Are the BJDs rather for 'Old Children' (teenagers and adults) ???

^_^; Actually, I don't associate the 'children-raping-children' thing with how bad our society is now. If you really look back in history, all the bad things like that have always happened. Our world isn't getting worse; just smaller. Before, if a little girl were kidnapped, there'd be no way to communicate this to nearby villages. So no one knew. Now, as soon as a child is snatched up, an Amber alert goes out and the whole country knows about it within no time at all.

So I don't think doll's or even music/TV/etc would make the world worse. Sadly some of these things are just apart of our existance as humans, have always been, and will always be.

And I also politely disagree with the idea that genitalia can awaken a child's sexuality too soon. ^_^; I mean, the child sees genitalia daily when he/she uses the bathroom. Alot of children are familiar with their mommy and daddy's bodies through the intimacy of family life (bathing, changing, etc). I don't think just the IMAGE (2D or 3D) of genitalia is going to trick their bodies/minds into early development. Kids often see genitalia and all it results in are titters and very corny jokes.


I don't think givinga doll to a 4-year-old who's had no gradual introduction to these dolls is a good idea. There should be a process of learning and understanding before the fate of a $300-700 doll is entrusted in their care. I can vouche for young children, I spend alot of time with them. They are AMAZINGLY capable with the right guidance. Children can learn to paint, play music, and use computers with more speed and efficiency than an adult with no history in the subject/medium could. They need to be given more credit.

However... just dropping a doll into the hands of a child unfamiliar with them is going to result in it being dragged along floors, held upside down and smacked against the dog's backside, drawn on with crayola in an attempt to put on some 'make up' like mommy... XD

 

I wholeheartedly agree. As a kid, I turned my Ken into a transvestite because I believed he obviously didn't want to be a man. Why else would there be nothing there? He didn't look bad in a dress. My Barbies I was almost alright with, until they started molding underwear directly onto her sculpt. I'm pretty sure I gave them up around that time because it struck me as so ridiculous. I was probably eight.

And I'm another one who had barbie soap operas and acted out crazy Ken and Barbie sex XD. Me and my friends (some of them male, actually, heh heh) were terrors when it came to that.

As for age, I think a lot of kids understand when things are delicate. I collected breakable things when I was little, and I was insanely careful. The thing is that I preferred the toys I could beat up a little. Hot wheels, action figures, tough remote control cars... Playing is too hard with things that are intensely fragile!

 

I agree with this XD And I too, despite my aversion to the genre now, had mini soap opera scenarios with my Barbies, which usually involved boyfriends being stolen (And since I only had 1 Ken and about 20 barbies, this was a constant problem XD) and us smooshing Ken and Barbie together (as that was our interpretation of love making... *SMASHSMASHSMASH*)

And when you think about it, Ken and Barbie's features are all the sexually-attractive features (minus lower genitalia) exageratted. That's why my Barbies were never doctors or teachers. They were always, well, sluts, because that's all I could see them as.

 

I used to play sex with barbies all the time when I was little. My mom was appauled, but my friends mother shrugged and said, "It's better she plays sex with dolls than with other people and expresses her curiosity in a way that isnt destructive or unethical."

...and what's this deal with Bratz? its been referenced a few times but I dont know what you guys are talking about.. controversy??

 

I don't think realistic genitalia has anything to do with these dolls not being appopriate for all children. They're heavy (SD + shelf + falling on kid's head could do some damage), they have small pieces that could be swallowed, and they're expensive and where is a 4 year old going to get $500? Children put things in their mouth, they get their finger prints on everything, a lot like to be dirty, these are all just things that don't quite go along with expensive dolls. I don't think many children would be intelligent (educated) enough yet to appreciate the artistic quality in the dolls, it'd just be a waste.

 

My daughter is 13 and prior to the ABJD, she has never been interested in dolls. I bought my first ABJD, a Kid Delf An, off ebay. When I got him, I thought he was cute, but she fell in love with him...so An sort of became hers by default. We've just ordered an El for her with her paying half. Some of this money was given for christmas and birthdays, some she earned from chores or her grades (I figure school is her job and I pay her on a sliding scale. She gets money for A's & B's...C's she would break even and she would pay me for D's or F's. Sort of like I get a promotion or raise for good performance at work or a demotion no raise for poor performance.)

She undertands the value of the dolls and enjoys playing with them and creating photo stories. She seems to like the boy dolls more than the girls, but that could just be the influence of the androgenous looking anime/manga characters she likes.

I think age appropriateness is subjective. Obviously the dolls are not appropriate for most small children but where should the line be drawn? Some of the Volks and Gentaro Araki kits I've seen are very sexual in nature so guidelines do probably need to be put in place. But I think it's just that...a guideline. Also, while these dolls are fragile, they are not *that* fragile. They can take some abuse, as we've all discovered by accidently dropping one. I would be less inclined to give my daughter an expensive porcelain doll.

