Are dolls childish?

I have to put it out there, that I think everyone has a hobby (hereafter referred to as a "black hole of money") that everyone else is going to think is wrong while putting money into their own black hole. It's one of those things that people as a whole need to learn to leave it be. My partner, best friends, and parents all have come to the understanding that if they start to chew me out about it, I'm just going to roll my eyes and state that it's my black hole and I'll do what I want with it. They have theirs. I have mine. We do like to compare them though some days for fun.

And while the slightly off-topic-ness of "why care about what an EX thinks" is out there, I thought I'd state, not all exes have to be on bad terms. My best friend happens to be my ex, we went out for many years before realizing that we really just weren't meant for each other that way.

 

kristo, your post made me just mist up, that is so sweet! It's nice to see your DH got the message, he sounds like a great guy who actually was able to learn something and grow a bit from the experience. Some adults just can't.
Fortunately for me my husband is so supportive.
For the OP, well that is another reason why your ex is just that. I would advise if you still want to be friends that you explain that you won't tolerate being belittled for whatever hobby or interest you choose to pursue.

 

I collect dolls, but my husband collects Action Figures. I think that is funny! My husband and my children don't really understand the whole doll collecting thing. Oddly, they only think it is creepy when the dolls are "looking" at them. Other wise they just chalk it up to mom's weirdness. Don't let other people define you, or remake you into some cookie-cutter, socially acceptable associate. I believe uniqueness and imagination are far preferable to conformity and stagnation. And from reading this forum, BJD owners are some of the most original, creative people I have the pleasure of knowing. Peace.

 

My boyfriend wouldn't mind if I went into the hobby since I've been talking about it to him in the past couple of days. He knows that it's not mass produced junk like Barbie. It's somewhat surprising given that his mother collects really bad and trashy Barbies and hoards them. (Decapitated, out of box, missing limbs...ect.) I thought that he would somewhat object to the possibility of me getting into BJDs. (Not that I blame him, I've seen the Barbie horror land that his mother created.) However I was pleasantly surprised that he didn't object. His rationality is that I'm my own person and that he shouldn't force himself upon me and that he can't object to what hobbies I do have since he likes his electronics and the like.

He understands that people do artwork with the BJDs and is very understanding about things like this. It makes me glad that I made the right choice. If people get all uppity about it then that's their thing, you shouldn't exactly take offense to it. A lot of people have a huge misconception of the differences between art/collectors dolls and dolls that are meant to be toys.

 

Well my bf freaked out at the time when I bought my first. I during the huge argument I told him basically the same thing as kristo:

He mostly freaked out because of the money and the fact he didn't see a use for them. But now he's fine with them, he realizes my dolls make me happy.

I can understand the knee-jerk reaction to dolls, but after I've explained it to whoever they had better back off.

 

It's quite ridiculous how people think they have to power to decide other peoples' interests and hobbies. My boyfriend is very supportive and helps me with sueding and restringing. He's a bit creeped out by my dolls but he'd never tell me to get rid of them, in fact he's trying to get used to them. He thinks it's great that I'm so passionate about something. I could never be in a relationship with someone who is closed-minded and judgemental about my hobbies. The same with friends, if they have any respect for you then they don't speak to you like that.

 

I got that from my grandmother but she was asking me curiously with a laugh (She didn't mean it in a bad way) when I was adjusting Nesyne's shoe. I just told her politely that I like them and people of all age does collect it, even 50 overs. And yea, she was surprised and said "Oh really?" and smile (Not in a sarcastic expression, if that's what you guys are thinking o__o!)

My grandma is just pure curious. XD!

 

My grandmother is the only who has said i'm too old for these dolls. And then I told her that most people I've met in this hobby are older than me, she couldn't say much after that ^^

The rest of my family just think it's strange/expensive but let me get on with it.

 

Most family and friends don't understand the hobby but look on the bright side, you are not alone in this and there is nothing wrong with it. So don't don't feel bad about it. Try to explain it to them, show them the forum and tell them it's just something you're interested in. Grown men collect model ships, trains and cars or figurines. It's a harmless hobby. People react negatively towards BJDs because they don't know a thing about it. It's up to us to educate them and if that doesn't work, screw it. Just ignore the negative comments. One day, it'll stop.

 

My Mom (who is actually saving her money to buy a Narae) told me about a quote that goes something like this:
"You don't stop playing when you get old, you get old when you stop playing"

 

Actually......I just BOUGHT the Narae. I got the reluctant go ahead from your dad to order what I imagine will be my Christmas present and birthday present all rolled into one.

I don't actually plan to "play" with the Narae in the traditional child like way of playing (role playing and pretend). I'm purchasing her as a way to showcase my other, fibre related hobbies of knitting, crochet, sewing and weaving. I think of her as a very adaptable, forever changing, piece of art for display in my home. Some people purchase crystal or expensive porcelain figurines and put them on display. No one gives them odd looks about their interests, but those types of collectables are no more "useful" or "necessary" than the dolls.

My "collectible" just happens to be posable and a great model for my hand knits!

 

NARAES are just BEAUTIFUL and congratulation on those who have them.
I wish I had a Narae so that will be in my wish list for one day.......oh hummmmmm.
WOVENFLAME : Really good choice and your things will look lovely on her.

 

I understand that in a recession people may get a little edgy about the prices of BJD's, however every person is responsible for their own budget. If you can pay off your utilities, rent, food, clothing, other living costs and the like or are in school and just working to get some experience/money on the side then I say that you're being responsible and know where your priorities lie before getting a doll. People have collected dolls and it's not an unusual hobby compared to other things like...victorian era door knobs. (I really knew a guy who collected those.) If anything else, it's an artistic expression for a lot of people so I say go with it because we're all responsible people here and it really isn't other people's business to get all upset over the hobby. Personally I've pointed out a few times in the past that it's better to have an expensive hobby that can have a decent turn around for sales if life comes knocking on the door than taking drugs.

 

I'm actually very lucky, no one I know cares that I own and love dolls. I just have a few that thinks I'm borderline stupid for spending so much on a doll, haha

 

no, they're not childisch! I love my dolls and I'm 20 years old I love taking pics of them.
A child can't buy such expensive dolls and it would probable destroy the doll.

 

some dolls are made for children yes. does collecting dolls as an adult make you childish? no. grown men collect model cars or ships and no ones calling them childish. i think what determines "childish" is your attitude and what you do with your dolls. and hey, even if you are a bit childish, who cares? "we dont stop playing because we grow old we grow old because we stop playing"

 

That's exactly what I wanted to say o___o
So wise words ^///^

 

Thankfully it was my MOTHER who introduced me to the BJDs so I avoided that problem. She does question why I want to spend so much on a doll, but agrees they're beautiful and has stated that if they weren't so pricey she'd get one herself.

 

I did a search in the General Discussion and Dolly Debate for this but didn't find anything. I know there's a "how young is too young?" thread, but this isn't really about "how old is too old?"

I'm sure that some of you dolly lovers out there have gotten the, "But you're too old for dolls...." from family and friends. You either shrug it off or defend yourself in whatever way you can. My question is, how did you react when someone said that you were too old for dolls? Did you go into a lengthy discussion about how you like them because they're customizable? Or did you just ignore their nagging and return to whatever you were doing?

Mods, if there already was a thread like this feel free to merge this one with the original!

 

I'm not to old for dolls -- I'm old enough that I can do whatever I please

But that's not something I really get anyway. My family and friends are understanding (and my some of my friends are also into bjds, so they aren't going to say anything negative). Usually random people I run into at meetups and stuff are either genuinely curious -- I'm sure there are people that think it's weird, but they tend to keep their mouths shut.