Are dolls childish?

I'm not able to consider BJDs childish. Like many of you have said, I think they are like a pieces of art. For me, BJDs are almost like expensive 3d-canvases which I can paint and decorate just the way I want or someone can do that for me and I can buy a completed artwork.

Of course there are things that separate these dolls from items that are often considered as artworks but I'd still say that they are closer to art and crafting than children's toys or something childish.

 

It's a collection so I don't really see a difference between dolls, matchbox cars, or movies. All of them are in actuality, unnecessary so it doesn't make sense to consider one or the other less valid or immature. To people who aren't going to understand the artistry or creativity bjds can inspire, just leave it at a collection that you enjoy and don't waste time defending something you have no reason to defend! That's my opinion on it!

 

This is exactly how I feel this hobby! The most entertaining part for me is creating a character (face-up, clothes, hair, eyes...) my best friend says it's like The Sims but in real life, lol!

I'm 26 and at first when I started being interested in this world I was a bit concerned about my maturity. I didn't see any problem, of course, but "what if I have a problem and I don't even know? How is it possible that I like these dolls sooo much?" but nah, my friends and boyfriend laughted at me for being worried, hahah! Some people play football after work, just the same way they did when they were... 10 years old? My best friend plays the sims the same way she played when she was 12 and The Sims 1 was released, and my bf is into aircraft models, which is more or less the same as bjd, just with machines in stead of humans.

Sooo do we have maturity problems? Maybe, but it has nothing to do with dolls xD

 

I don't see dolls as childish. I'm a senior in high school and one day I brought my Barbie doll from when I was little to school and you will not believe how many girls (and even some "tough" boys) actually relived their childhood with just the sight of the Barbie. If the dolls make you happy, don't let anyone get in your way. Because not only are dolls (of any size) a great way to be creative (HELLO! have you seen the but the way some people create a whole world for their dolls?! its amazing) but dolls are also a great emotional outlet. Nothing negative comes from playing with dollies.

 

I agree that there is NO reason to defend what you want to do.
Actually there is a BIG difference between most of those things and BJDs - you even say so yourself. BJDs are customizable and often represent a person's creativity rather than just being a collection to look at. Of course some other hobbies afford that - those stop-motion videos using the action figures are scarily real and definitely show a lot of artistic endeavor, as does model making. I have a friend whose husband does miniature trains - oh, wow the landscapes he's crafted just fascinate me!

Plus, even if all one does IS collect, it is NOT childish LOL That's not what kids do at all, put stuff on shelves & look at it

As for unnecessary, NOPE unless you fall into the category of people who think ART is unnecessary.

 

Exactly this. For me, it's something to sew for, dress up, paint, etc. Something I can customize, or enjoy others' works on.

It's weird that doll collecting has the "childish" connotation. As a kid, I remember I knew people that had those fancy, porcelain dolls that were kept in glass cases far away from us kids. As an adult, I went to a doll store that sells collectible dolls. Definitely not a kids' store atmosphere, despite the abundance of Beanie Babies.

 

I agree with AmberLeigh. I didn't have enough money to properly fund a hobby when I was still a student. I was only able to enjoy collecting things (starting with videogames and figures) when I got a job after college.

My grandmother was the same. When I visited her for the first time, she showed me her collection room. She had about 60 to 80 Barbies and an extensive collection of Beanie Babies. I was surprised but I thought it was cool.

I think that so long as we don't forget to fulfill our responsibilities -- as in cover the bills, take care of our children and pets -- hobbies are totally fine. They make us happy and that's a big deal.

 

You have the right to consider youself full-fledged adult:

1. You are able to supply your living.
   
   
2. You are able to assess reality adequately.
3. You are able to take responsibility for yourself, your dids and your life.

All other talks about immaturity is the chatter. I believe Eric Berne, he said that every normal person includes the Parent, Adult, and Child ego states.

