Are dolls childish?

I don't say anything and just roll my eyes.

 

I'm not sure if they are, really. I guess if they are, that's ok, because I'm quite childish myself! I'm going to colllege this fall and want to bring Cyrano with me, and I assume I'll get eye-rolls. I really don't care.

 

I know if my mother were still alive she would question my sanity for wanting and keeping BJD's. She questioned everything I did anyway... nothing ever met her standards. My dad on the other hand would have simply asked does it make you happy, is this something you enjoy.... if the answer is yes, then go for it. "Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead." He was just that way. He was also of the same mind that you don't stop playing cause you are/getting old... you're old cause you stopped playing. O.T. sort of: One of the funniest memories of him was a 2 am call one night right after he remarried, that he and my step-mom were out on the patio drinking margaritas and watching Cartoon Newtork and the Anime Channel. Thought I would drop over in a faint. No, if you are 17 or 70 and you like something, it is fun, recreational for you, a source of pride and happiness... GO FOR IT.... you're NEVER TOO OLD. Just be thankful that you are still ablle to enjoy it.

- ShadowHawke -

 

I'm 25 years old and dolls is my new hobby. For me dolls are piece of art + they can help better express yourself. Taking a good photo of dolls is art too. Playing with dolls - do make-up, clothes, furniture - it's a good handmade skills upgrading. So this hobby for me is not only positive but helpful.

 

Oh, poo. If playing is synonymous with childishness, then who in their right mind wants to grow up?

People move up from Go Fish to Poker, from Hot Wheels to Imports...from Barbie to BJDs. Is there really any difference? Who's to say what's 'childish'; it's all subjective, anyway.

 

I agree. I hate being told or hearing people say that you need to grow up when you have fun with something. I usually respond with "If having fun in my own way makes me immature that so be it!" People have started to learn that saying I need to grow up doesn't work on me. I almost take it as a compliment. Yay, you're old and boring and I'm old and having fun, do you feel better about yourself now?

 

It depends on a person interest & passion for them. For me, dolls have been my childhood sweet memories & now my I have fallen deeper in luv with them lol X3

 

KarieChaos you're amazing. You're my idol right now. I have to work on a standard response like that and learn it!

asdcvbtuym I'm so sorry If my fiancee was against it I would have a really hard time, because I wouldn't be able to share my excitement with him about the dolls, and if I have to hide from him, then to me that's a big problem.
He is not in love with the dolls or anything, but he is happy that I'm happy, that I like them, and admires EVERYTHING I make for dolls, and the ideas I come up with, designs, anything.
Because we live together, and $600 is a big expense when you have bills and a mortgage and a dog and a cat and 2 Blackberries, so I wouldn't have done anything like that without talking to him about it first.

I was worried about how my family was going go react, even though they are thousands of miles away (they live in the Caribbean, I live in Canada) so I didn't tell them right away. I showed my cousin some pictures, she showed my aunt and grandma. Then doll clothes that I'm making started popping up on Facebook, and by the time they figured it out, I called one day (I do a few times a month usually) my aunt commented on the nice things I'm making and asked me if I got the doll *GASP* I told her that I ordered it, that my guy approves and is happy I'm being creative, and that I'm very happy.
Next time I called they asked did you get it yet. I told them not yet, but can't wait My aunt was happy about it *phew*

Only thing I am concerned with now is how people are going to react when I take her out. And I WILL take her out. Which brings me back to the start... I have to think of a standard response for the rude people
I already had a friend's family member attack me with "yeah you go play with your stupid dollies" because I wouldn't help them emotionally abuse my friend. All I could come up with was "at least I can afford to have a doll". The person shut up about it quickly. But I should have had a better come back than that!!!

 

I think this is the most concise statement out there.

 

Barbie dolls are, in my opinion, the "childish" ones.

BJDs, however, I find aren't
All my friends I have always say how much they hate dolls, however I introduce them to my two boys and they're instantly loved
This is just my experience- although I must say I did feel a little silly pulling Jeremy out of my bag to see if they had the proper elastic in a craft store for him... but even then, I've done far more childish things than worry about someone "making fun" of my 10inch little boy xDD

 

The more fragile, the more mature maybe? xD
From throwing around barbies at age 5, to collecting them at 12, to a bjd at 14, to porcelain dolls at 16? xD Dunno, random timeline :B
I think everyone gets to be a bit childish every once in a while, but BJD's take more responsibility than a $6 barbie doll.

