Back then and now...(Nostalgia Thread)

I remember the DOA yahoo group! Remember when the original yahoo group made separate group just for pictures because the image file limit had been reached? How many people remember when there weren't hundreds of companies? I actually think it is nicer now since their is a larger pool of dolls to choose from and literally there is something for everyone.

I remember Doll and Hobby too! My first bjd came from them since at the time his was the only way to buy a bjd in the US without going through a 3rd party shopping service-- and how many recall that as soon as the dolls were posted on the site that they were GONE! I thought I was lucky to have gotten the doll I got even though she wasn't my first choice!

Wow reading the thread responses is a trip down bjd-memory lane! Thanks for posting!

 

*giggle* -- yes, as I'm going through the process of taking pictures of my huge gang I'm laughing at how many of them are old rescue cases. Hey, somehow that makes them more special in my book! I finally got an El a few months ago, and a Jace, and one of those incredibly cheap very old Volks heads (I couldn't tell you which sculpt she is but she's gorgeous) -- because I find that I still truly love the older sculpts most of all.

But the one thing I can remember that was, in my book, even funnier than "press papilla good feel" was the initial release of the Impldoll Colin, the little scorpion guy. If I'm remembering correctly, their initial posting of him said that his name was "Penis." Oh my the hilarity that ensued! Somewhere I still have screencaps of our discussions of it; I have NEVER laughed so hard!

I have to echo the folks who have mentioned the availability of clothing. I'm so glad we've gotten past the days of EVERY. SINGLE. PIECE. being a goth-punk or lolita outfit and every piece of footwear being a black or white platform sole boot (mid-70's, anyone?). Heavens it was hard to find stuff for dolls when I first started out. Now you can generally locate good quality items from the simplest Tshirt to high-end designer awesomeness in all sorts of different styles. Not a good thing for those of us who tend towards pack-ratism, but still a huge relief.

 

I think the only logical thing to do is post one of those screenshots. I remember the incident, but did not get to cap the page myself.

 

Goodness, this thread is making me think just how many years have passed since I purchased my first doll! It was a Souldoll boy (not made any more). Then I purchased Hye. After that I was hooked. Couldn't get enough of these dolls. At that time there were about 40 doll companies, so I had come into the hobby when there were 3 options in size. SD, MDS, and the babies (forgot what size there were noted). Anyway, I must have gotten in at the right time because the UV resin was in most of the dolls to keep them from yellowing. After the first year in this hobby I noticed many changes taking place like bodies changing, new sculpts with animal features and bodies, a change in joints, colours of resin and lastly new sizes were taking a jump as to what the consumer wanted. The companies were listening and giving them what they wanted. Things got a bit out of hand, but still people were buying more and more dolls. I've just returned after taking 2 years off from buying doll and the shock of seeing what's out there has me confused. Hoping that DoA can bring me back to "the news of the day".

 

I remember stalking to get new releases from Doll & Hobby. So long ago. I no longer have a single doll I got that way, either.

Sometimes I think there's too many choices these days. How can one possibly keep track? "In my day, there were only four doll companies to pick from, and we were happy to get a doll when there were new releases!" *brandishes cane*

 

I remember when:

Costumhouse and Luts were THE Korean companies, maybe Dream of Doll a bit too.
Soom didn't even make dolls, only eyes.
Iplehouse made furniture...
Everyone and their dog had an El.
If they didn't have an El, they had DOD Too or Bee-a instead...
Minifee release!
Bermann was the only doll with doublejoints.
Celebrity Minimees everywhere!
Rainman WIP threads, where we saw Sooah for the first time.
The Hound invasion!
Dollmore Dean and Serendipity Shaymin were common first time dolls.
Dollzone controversy!

9 years is a long time ^^'

 

I remember a time when the whole recast conversation never existed.
Talking about refreshing!

 

And we walked barefoot uphill in the snow, BOTH WAYS! to pick them up!

 

^ Hey, it's a long walk to the mailbox at the end of the driveway. Especially for us old folks!

Yes. I remember not worrying about keeping every scrap of paper that came with a doll -- or not caring about buying parts from Volks which came with no paperwork whatsoever. It was nice not to try to find a ten-year-old receipt to prove a doll is authentic.

Now I have half a bin full of paperwork and a row of boxes in the storeroom. And a post-it stash so boxes and paperwork can be labeled with the doll model if there isn't a model type label on it already. Somehow I feel like the revolving doll door is closing.

 

I remember when Unidoll was still in business and I was determined to get all their dolls. Especially Berkut! I really wanted Berkut! *sigh*

 

My word...
Ive been out for a good while. Thats just crazy and freaks me out a bit!
It's so odd...it's just...never thought about that before!!

 

I remember back in the day, where I live, when DoD and Volks were the be-all and end-all of doll purchases. Either you had dolls from those companies, or you had 'some piece of no-name crap.'

I'm glad people have gotten over that elitist mindset.

 

I remember that time, MissAniThrope. If you didn't spend thousands on limited DoD full sets, what kind of collector were you?

 

When I ordered Serendipity Alice she came with wig and clothes and face-up. I didn't have to care about those things, because she was a full-set. Then I ordered El via Liria and I knew I had to search for wigs and clothes, but I didnt realise that no make-up would mean absolutely no face painting. When I unwrapped him I was a bit shocked, because he was so white and colorless.

I remember that I came here for years without signing in, to learn about companies and other basics. I totally liked how unknown BJDs were back then. But now there are so many companies, which makes it easier to find a doll that I like (well, it's actually too easy, because I like more than I should).

 

Ah! I also remember when SOOM only made eyes~ I'm so glad they make dolls too now- and what fantastic fantasy parts they make!
I can't believe there was a time when it was necessary to buy a doll with its fantasy parts if you wanted to be seen as one of those "real collectors", while now we can just buy the normal parts instead, if we happen to like the sculpt (Doll Chateau has been particularly good with this, I think.)

 

Lord, I remember most of this myself! Good old days!

 

I'm nostalgic for the late-2008/early-2009 Soom threads. Soom's popularity was booming, and so every thread moved super fast, and people sort of caught excitement from each other, so the threads were always packed full of enthusiastic collectors bubbling over with creative plans for really amazing dolls. Nowadays, Soom threads tend to stagnate a bit, and I think a big part of that is that people feel more self-conscious gushing about their doll plans in small groups. Almost like now it would seem like attention-seeking, while back when there were dozens of people doing the same thing it felt politer.

 

This thread made me realize how old my first boy is now! Omg. My Shiwoo Special is going on 8. I remember seeing bjds the first time when looking for some fanart of FFVII Vincent on Deviantart waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back. Like 2000? 2001? And seeing this person's Sephiroth and Vincent photoshoot that looked amazing. I hunted down what the dolls were, saw El and Lishe for the first time and made my mom look. I was mesmerized. Swore from that day on I wojld own one of those El's. Come 2006 I finally started saving for one. Got my Shiwoo instead of El.

Having lurked on DoA for a while before getting my doll, I remember the armies, the dollzone fiasco, bermann, sooms md skyrocketting and the wait time.

 

Yeah, my first doll is going on nine. Got two more that just turned 8 this month!