By the way, when I was a kid, I promised myself that I'll never be boring adult, I will always play in the sandbox and with dolls. I don't know how boring adult I turned out to, I couldn't sit in the sandbox forever, but I managed to keep my promise about dolls!

 

I think it's one of those things that is labelled in a certain way by culture, which doesn't actually reflect reality. Or something... Like how fairy tales were considered for adults but slowly moved over to being just for children. I don't see anything in dolls that could be considered just for children. It wasn't too long ago that video games were considered just for children, and animated TV shows. It's a weird idea that is stuck in a box that doesn't reflect its actual nature... (sorry for rambling, it's late and I'm tired!)

 

Any hobby can seem childish, pointless, and like a waste of money to someone else who does not engage in that particular activity. As humans, our thoughts, feelings, and actions are very diverse as well.

But needless to say, we all spend money on things and experiences that give us a sense of enjoyment, and we sometimes make quick judgements about other things as well.

 

I got into dolls when I was living away from my family and their influence. First time I came back here with my collection one of my half brothers just looked at the display of them and then at me and gave me this LOOK as if to say "Oh, please DOLLS? Grow up little girl." He started to pick up said doll, a 16" fashion doll, and I said "Please don't touch that. It's not a child's toy it's a $150 collector's doll." His hand pulled back so fast it was like he'd burned it. He was like "What?" and I laughed. "Yeah, I said. She's a collector's doll meant for adults." He said "$150? Really? Wow." and then he just sat there for a minute and he looked at all the dolls on that shelf and nodded as if he was resetting his opinion of my "toy" thing. That was long before I started collecting BJD's and we haven't really had that discussion again since. I guess in his mind dolls that cost that much aren't so silly. :P

Some people I know are cool about the dolls, some don't get it at all, but most respect the time and money I've put into collecting my dolls, even the ones that are technically made for children. My collection is sizable and ranges from play line kid's dolls like Barbies, Monster High to 16" fashion dolls that cost me $50-150 mostly to BJD's that cost me a few hundred dollars. My whole collection is probably worth a bit more than my current house is (mobile home) and you just can't argue with the value of that.

My one half sister did rather curiously ask me why I put that money into the dolls instead of into an even better house. I said that the dolls made me happy, I enjoyed being able to play with them and display them and my current house was enough "house" for me I didn't need anything more. She looked around and then she said "Well, this isn't a bad place, for a mobile home, but you could probably be living in a REAL house if you use the money you spend on these to buy one." I said "Yeah, but what would it be filled with? My house is filled with the things I love and I have everything I need otherwise. Most importantly I happen to OWN it. I don't really need the mortgage that comes with a place like that." She thought about her own mortgage which she and her husband are still paying off umpteen years later and then she nodded and said "Point taken."

Fact, if my Mom hadn't arbitrarily decided when I was 10 that I was too old for dolls I might not be so dedicated about collecting them today. But when I was 10 she did her level best to throw out every toy I owned back then that wasn't a book, including the only two Barbies I ever owned as a kid. I managed to hide my beloved Jenny a little girl's drink and wet doll that I'd had since I was 4 and eventually I rescued Malibu Barbie's head from behind the trash can and hid her too, but all my other dolls, they were stripped from me sans my permission, long before I was ready to let go of them all in one wild afternoon when my mother decided for me that at 10 I was too "old" to play with dolls.

I had few friends back then. My BFF at the time had moved away because her Dad had unexpectedly passed away. My sisters and brothers were all older than I was and couldn't have really cared less about me as we didn't live in the same house and they rarely saw me. I'd been recently removed from the baby sitter I'd had since I was 4 and loved like a second Mom, given a key and told I was now to babysit myself in the afternoons after school because I was now "old" enough and also told that soon we were moving, away from everything else I knew. I was very adrift at that point in my life and my dolls were really all I had.