 

These dolls are definitely NOT for children. Therefore
they could never be deemed childish. They are made
by adults for adults, or at least mature individuals!
It really does bug me how limited peoples way of thinking
is. What exactly are "adult hobbies"? Are people whose
career is in animation or comic illustration childish or
immature because of what they enjoy? There are a lot
of things that people enjoy in the world that wouldn't exist
if they were only meant for children and were something
that one "outgrew". I love my dolls, but I don't have them
to have pretend tea parties nor do I have them "interact"
with each other like young children do with their dolls lol.
Unfortunately there will always be a stigma attached to
adults enjoying dolls. So all anyone can really do is explain
liking ABJD's in a way that the person can possibly understand,
usually that involves comparisons to what they enjoy. And if that
fails just try to ignore them! Because nobody has the right to make
you feel bad about what you love...as long as it's nothing bad XD

 

My mom said she always wanted to collect dolls. I guess I'm lucky my mom doesn't consider doll collecting something strange for someone my age. My boyfriend doesn't think it's really childish.... but he thinks they are a waste of money.

 

My parents have always said "to each his own" so I feel like I can have my hobby- even if it is dolls- and still be a healthy active 20-year old. I am too, I mean, it's relatively harmless compared to some of the things I could be into, and I certainly do enjoy it! Plus it's whimsical and sweet, and while childish to some, I personally wouldn't let kids anywhere near a bjd. Still, I say I see nothing wrong with liking dolls. This is an artistic, creative, and absolutely entertaining hobby- I think there's nothing wrong with that.

 

I am not bothered what people say , not family , friends or people I don't know when I bring my Dolls out to take pictures.
I only have to answer to myself and still capable of not depending on anyone.
I don't think we should even have to think of any kind of response because that is giving them to much "face" .
I don't have to deal with anything except being happy with who I am. If they think I am ridiculous I also think they are with their mentality, clothes, make up etc but figure out that I well manered and educated enough not to show it in my face or give nasty remarks.


I'm going to enjoy mt Dollies and not allow anyone else to spoil it .

 

i dont think that dolls are childish at all everyone has his own hobby which makes him feel happy
so it is never never too late to have or own a doll no matter how old are u
even if u are a boy

 

I don't think it's childish. It's like when people build model trains and run a track around their hobby room. It's what they do, and people are generally fascinated by it or at least tolerant of someone else's hobby. I see dolls as a great way to express art, and art is not childish. I can't wait to get my hands on my first doll and give it a face-up, and make clothing for it.

 

Most of my family don't even know I have dolls. I just didn't have the courage to tell them yet. They will accept it, I know that,
but it's just something I don't feel like just telling everyone. There's only little people who know I collect them.
My mother doesn't mind me having dolls. Taeyangs and Dals look a bit like dolls for children, but on the other hand they are also
clearly dolls for older girls/woman. I mean, such things as customizing their face-ups and sewing clothes isn't something you
will see the average 6-year-old do.
My sisters and parents know about my hobby, and are fine with it. My sisters think of them as pretty and my dad likes that they
are quite unique because not many people collect them. My mom mostly thinks they are very expensive.

I don't really play with my Taeyang and Dal, they are too breakable for that in my opinion. My first BJD, an SD sized (60 cm n_n)
boy, will be complete soon (hopefully, hehe) and he looks so much sturdier, so I might 'play' more with him. Like taking more
photographs of him, carrying him around my room. Many people do say SD sized dolls are perfect for snuggling, so I might do
that at some point too. Because BJD are so expensive, I really connect with the one I have now (and the ones I'll hopefully have
in the future) and they are very special to me.
But I wouldn't go as far as to call them my children or calling myself their mom. No offense to people who do that, though.

So no, I don't think dolls are childish. Especially not BJD or those old-fashioned porcelain dolls because they are way too
expensive/breakable for that and you have to take good care of them if you want them to keep looking as beautiful as they were
when they were just new.

 

I'll need to read through this topic, but I have always wondered why adults feel the need to call someone's hobby "childish". I don't know why toy collecting (be it bears, dolls, action figures, etc.) has such a negative connotation associated with it. Some adults seem to really attack anything they see as childish, including video games like Pokemon.

I just don't get why some people feel it is OK to make fun of those who collect toys. Just because someone enjoys them doesn't mean they are childish or otherwise "abnormal". It also shouldn't be a seen as an excuse to put someone down.

I think some adults must just have some warped ideas about toys = for children only. No matter the context. Because honestly, I don't know too many kids that would be allowed to play with a $500 doll. Not to mention limited and "collector" edition toys. :P

 

I don't see why adults label hobbies as childish. I mean, look at how many adults themselves have hobbies such as collecting
dolls, plushies, vinyl toys, trains, or anything else. We don't go around saying their hobbies are childish, either, right? Some
people just spit out anything they have to say, I really don't like that. :/
If someone has a hobby, you should respect that. Surely it is okay to not like someone else's hobby, everyone likes and dislikes
different things. No need to go call people childish or anything because a hobby is strange or unknown to you.