 

While I agree that the cost and fragility can be prohibitive for very small children, I don't think it's that much of an issue for kids maybe.. 8 and up? I am lookign to become an Elem. teacher, so I've been doing shadow studies, and it's kind of amazing how mature many of these kids are. While there are a lot of bratty ones, I could imagine that most of the kids, if they were interested, could take care of a BJD. Of course, there is still that money thing. However, my sister (who's 10) gets an allowance of $1 a week and saves all of it. With the same kind of discipline and a little help, she could save up for an MSD-sized doll in the same amount of time it takes some adults (although usually for more expensive ones). While she doesn't like my Yder too much, she adored my Ani, and took better care of her than I did (I have no coordination; anything that makes its way into my hands is usually dropped, smashed, stepped/fallen on, etc... ^^; )

The whole sexual thing... nah. Kids know about sex/genitals. They've seen them, even on the opposite sex in some (a lot?) of cases. They make cheesy jokes (anyone ever go through the stage where you couldn't say pencil, but instead had to say writing instrument? u__u ) It's amazing how much kids really know. And honestly, it doesn't really turn sexual until they start experiencing.. dun dun dun... hormones.

 

I respectfully disagree with this:

I agree more so with this:

It's our society, our culture, our upbringing, the media, religion . . . that creates all the negativity about our bodies or treats them as sexual objects and thus taboo. Many children are naturally curious and want to learn, that does not mean they are becoming sexually active. Most under ten are 'very casual' about the whole thing of nudity or even anatomically correct dolls . . . unless they learn from everyone around them that this is bad etc.

But as soon as hormones start to kick in (around eleven to thirteen?), then many children will look at things differently being more sexually aware. I did not say active.

Like many have said here, it's usually the cost of these dolls that make them most prohibitive. Each child is different, however, and some are very capable of showing care for something expensive at a young age but most are not. They want to just just play and have fun.

So I agree that for the most part it's better not to give a young child a collectible ball jointed doll like this, based on the expense of the doll and their ability to show care . . . and not whether it is anatomically correct or not. 8)

 

i just recently turned twelve. i get a $3 allowance a week and get nothing for grades. somehow though, i have saved up a little over $200. I think if kids are responsible and pay for at least half the doll on their own they are probably ready for a doll.

 

i was able to handle an $80 american girl doll at a young age. they are designed for 8-12 i think. and meant for play.

i think often people who are older underestimate kids into being irresponsible and unable to handle expensive things. well i still remember being in 3rd grade and taking great care of my american girl. she was precious to me, and she is still in great condition.

 

Age is a strange thing ... I find that some children are playful but wise and some adults are serious but stupid. But then again you also get adults that are playful and stupid ... and some adults that are just plain stupid.

Sorry, I don't think that answered your question at all.

 

i hope i don't say anything offensive to anyone, as this is my first time really posting what i think about issues like this.

i basically agree with what everyone's been saying about ... everything. cost, fragility, depends on each case... etc. and also with how people have been responding with that the dolls can't really awaken a child's sexuality too early.

i have a big problem with how our society treats pornography versus artistic nudity, as well as the naked human form in general. i'm frightened to raise my future children in a society where under law, some parents have actually been arrested for simply taking pictures of their own children playing in the bath, or those who manage to slip away during bathtime in escape of putting that diaper back on. what was once a pure-intentioned memory (and piece of friendly blackmail for the future!) has been turned into a crime, somehow. and yet the girls in the magazines are getting younger and younger; pop stars are getting younger and younger; the sexy clothes are geared to younger and younger girls. we seem to idolize youth, and then make it something untouchable... and that can just drive some people mad.

someone said on here something about how we force our kids to grow up too fast. we certainly do, at least, in this country (USA). i can't speak for others. but we also coddle them too much... we LET them believe in fantasies so that we can avoid taking the time to explain the truth, when really, they can handle it better than most adults much of the time. it has been my experience that when you tell a child that a family member has died (not an immediate one like mother or father or sibling, more like a grandparent or cousin, etc.) ... they may be sad for a little while, and some perhaps a bit more distressed... but then often end up going back to playing soon after. to them, life moves forward... it seems like many adults have a harder time accepting this. the line between fantasy and reality is only as clear as you make it for your children. without being taught, they may actually never know.

as for dolls lacking genitalia... to me, it seems almost as if people want to shut off that part of the human experience entirely. which is what makes the media exaggerate things in the first place; it becomes taboo, sensational... and the truth gets twisted around. i really think that it's adults who have trouble with reality and fantasy... and we then pass it on to the children.

i don't know if this is just a problem in america or all over the world... but it saddens me... and fills me with fear.

 

My two tiny Goddess children have always loved "aunties" special dolls. But they do not get to play with them. I find they make up stories about the "chidren" on the shelf and they love them because they can't "play" with them. They come down for tea and cakes and they have the cutest converstions with my Girls (SD13 to MiniGem size). These kids are 5 and 7 and they have their own action figures who come to visit the Shelf Dolls. We have a great time and I keep telling them that when they grow older and show me they can take care of a shelf doll (as we call them then maybe one day they can have one (like when they turn 15 plus
When I say this little speach to them the yougest says "crap, it's just like us wanting a dog" grown-ups are so bossy. LOL
So my bottm line is when they are responcible enough then they can have a bjd. Cause some electronic game systems with games cost more than a BJD so it is not just about money for us.

