis is a roger, therefore we do, in fact, live in a neighborhood. I am a clark and our house is that brown-and-roof-colored square down the end of the driveway in the center of the photo.
I would argue that whenever there is more than one person involved in creating/shaping a common reality, the best of the both are manifested in the compromise.
So there we are, as rogers would prefer, one home in a smallish residential street development in southern Rhode Island. Being in New England. The spectrum of acceptable social engagement among neighbors ranges from attempts at summer block parties (they’re not from around here), to a nod and three-of-four-fingers-on-the-steering-wheel raised in acknowledgment driving up the street, to monosyllabic conversations, usually on the occasion of a blizzards, hurricanes or un-planned encounters putting the trash cans at the curbside.
So much for the rogerian influence. As apparent in the photo, we ‘the exception’ to the homes in our development. Every other house on our street sits with fifty or so feet of nicely landscaped and maintained front lawn between them the public-no-mans land of the street. The land that makes up the lot on which our house sits is, other than the afore-mentioned driveway, is all ‘backland’ running from the back lot lines of the surrounding house, back into the woods. (clarks reading this are surely hearing the Doctrine adage, ‘clarks do not seek attention, but will not tolerate being ignored.’)
That said, being a roger, Phyllis has a natural inclination to be a part of the herd*. Did someone say, “Hey, clark! You and Phyllis, despite driving through a neighborhood to get home, when you stop at the end of the driveway it’s you and her and Una. Kinda clarklike setting, non?”
Well, for your consideration:
Out in our woods, Phyllis caused to be created, a ‘neighborhood of two’. lol (No, really, it is a treehouse. Because that is the nature of the rogerian worldview. To have a Herd.)
* well beyond the scope of this post, suffice to say the personal reality of (a) roger is grounded in one’s membership in the group, the Herd. The Herd, literal or figurative, manifests the undying rationale of the worldview of a roger, i.e. the world is a complex but definable place, the people in it, while varied and different are all driven to discover, learn and live by ‘the Rules’.
About clarkscottroger
Well the way you’ve broken down the Clark’s and Roger’s in a neighborhood setting, I am so with you on your third paragraph. I was so glad when taking the trash to the curb became my son’s responsibility. And I’d totally rather sit in your little treehouse to read, than the front porch.
the Doctrine is such a useful (and fun) tool* there are some general aspects to bring immediate relief to certain of life’s uncomfortable moments (hint: there is a saying, ‘the Doctrine is for you, not them’)
* tool, as in, ‘an additional perspective on the world around us, the people in it and the things that happen everyday’ not better nor lesser, additional
I love that ya’ll live on the wild side of the culdesac, And I don’t know how to spell that. Your tree house? OMG I envy that. Tucker wants one so badly and we don’t have much of a yard here, and in Colorado will have one but the whole neighborhood is only two years old, so… ugh. Here’s to Rogers and Clarks living together. :)
the question we have in the business (and the start of brawls and hair-pulling in the bars catering to the real estate set is just that! dashes between or no dashes between and ‘caps or no caps?’ lol)
the cool thing about Phyllis’ treehouse is that it is only a reasonable number of steps up and so, a huge tree is not necessary. (speaking from Y Chromia, one of the features of some treehouse (not ours) is that access is by rope ladder or easily-pulled-up ladder…. the description should provide all the insight I have to offer as to a big part of the attraction of such a structure for Tucker (our both being from Y Chromia, of course)
Aw, I love the compromise you made here and really do think from your pics that you, both, got the best of both worlds here in your own neck of the woods :)
thanks, Janine, yeah privacy without isolation it worked out well.
Yes the compromise is perfect.
I love how Phyllis can limit the size of her herd to one or two in the treehouse or a crowd in the house. It is such a perfect place to enjoy the fresh air, listen to the birds, meditate, read, or take a short cat nap from one’s labors.
I so agree with your “whenever there is more than one person involved in creating/shaping a common reality, the best of the both are manifested in the compromise.” Good job, you two.
lol thanks Pat… yes. the notion of ‘Herd’ from the Doctrine perspective is not necessarily a count-them-and-they-have-arrived… a roger can be physically alone but still very much part of the Here.
There’s a thing we say about the whole purpose of the Wakefield Doctrine that is helpful in understanding the idea of a ‘Herd’, “the Doctrine is a tool to help us better understand how we relate ourselves to the world around us’ (whenever I write this I always add, ‘note that I said, ‘how we relate ourselves’ not ‘how we relate (to the world)’… a roger understands themselves in a context, usually but not necessarily a context of people. And, while everyone (scotts and clarks) have beliefs about the world, for a roger there is a ‘Right Way’ to conduct themselves. It is not a burden or a demand, if anything it is a strength for a roger as they further their own understanding of the ‘Right Way’
(I will step away from the pulpit now….lol)
Well, you’ve made your neighborhood work for both of you, it seems. I love being a part of a community, but I also love being able to shut my front door and be alone with my herd of 3 (plus the dog, so 4).