Are dolls childish?

I'm 46 with two kids; 13 and 22. I have collected dolls for many years and they are part of our home. My dolls are from 1850's to modern vinyl. People know better than to ask; but if they do ask if I collect dolls, I just look at them and answer; Nahhh , what makes you think I do?
I consider myself lucky to have kept a childlike joy and playfulness, and I pity those who've lost it along the years. The people I love the most: my kids, also likes my dolls. My daughter so much that she has asked to have the next doll I will buy (which will be my first BJD). So the next doll will live in her room because I know that she will look after it too. Hopefully it will be only the first of many

The most important thing is to keep the happiness within yourself. There will always be those who are ready to try and kill happiness and joy in others. If they cannot do it over dolls they will find something else to criticize. So if anyone tries; confront them and ask what THEIR problem is and WHAT they mean, when they are sarcastic or being mean.

 

You sound like me expect i'm a year older and i don't like wearing lolita dresses XD and my drawing skills need refreashing XD many people will be suprized i am intrested in BJDs but wouldn't really be so shocked when my guy gets here XD

we are so alike XD

A.R.N.F

 

Well, I am glad I live alone, and dont come across such comments often.

Sometimes my friends tease me like "Are you playing house with your dolls a lot?"
or "What's gotten in to you to go back playing with dolls?"
¬¬'

 

:c That's mean of them. My dad calls my 27cm obitsu names, but he does it in a playful manner. (got a long blue wig on a boy doll, and the only clothes I had for a while was a silver vest and pants XD)

But honestly you should do what makes you happy, I'm lucky to have a few friends who have BJD's of their own, and we have hang-out days where we all bring our dolls to school and let people ohh and ahh over them.

 

Haha I can relate to this, most of the guys on my course at uni saw me at the London Expo looking at doujinshi and the like so no one I know was really surprised to see me get a BJD the first time I don't think XD

My dad was pretty shocked at the cost first, said I should have spent it on getting a bicycle or something, I replied "Those sorts of things are only temporary for me, I plan on keeping my doll for life" He's been a bit more understanding since then but does bring up references to some of the little baby dolls I used to own as a kid ^^

 

Yes, I think us BJD fans are more normal than many people out there.
We don't bother anybody and quite content to browse webs , speak in the forums and dress our dolls.
We are good people with a lovely hobby, hahahahahah

 

My dad think they are a waste of money, and that I'm waaaay too old to play with dolls. Of course, he just bought a super-fancy used camera (he's a pro photographer -__-") with the saying that it'll be "better than his old one". > (Can't you just use the one you were already using, Dad?!) Anyway, he's stopped dogging me about it like a year ago, which I'm happy about; I find the dolls to be beautiful, and fun to play with gently when I'm all home alone...and a great tool to scare snotty little kids who get in my yard. (Tell 'em it's a voodoo doll or something! LOLZ) Anyway, I think everyone should respect everyone else's hobbies, no matter how crazy they are (or what gender!) My first OKC meetup was amazing, too, and my friend went with me (she's ~MitsuSouma here). So, dolly haters, go away! >:3 ('Course....never look at JS or some other doll shop in the middle of your programming class...your instructor walks by and thinks you're looking at porn xDDD)

 

Most of my friends aren't really suprised, they just sort of laugh it off. My parents think its a waste of time and money, but will allow me my eccentricities without too much complaint. My extended family however all think I'm a complete crazy nutcase and have issues but, what can you do?

 

People need to be strong and be themselves... stay young... laugh... be able to laugh at yourself too!

 

I'm so sorry you have family & friends who don't support you in this: And the funny thing is, they would probably think nothing of going out and getting drunk and spending $150 on a night out (That's supposed to be 'normal' you see) or buying a $400 handbag because they like it. Yet they think that there is something wrong with collecting beautiful dolls ! -Ignore them : At least the 1000's of people on DOA understand and support you ! : )

 

Yes, you make a good point about the $400 for a bag .When people spend fortunes on clothes and some time don't even use it....Vanity is ok ???
I have friends that live above their means for clothes and shoes and their credit cards are sooo stretched.
We save like crazy to get our dolls ....and we are nuts ???

 

Tell them to quite harassing you. Dolls are your boddy, they're something you like. You said that you were making outfits for your girl? If you're a crafty person, then a doll is a good outlet or projects. They're not kiddy dolls, they're artisan figurines, per se. If your friends and sister won't accept your view of them, then just tell them to drop it.

