BJD and other hobbies

I collect too many other things to list here, and probably have too many hobbies for my own good. I'd say right now my top five hobbies/activities which I take most seriously (in no particular order) are

- Dolls (especially BJD)
- Studying Japanese (been doing that off and on for the past 15 years +)
- Collecting, reading, and sharing tips online to others about collecting and reading Japanese comics (manga)
- Photography
- Listening to and appreciating music (mostly the Japanese versions of various genres, but not exclusively)

I am the type of person who would be like "go away then?" if someone didn't like or understand my hobbies. I love them, and that is all that matters. I don't need other people to like me, or like it (the hobby) or appreciate it. With the photography, it does help more so than the others to have an audience and like-minded friends, but for the most part, it can and usually is just me by myself enjoying them as I sit here and see and work with them on a daily basis. I love begin able to share and appreciate my hobbies with other people online and in person, in the same or similar hobbies, but it's not absolutly necessary for me to persist in enjoying them.

I personally have a VERY HIGH appreciation for other hobbies, goals, and collections in general, even if they are not similar to my own. I am very very interested in seeing people be passionate about other things even ones that I am not passionate about or know about (or in some cases, am not able to be passionate about because of having too much else on my plate). I really love hobbies, even if they belong to someone else.

Everyone has very very much respect from me in this area. In fact... it's possibly sometimes even more enjoyable to me to admire someone's unique passion or hobby than that my own because it's sort of like a break, I can look at someone else and not feel the pressures of obtaining or maintaining the parts of the hobby that make it "go" if that makes sense? I get to watch their final product, or their adventure as they go alone, and I get to just watch and appreciate it. We can also learn a whole heck of a lot from others, even if it seems like we (and/or the hobbies) are dissimilar on the surface!

A true appreciation for ones own interests includes having at least a passing curiosity in others, and in things we normally might not look at. There is no light side of the moon without the dark side to offset it. New ideas and innovations and appreciations can spring up in -seemingly- unlikely places, or your own mind can capture a piece of some other hobby and find that it helps in the birth of a new idea over in a completely different hobby. And of course, sometimes, it doesn't... but we are in awe of the "different" and "new" and new neural pathways that weren't there before are formed, and we are potentially better for it. Ok, that was a little over the top, but it's still true.

People who DON'T agree? People who scoff at, or insult, or simply don't wish to understand other hobbies the way I (or we) do? That's fine... whatever, I don't really care. It is of no consequence to me if someone disagrees on this point. So... cheers? lol

 

Collecting things kind of IS my hobby. And BJD's kind of fall into that category. As the years have gone by I've went through several different phases of collecting, from marbles to tiny pitchers. But I've always collected dolls. It started with porcelains and now it's moving on towards BJD's.

 

Very interesting questions! I shall tackle them in this answer (hopefully).

Do you have another hobby aside from doll collection and customisation?
Yes I do, I have a few.

If yes, what is it?
I love to sew plushies, sculpt, sing, and draw comics and illustrations. I do enjoy customizing my dolls, but they are my most recent hobby. I'm actually working on turning my art into a career (I study Illustration at MCAD). Another hobby that's been lurking for the last 12 years is dancing. I really need to start doing that again (I loved it so).

How do comments such as the above affect your experience in the hobby of your choice, and in the doll collection hobby?
They don't really affect me that much. That's because I think my doll collecting hobby is on the same level as my other hobbies, but more pricy and I need to keep it more in check (I'm not made of money sadly). I love art, and the dolls are a form of art for me because of everything you can do with them.

If you don't have another hobby, what is your opinion on how those comments affect the BJD community?
I think those comments are harsh, but people shouldn't take them to heart. I'm certain there's people out there who think that even another hobby outside of dolls is stupid. I used to collect coins, now I don't anymore and not because I think it's stupid, but simply because I lost interest. I still love my coins, but I do want to sell them.

If you have a spouse/SO, or someone close to you who has another hobby, have you used that hobby to defend your own?
No, I have not. Though my girlfriend doesn't really have any other "hobby" other than collecting dolls. And that's not saying anything negative. She's a writer, comic artist, and artist in general, but those are all things she wants to do for a living, so they don't quite qualify as hobbies anymore.

Do you think that attitude is justifiable? Why/Why not?
This is a tough one to answer. On one point it is, because not everyone's going to understand the hobby. A close friend of mine collects dolls and her boyfriend makes fun of her for it (which is sad). He just doesn't understand it at all. On another point, you shouldn't make fun of peoples hobbies as long as they don't harm anyone (including themselves). I don't quite understand how people can collect stamps, but I don't question them and leave them be. It's their business and it brings them happiness. Who am I to judge them?