I think my Mom meant well. I was growing up, hitting puberty and we were about to move so there would be new kids to play with and she thought less need for toys. But she was wrong. I wasn't ready for any of that and I missed the dolls she did toss very much so much so that when I did make my first friend after the move all we did was play with her old Barbies when I went over there. It was pretty obvious that I loved them and wanted mine back I think...

I was in my 30's before I realized the damage this well intentioned act of hers did. I went into a store one day and inadvertently started down the toy aisle looking for the one beyond it. There on a shelf was the most beautiful red haired Barbie I'd ever seen. I was instantly smitten and though I told myself it was "childish" about 5 times I still bought it and walked out with it. The next batch of Barbies came from the thrift store. Then I found Mel Odom's and Robert Tonner's fashion dolls online and I totally flipped over those. I was collecting all kinds of fashion dolls from then on. (Malibu Barbie got a new body via Goodwill....) Then came one of Kitty Blue's videos and I just had to have a vinyl BJD she was doing a review of. That led me to a doll board that included all kinds of BJD's which led me to here which led me to a whole fleet of resin BJD's.

It's been a heck of a journey, I have a fabulous collection all round, and I don't regret any of it. I've met some really nice people because of my dolls. I've made friends I never would have made because of them. I've healed my inner child to a great degree because I allowed myself to collect and play with them. They've definitely been a very positive thing in my life. People who don't get that I don't have much use for them really. I don't expect everyone who comes into my house to understand or to like my dolls. But I do expect respect for me liking them and for their care. Anyone who touches a doll of mine had better have my permission and they'd better handle them carefully.

I could have spent all that money on something else. I could have spent it on a more expensive house, a more expensive car, on vacations, meals out, on an endless supply of coffee like my friends do. But I'd rather spend it on what "I" love and I'll never apologize for doing that. If that makes me "childish" oh well. I don't really care that much about what other people think of me and my doll thing. There comes a point in your life when the opinions of other people just don't carry as much weight and that's how it should be I think. That to me is being "grown up" really. Having the confidence to be who you are, do what you love if you like, sans any concern about what other people might think about it.

You only have so many years on this planet. I've lost so many people. I've learned the value of doing what you love, before it's too late. For me that's not living in a McMansion, driving an SUV, working 9 to 5, having a pack of kids and working to support them, the retirement fund, and the mortgage. If that's what some people want, think is "grown up" that's cool, for them, but it's just not for me. For me being "grown up" is being able to live my own life my own way sans too much imput from the peanut gallery as they say and I am definitely doing that.

I lost my Dad just recently after a long, hard illness. I took care of him literally for years sans help. All that kept me sane while he was ill was my cats, my dolls and my crafts. Those things were my little piece of joy and sanity in the midst of the whole awful situation I was in. If that's not worth what I paid for my dolls then I don't know what is. Even adults need to PLAY once in a while. How you do that is a personal choice, but we all do and people who don't? Well, I feel sorry for them honestly because being that "grown up" is not very fun and I just can't even contemplate living like that...

 

Ah, the old 'you could be putting your money towards a house' (or some other such expensive item) argument. It doesn't calculate, at least not in the UK.

Whilst I'd like a car, buying some BJD's won't put a dent in the amount of money I need to pay for driving lessons, a car and insurance, a parking space (I live in an apartment) etc... And as for a house, I very much doubt my bjd hobby will add up to the £10k - £20k deposit I'll need to buy a house.

And like magkelly notes, I'd rather be spending money on things I love, rather than saving my money for 20 years to buy a house and in he meantime... Well, those who try and dictate our passtimes never really have suggestions for what we are to do with ourselves whilst we wait for their approval.

And, I'm always reminded of he CSLewis quote about how being an adult means to put away the fear of 'childish' things.

 

I have only been in the hobby a few months. I still hide the fact I collect dolls from everyone. The only one that knows is my husband. He supports me and loves looking at dolls with me. I am just afraid how others will react. I need to work on my confidence

 

Upon seeing my dolls, I think the first impression is to think it's childish, but most people do concede that my ball-jointed dolls are pretty, fascinating and "special" dolls. I do think they command a certain respect. (coming from a person who also has vinyl/ABS fashion dolls).