 

Yeah, no harm in learning about that stuff early in my opinion.

I think it depends on the person. I'm turning 14 soon and own 1 BJD, which I am very careful with and handle very well. At the same time, I know some people in they're late teens, twenty, even thirtys who would ruin a BJD the second it got into their hands. In general, "Older Children" are best suited for BJDs, but that doesn't mean someone older or younger shouldn't have one.

 

Yeah, no harm in learning about that stuff early in my opinion.

I think it depends on the person. I'm turning 14 soon and own 1 BJD, which I am very careful with and handle very well. At the same time, I know some people in they're late teens, twenty, even thirtys who would ruin a BJD the second it got into their hands. In general, "Older Children" are best suited for BJDs, but that doesn't mean someone older or younger shouldn't have one.

 

I've always had dolls. I've always taken care of them..cept for barbies. Yeah I would kind of er..break them on purpous because in the back of my mind I knew I could always get another one. When I was about seven or eight I first saw a American Girl doll. I was in love, I had one for my 10th birthday. If I had seen say a BJD back then and been given one around the time I got my amerian Girl doll, I would have takne very good care of it, like I did my american girl. So sure some younger kids can have dolls it just depends.

Oh and just to add...I was one of the many girls who's barbies had er...relationship issues. I also watched some more 16+anime when I was young so ah, I had intersting ideas. My barbies had fun times, fun times. ^_^

 

Agreed...

My god-daughter is seven (She'll be eight in September-), and she absolutely adores my guys... Harumatsu especially... Although she loves InuYasha, and is pretty excited by the idea that Seimei is going to have white hair like his, and little silver glasses a lot like her own.

She handles them *very* gently and treats them... well, like Nazumitoo said about her daughter, she treats them like little people. She treats them sort-of like resin stand-ins for the little brother that she says she wants. ^_^

I honestly don't think that it would ever cross her mind to do anything destructive to them. She knows that they're not like her Barbies, and that they can't be treated roughly... So she's careful. She doesn't want to hurt them. But, she's also pretty mature for her age... I'm not sure every almost-eight-year-old would be that thoughtful with a doll.

Still, her mum and I have already decided that when and if CP finally produces a MiniFee Shiwoo, we're going to get her one of her own. We think she's mature enough to handle it... "boy-bits" and all. (You'd be surprised how much even relatively sheltered eight-year-olds know about that kind of thing. Knowing that guys and gals are...uhm... assembled differently seems to be pretty common knowledge by that age.) She'll be a younger doll owner than the DoA average, but we both trust her judgement enough to let her give it a try...

It all comes down to the individual, like a lot of things. Some people are ready for the responsibility of a BJD at eight or eleven. Others get there at sixteen... And then there are some people who never get there at all...

I know plenty of otherwise reasonable adults that I wouldn't let anywhere *near* the guys... O_o

 

well my last comment would be that the price is the biggest issue about the dolls I totally agree with that. I would not give an expensive doll to my *future* daughter not because I don't think she can handle it..but just the plane fact that i don't think it is proper. Iff she would save or work for a doll and wanted me to chip in I would help her..but I do not plan to buy an expensive doll, clothes or games just for the love of my child. I wouldn't spoil a child with just expensive items.

My bf has a 11 year old daughter and she gets everything she wants..she is sweet but iff she asks for something she gets it..I've told my BF i disagree with that cause a child can easily be spoiled even iff she is sweet. His daughter doesn't have to do dishes , never cleans her room and is very sloppy and careless with her clothes and toys and so is her mother. But we pay for her clothes, toys and other items she needs.
I am an easy person too she can ask me anything she wants and I'd give it to her..but she sometimes asks items on regular base which other kids ask for their birthdays.

But this is my opinion. Iff a child shows me that he or she understand that it is not normal to have a gift this expensive and is very gratefull then I geuss wouldn't really mind.

 

When I was little I had two kinds of dolls - the fancy porcelain ones I could look at but couldn't touch (it would be on a stand on the top shelf), and plastic dolls like Barbie or Jem. My Barbies were very politically correct, too. They were lawyers and lived in mansions ^^;;

Anyway, I wouldn't get a BJD for my kid because of price, small parts, and simply because they could easily break it and you'd be out $400+. If they really, truly wanted one and I knew they were responsible enough to care for them, I would consider it. But I'm not about to hand a Heath to a 6 year old ^^;;

 

I feel that this hobby is more prohibitive to children because of the cost rather than the care that is required. Most children know how to be careful and gentle.

As for the whole genitalia debate-children are capable of handling that the two sexes have different parts. My children grew up knowing this since they use to take baths together as toddlers. I, myself, grew up knowing this for the same reason and let me tell you, I was a late bloomer so it definitely did not awaken any early sexuality in me. It all has to do with the parents' attitude. If you are natural about it, children will take it for granted that's the way it is. If you get nervous about it, they notice and the taboo becomes very interesting and desirable. My children have seen these dolls and the only interest my daughter had was once when I was online looking at comp pics and she asked "Why are all those naked doll bodies lined up next to each other?", to which I replied "It helps to compare the resin color." She was out the door the next second to torment her brother.