 

I must kind of put my hobbies into categories:
Music - I'm such a Zeppelin fan & an original (as in one of the screaming millions) Beatles' fans LOL I sing (madrigal groups & choral - sang in a Catholic traditional choir for years even tho I'm not one). I did get paid to sing
Dance - kind of goes w/singing/music I guess. I'm a Beledi (that's belly danc) dancer & have been in a troupe/paid
Writer - all my life I've written stories (mainly in my head but I've finished 2 novels & several short stories) & poetry
Costumer - had to make the beledi costumes. Then I got into the SCA & other similiar historical recreation stuff . THEN I got into Cosplay...
SF addict - that would include my love of all things Dr Who, Star Trek, Star Wars, Anime & Manga, graphic & regular novels - on & on & on
Tolkien freak - well, enough said there
Arthurian scholar (or insane obsessed person as my daughter says) - again, anything Roman-Britain thats me!
Finally - I've collected a few dolls/figures over the years, plus a lot of cute little things. When I found out about BJDs I just flipped because I can accommodate so many of my hobbies in this one!

 

Do you have another hobby aside from doll collection and customization?
Yes!

If yes, what is it?
Oh, I have numerous hobbies! o u o
-I like to play/collect video games. Preferably older ones; N64, NES, SEGA, etc.
-I like to watch anime, and read manga.
-I -love- to attend conventions, and cosplay!
-I absolutely adore spending every minute I can with my fiance and three lovely kitties!
-I do, really, love drawing characters. And I am in college for Game Art & Design!
-My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
-I enjoy browsing YouTube and the rest of the internet. Partaking in the lulz, and fawning over the cleverness that is the INTERNET MEME.
- I recently started buying anime figurines! Tasteful one... I can't stand ecchi, yaoi, yuri, hentai, etc...

How do comments such as the above affect your experience in the hobby of your choice, and in the doll collection hobby?
Sometimes I feel like certain people won't like me on this site, solely because I enjoy anime. I'm worried they'll think I'm the stereotypical NARUTO DESU fan girl who screamsd "KAWAII DESU NE" at every corner... So, I tend to not say that I like anime--not just on this site, either! o A o EVERYWHERE. And, forbid I say that I cosplay! > A <

If you have a spouse/SO, or someone close to you who has another hobby, have you used that hobby to defend your own?
My fiance and I tend to have very similar hobbies. c: Except a few things... He's a pilot, etc.
I use his nerdiness... To defend my nerdiness!

Do you think that attitude is justifiable? Why/Why not?
It really, honestly to me, depends on the person and the situation. > A <
And the level of attitude/maturity.

 

Do you have another hobby aside from doll collection and customisation? - yes. If yes, what is it? - have collected anime figures for a long time, as well as anime, movies.music,guitars and knives. How do comments such as the above affect your experience in the hobby of your choice, and in the doll collection hobby? - no. i love all my hobbies, sometimes they fade into the background when i become a bit more obsessed with one over the other or some i have grown out of, does't mean i dislike it now though. If you don't have another hobby, what is your opinion on how those comments affect the BJD community? (See explanation above).... If you have a spouse/SO, or someone close to you who has another hobby, have you used that hobby to defend your own? - no, not yet . Do you think that attitude is justifiable? maybe, sometimes it is needed to put things into perspective is someone is criticizing your choices. sorry it won't let me post it any other way except this large annoying chunk of words....the boards keep removing my paragraphs

 

Do you have another hobby aside from doll collection and customisation?
Why yes I do, of course.

If yes, what is it?
I also collect blades (swords, daggers, knives, short shorts, throwing stars, etc) I love them. Currently in my collection I believe I have between twenty and twenty-five. (Don't really keep count of them) I really only buy them when I go to the Renn Faire or Otakon or any other type of convention/festival that has them. However I've been eying a function gunblade from FFVII off of ebay. Want that so bad. And as soon as my dollie layaways are done and I have some more money, I'm going to custom order a black iron rose rapier. I also have a long bow because I adore archery.

How do comments such as the above affect your experience in the hobby of your choice, and in the doll collection hobby? (By which I mean, do the comments make you second-guess your other hobby, or do they not affect you in any way? Do they make your experiences in the BJD hobby less enjoyable by creating a hostile atmosphere, or do you see them just as a commentary on the different ways people spend their money? Or anything else, as well.)
Comments by others doesn't really bother me. It's whatever. People are entitled to their opinions, besides they are just words and words don't matter much when they come from ignorant or stupid people who don't understand either hobby. (When I took Dev to the hospital with me my cousin kept telling me I was too old to carry a doll around and too old to even collect them and I just smiled and said, well I don't think so.) He eventually left me alone about it. But you can't let someone's words bother you. It's a very different hobby...so people are going to always comment on it.