 

I agree with Skillet,lol, love the attitude. Strangely enough my teenage daughter used to pick on me about my dolls in general saying the same things to me that this discussion's author's sister and friend did,I didn't let it change me; but in recent years she has become an avid fan of BJDs . After my divorce my mother was supportive of my comissiioning a doll of one of my heart-throbs as a birthday present and paid for the comissioned doll. I have always had celebrity heart-throbs, but specifically these days it's easier for me to find dolls that look like my heart-throbs, than to find human males who look like them, and a dire fault of mine I will take to my grave is that looks are what I care about, above anything else. I'm the opposite of Catherine in "WUTHERING HEIGHTS" . I compare my dolls to cyborgs. Has anyone seen the movie 'THE COMPANION" ?

 

I'm looking at a better side of this hobby....never could sew ...never was interested and
now I want to and I am learning from a friend , even thinking of buying a second hand sewing machine.
So something good is coming out of this hobby.

 

Now see, I thankfully haven't had to deal with this yet but knowing my mom, I can see this happening - especially if she happens to be home at the time if the mail arrives (which given her current state, she might be). The way I figure it ... it's my money, I can do with it as I like - even if it isn't a use for it that she agrees with.

However ... if the 'Why are you buying a BJD?' line comes up ... I figure I either go with (a) I play card games like 'Magic the Gathering', how does my buying a BJD surprise you? or (b) Well, I've wanted to improve my artistic skills for a while now and I figured a BJD would be the perfect model!

I figure as long as I can spin a constructive use for them, then the "powers that be" should have no problem with it. As for my friends, they can say what they want for all I care!

 

I really wouldn't care what anyone would tell me. BJDs are pretty and age doesn't matter.

It's my parents I am worried about...

 

Lately i showed my current Doll to mam and she had a laugh about him with me...

then the next occasion she just called him a 'toy' in a very blunt manner...

Then yesterday when i was making clothes for him she didnt say anything other than "thought you were meant to be reading for university"
My response: "[my friend] Didnt leave till just now- its way too late to bother readin now-" this was 10pm, friend should have left at 4/5 so i could study- i started practicing my pathetic skills instead.

So its a mixed batch off her- Calling them toys is very understandable and im not going to be telling her how much they cost- without commenting on how much Video games and DVD's cost, which ive stopped buying now to accomodate the expenses haha - Fabric and supplies means no DS game in the next 3 months xD (sometimes i get them cheap and more than one at a time- Fabric etc costs the same after buying it all xD)

[Dad doesn't live with me and he hasn't seen any of the ones i want to own or will be doing... But he is a very open person and after i show him one of the bigger ones and tell him more about the hobby he will attempt to understand and not mind at all.
(I love my Daddy for that- hes Mam's polar opposite with almost everything) ]

And its giving me something constructive to do- heck i could make my own clothes if i get good enough at BJD's - or better yet OxO Sell them! xD Or commission haha

It keeps the bills down (no tv being powered alongside console- sold my PS2 pre first doll-), gets me out and about meeting people (long been criticised for not doing this), doing studying rather than video games (which is true! No PS2 means less distractions and more inclination to read books- making clothes is time consuming and i have to be in the right mood for it, studying wins that coin toss xD)

Its my friend's that are the worry, One told me where to find my current...

Another gave me the lecture of all lectures about money (i could only point out that i have never been overdrawn- where he has) and just called it all pointless which really has made me abandon him as a friend. I supported his transition (of sorts) to being a Furry despite my personal blocks to understanding it well enough... yet he can constantly be disrespectful of anything i do?
Doll bashing was the final straw to be honest xD

A different friend asked loads of questions since its not an expected thing for me to do (collect them- well i do aim to have 4 xD) but it all boiled down to a very open convo and she said in the end that its entirely up to me.

And it is.

 

Well for one, I know this is not any of my buisness but seriously sit down with your sister and your friend and tell them that they hurt your feelings and this is a hobby that intrest you and then tell your reasons why. They have no right to make you feel ashamed for your own hobby.

Second, I can relate, whenever I take my dolls to school, everyone always stops and points and calls me a sissy but I always just walk past them... and somtimes take of their wigs to freak them out. ( hahah )

But don't let people make you feel ashamed for your hobby, you always will have people judging you for diffrent reasons ( not only because of your doll ) just prove them wrong.

 

My grandparents pick on me about it whenever I go see them. One day I was sitting outside taking photos when my grandpa says. "Aren't you a little old to be playing with dolls?" I turned around and called back, "Why, yes. Yes I am." Then I went back to taking pics and he shut up.
Other than that it's fine. My mom loves Aiden and likes to look at other dolls with me. My sister is fine with it, as is her boyfriend. My dad is kinda okay with it...he doesn't really comment on him much other than, "That's cute."

 

You gotta tell your family/friends: "It keeps me out of trouble!"
(this worked for me until I was in my early thirties) ^_~

Raven