private function check_type(){
        $this_class = new \ReflectionClass( $this );

        $type = $this_class->getShortName();
        if ($type == 'Thing') {
            $type = $this->get_type();
            unset($this->type);
        }

        if(!is_null($this->realType)){
            $type = $this->realType;
            unset($this->realType);
        }
        return $type;
    }