If you have a spouse/SO, or someone close to you who has another hobby, have you used that hobby to defend your own? (Either to others or to yourself.)
No because he's been very supportive of my hobbies and thinks the dolls are quite awesome. He likes my blades too lol.


Do you think that attitude is justifiable? Why/Why not?
If I had someone who wasn't supportive, then I would never use their hobby against them to defend mine. I don't think that is right and it's fighting fire with fire which will only burn the house down, haha, so no I don't believe that would be the right thing to do. What should be done is question why it is okay for your significant other to have their hobby but you not yours. Communication would be the best thing (a rational calm, adult/mature) conversation.

 

Do you have another hobby aside from doll collection and customisation?
Yes, I have several, actually, and most of them tie back into how I play with my BJDs. I knit, crochet and am becoming more and more interested in photography. I also write stories and play video games

How do comments such as the above affect your experience in the hobby of your choice, and in the doll collection hobby?
It doesn't bother me. *shrug* Each to their own! I have a limited amount of spending money, so I have to make choices sometimes between doll stuff or knitting stuff, etc. But I don't really care what other people think about how I spend my extra money. I've earned it, so it's mine to do with what I please :P

If you have a spouse/SO, or someone close to you who has another hobby, have you used that hobby to defend your own?
Sometimes! Though my husband's videogame hobby isn't generally as overarchingly pricey as the BJD hobby (it's more comparable to a yarn addiction lol) - but I've used it as a way to explain to people that my hobby is something that costs money but that I enjoy just as much as he enjoys his gaming.

Do you think that attitude is justifiable? Why/Why not?
No, because so long as people are enjoying what they're doing in their spare time and aren't hurting anyone, it shouldn't matter to anyone else.

 

Do you have another hobby aside from doll collection and customisation? If yes, what is it?

I have several - I like to read, write, sew and knit, spend time with my dog and cats, travel and watch movies with my husband. I occasionally play MMORPGs (haven't been for a while though). I like to go to the gym, and I like to cook and bake as well. I am also getting into photography. I kind of try my hand at everything!

How do comments such as the above affect your experience in the hobby of your choice, and in the doll collection hobby? (By which I mean, do the comments make you second-guess your other hobby, or do they not affect you in any way? Do they make your experiences in the BJD hobby less enjoyable by creating a hostile atmosphere, or do you see them just as a commentary on the different ways people spend their money? Or anything else, as well.)

Some hobbies, like reading or baking, elicit a lot less commentary than others (like dolls, or even playing MMORPGs or similar games). I guess I don't share my more "controversial" hobbies with people I'm not close with. However, my friends and family know about my hobbies. Sometimes we just have to agree to disagree! I care what the people I love think about me, but I try not to take personal preference (like hobby choice) personally. I have relatives who hunt, and ride motorcycles. I think both of those are not such great pass-times, but I keep my mouth shut because it's not my hobby. But I do try to censor myself a little around people who just won't get it, and who don't really need to know about my hobbies anyway. For example, I don't talk about my dolls at work. But I do talk about my pets, volunteering etc.

If you don't have another hobby, what is your opinion on how those comments affect the BJD community? (See explanation above)

I think that the BJD community on the whole can be rather defensive about this hobby. Some of which is understandable - it can really hurt to have something you love, like these dolls, be jeered or insulted. But I think it would be better if more people acted like the DOA community does - seek out likeminded folks, and were more "live and let live" about hobbies they aren't interested in. I don't think I've ever heard of militant doll people! "You must like dolls or else you suck" LOL. I also think that in a few cases, some snobbery can develop from that kind of attitude ("my dolls are better than your dolls", etc).

If you have a spouse/SO, or someone close to you who has another hobby, have you used that hobby to defend your own? (Either to others or to yourself.)

My husband loves video games and League of Legends, and OMG I do NOT get League of Legends. He also really likes anime, and I don't like it much at all. But those things all make him really happy. So I know he doesn't get my dolls, but I don't get his love for Death Note, so we are even at the end of the day!

If someone was really being a jackass about my dolls, I probably would point out that they had X hobby, and I have my doll hobby - they're both leisure activities that give us pleasure and are thus inherently the same.

Do you think that attitude is justifiable? Why/Why not?

Well, it works for me LOL. I have kind of gotten over tailoring my life to what other people expect. I respect opinions of others but if something makes me happy, I can afford it, and it doesn't hurt or even effect anyone else, then it's really no one's business how I spend my free time!