I put away most of my dolls (literally stored them) by about age 9 or 10, but had stuffed animals until I was 20.
Soon I became an adult doll collector again.

I'd love it if something nicer was added to the one-liner mention of BJD on the Wikipedia Doll page!
Doll - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

I don't play with my dolls, i'm a collector and am happy to simply have them on display and preserve them the best I can. I don't believe that's childish. I see my dolls as pieces of art - all of them, regardless of whether they are BJD's or vintage fashion dolls. They were all designed by someone (or a team of people). Yes dolls are associated with childhood but that doesn't automatically make you a childish person just because you collect them. I've never understood why some people think that once you get to a certain age you shouldn't own items such as dolls, toys etc, there is no rule saying you can't collect these things. If someone has a major gripe with me collecting dolls I simply find them boring. I don't have a problem with what other people enjoy collecting. I respect them even if what they collect isn't personally my cup of tea. It is no one else's business what someone likes, as long as you're not harming anyone you're free to do what you want. Realistically you do have to be rather tough skinned in this hobby, some people will inevitably make negative remarks when they discover you are an adult doll collector but I enjoy the hobby too much to let their odious comments bother me. I've been a doll and nostalgic toy collector for over 16 years so I just brush off such comments and carry on with collecting dolls etc as I wish.

 

I never felt bjd hobbies are childish! Like many people stated before, I feel bjds like piece of art. Also, my friends usually thinks ball-jointed "dolls" are childish(it have DOLL in the name!), when they see in their eyes, they don't feel it as childish anymore.

 

I explain my friends and family that my dolls are art and not simply a toy.

 

I see Bjd as more beautiful then childish and a doll is something more for playing like a Barbie. Bjd are for adults, meaning I'd never give my two year old sister a Bjd as a gift.

 

Hmm, well, I guess dolls can be seen as a little childish, but I don't think that being a little childish is a negative thing at all, and I don't understand why some people consider that to be such an insult. When I think of the word childish, the words creative and imaginative are the first things to come to my mind. Those two qualities are definitely something a lot of people in this hobby possess, and it's what makes it so wonderful. It's because of those things that people can craft such incredible pieces for dolls, create fascinating background stories and characters, and customize their dolls in unique ways.
Another thing I think of when I hear the word childish is joy. If you think about it, children's faces just seem to light up when they're playing with their favorite toy, and while that toy may not seem to be all that valuable to some, to that child, it still means the world to them. Granted, bjds are worth quite a lot more compared to your average doll made for children, and they are definitely much higher in quality and can even be considered pieces of art, but I think I can safely say that our bjds bring us just as much happiness, and even comfort, that a simple toy can bring to a child, even if some may be confused as to how someone can cherish a doll that much.
That's basically my view on this subject. That being said, I'm going to leave behind this quote for some food for thought, as I find it to be somewhat fitting for this particular topic:

“Critics who treat 'adult' as a term of approval, instead of as a merely descriptive term, cannot be adult themselves. To be concerned about being grown up, to admire the grown up because it is grown up, to blush at the suspicion of being childish; these things are the marks of childhood and adolescence. And in childhood and adolescence they are, in moderation, healthy symptoms. Young things ought to want to grow. But to carry on into middle life or even into early manhood this concern about being adult is a mark of really arrested development. When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.”

― C.S. Lewis

 

I'm actually surprised at my mother and her calmness about my decision to get a bjd. I mean, I am 37, almost 38, but she treats me so much like I'm still a teenager most of the time that it's really annoying. And she had such bad reactions about me starting to play D&D and watching anime... And I was already over 25 by the time I really got into any of it. I guess maybe it's because she considers doll collecting a more "normal" hobby, that won't corrupt me and take over my life.