 

Do you have another hobby aside from doll collection and customisation? If yes, what is it?
Ugg...why do all my hobbies have to be so expensive?
-Collect figures
-Budding garage kit/gundam builder
-Lolita
-Anime/Comics
-Gaming
-Translations

How do comments such as the above affect your experience in the hobby of your choice, and in the doll collection hobby?

Don't mind. Many people say it's cute anyway. >XD

If you have a spouse/SO, or someone close to you who has another hobby, have you used that hobby to defend your own?

Nope not really. We each like what we like....and we think it's cute/silly when we obsess over the things we like. For example, "Ohmigosh, _____ released their new doll!" and he'll say, "That's cute you're dollin' again."

 

I've listened to jrock/visual kei since I was 14 years old, and it was my main "hobby" and I would buy a bunch of cds and dvds and tour merchandise. But after I got my first bjd, all my money became directed to bjd stuff. What I really like about this hobby is that everything is tangible and the "you can have your cake and eat it too" attitude I think really applies to owning BJDs! Because of this, I chose to invest more in BJDs

 

I collect Sanrio and San-X plush, and other assorted items. I also collect cute things, literally! Anything I think is cute, I will buy it... I am not sure if that part is considered a hobby though! However, I think Sanrio/San-X is.

The comments such as your example don't affect my other hobby experience in any way. I think that it's just opinions people have, and I do my best to not let those types of things bother me.

Family and friends have not blatantly attacked me for my hobby, most of them love my dolls and think that they are great, but sometimes they will sneak in a comment (usually relating to their cost) so then I have to defend my dolls... For example, some of my relatives collect depression glass... The very rare colors, they are very expensive. One of the plates costs as much as one of my dolls.

I think it is justifiable because people tend to categorize any type of doll as a "Barbie doll" or a doll that is meant to be played with. Therefore they think it should cost the same as a doll you'd find at Target or Walmart. I think it's very easy for the BJD hobby to be "under attack" from people who don't truly understand their actual value (when it comes to their immense detail and intricacy).

 

Do you have another hobby aside from doll collection and customisation?
Yes. ^^
If yes, what is it?
Videogames and browser games, the bad bad internet, LARP, reading, Manga, sewing, karaoke, going out with friends and our rats
How do comments such as the above affect your experience in the hobby of your choice, and in the doll collection hobby?
Not at all. It's like I go to a cafe on a monday and order tea, whereas my friend orders coffee. Where she has coffee, I have tea. That doesn't mean I hate coffee or that I think my tea is not as good as her coffee. It's just taste. I'll maybe be having coffee on tuesday then. It's the same with hobbies. Maybe coffee is a book and tea are dolls. One day I like reading more and spend more time with a book than with my dolls. That doesn't make the other hobbies less interesting for me.
If you have a spouse/SO, or someone close to you who has another hobby, have you used that hobby to defend your own?
Some of my friends are way more into LARP and roleplaying games than I am or have expensive pets. Some like clothes and fashion, others like merchandise, some like to travel a lot. We know of our hobbies, so we don't have to defend ourselves. ^^

 

Do you have another hobby aside from doll collection and customisation?

Yes! I have many.

If yes, what is it?

I am a(an):
Artist of many mediums, musician, furry, costumer, seamstress, art print collector, reader, manga collector, bonsai enthusiast, Aquascaper, animal lover, figurine collector, and (newly) photographer!

How do comments such as the above affect your experience in the hobby of your choice, and in the doll collection hobby? (By which I mean, do the comments make you second-guess your other hobby, or do they not affect you in any way? Do they make your experiences in the BJD hobby less enjoyable by creating a hostile atmosphere, or do you see them just as a commentary on the different ways people spend their money? Or anything else, as well.)
I think some people can be a little too enthusiastic about their dolls or careless to other people's feelings. I honestly, pay no mind to things like that. The only people that can really change my feelings about dolls would be my family, close friends, and idols.

 

Do you have another hobby aside from doll collection and customisation?
Yes, I do.If yes, what is it?
I do horseback-riding and go on horse trails every year. Further, I do cosplay and love to read.

How do comments such as the above affect your experience in the hobby of your choice, and in the doll collection hobby?
I don´t mind to much, what other people say, expect their opinion is value to me.

 

Do you have another hobby aside from doll collection and customization?

If yes, what is it?
Yes, I'm very much into Asian drama's, anime and a few other things. I also
use to be in a different doll hobby called Reborns.

How do comments such as the above affect your experience in the hobby of your choice, and in the doll collection hobby? I honestly don't care, I never second guess my hobby no matter what is said about them. I like what I like an nothing will change it.

If you have a spouse/SO, or someone close to you who has another hobby, have you used that hobby to defend your own?
My boyfriend has the hobby of playing MMO's alot, right now he's playing the new StarWars one. I have never used that hobby to defend my own because he has never judged my hobby he's always been supportive of it.
Do you think that attitude is justifiable? Why/Why not?
Yup, its only fair.

 

Do you have another hobby aside from doll collection and customization?
Of Course!

If yes, what is it?
-I'm on to Tomb Raider, I have collected all those rare original games. I also collect Tomb Raider figures, Tonner Doll, Shirts and etc.
-I collect Lady GaGa's Album, Memorabilia, Shirts and Etc. I'm an huge fan of her, like my room is almost full with her poster.
-I collect Figma, Nendoroid, Tonner dolls, and Game character figures.
-I do some independent Movie and Parody with my classmates. Lol.
-I draw manga.

How do comments such as the above affect your experience in the hobby of your choice, and in the doll collection hobby?
I don't get bothered at all with it. What's wrong if I'm unto BJD even if I'm a straight guy?

 

Do you have another hobby aside from doll collection and customisation? If yes, what is it?

Oh, certainly! I have a lot of interests, but the ones I engage in the most, aside from dolls, are: aviation, travel, and photography. I've been interested and actively involved in all three long before dolls came into the picture. I've traveled to quite a few places over the years and I continue to do so as time allows. Aviation has been an interest ever since high school. Photography is also something I enjoyed for many years, however, it is only lately that I began to actively learn about it and working on improving. Oh, and I also play World of Warcraft (WoW), though much less often these days than in the previous years.


How do comments such as the above affect your experience in the hobby of your choice, and in the doll collection hobby?

Not at all. To some, the BJD hobby is the only interest - nothing else compares, so it makes sense why those people feel that it's the best, most interesting hobby to pursue. And, as long as there are no insults or disrespect towards those who have other interests, then it's all good. I've never actually seen anyone in the BJD fandom insult or otherwise put down those who have other hobbies; the most I've seen is a lot of enthusiasm for dolls! I think it's great that people feel passionate about a specific hobby and devote their free time to become experts at it. For example, my good friend loves photography, it is her only hobby, and she does think that nothing compares, and I absolutely respect that, just like she respects my numerous interests.


If you have a spouse/SO, or someone close to you who has another hobby, have you used that hobby to defend your own? (Either to others or to yourself.)

My husband does have two hobbies that he is very active in (one is collecting resin dinosaur maquettes, the other is gaming). I do not use his hobbies to defend my own activities to ether myself or others. I don't feel there's anything to "defend", since I'm not engaged in any illicit activities. However, because we do have similar collecting hobbies, I will often explain to people, who are curious as to what he thinks about me having a large doll collection, that because he is interested in something very similar, he understands and respects my pursuits.

Do you think that attitude is justifiable? Why/Why not?

Defending your own hobby/collection by referencing that of your spouse/SO? It depends. If your SO has a hobby that he/she would like you to respect, but in turn, does not respect your interests, then it's perfectly justifiable. However, usually, a situation like that is just a manifestation of bigger issues within the relationship. Otherwise, I don't feel there's a need to justify your interests to anybody, as long as they are not damaging to you or others.

 

Do you have another hobby aside from doll collection and customisation?
I have tons!

If yes, what is it?
I'm an artist, I love to draw, I love creating things in anyway. I'm working on sewing, I'm a gamer, I love horror and reading and watching black and white movies. There are so many facets to me that I cannot be defined by one hobby. My dolls are a lot to me, but so is my family, friends, pets and the other things I do. I write, which is where my dolls come from, I love superheroes and comic books. I also love anime and manga, but those often go hand in hand with doll loving. And still this is only parts of me.

How do comments such as the above affect your experience in the hobby of your choice, and in the doll collection hobby? I am one for not caring what people think. The only people who are going to try to make you feel insecure are the people who weren't worth your time in the first place. I am me and I don't care who likes me or who doesn't or if they like what I do or not. That's their business. As in another post, this is just people acting like they're special because they feel like they aren't deep down and they're usually right about that. It's up to you to be your own person and that is what really makes you special.

 

Do you have another hobby aside from doll collection and customisation?
I dont think that bjd's were even one of my earlier hobbies, I was always into drawing, watching anime and manga which is what eventually lead to perking my interest in bjd's. I also cosplay which helps me with the clothing aspect of my bjd~

How do comments such as the above affect your experience in the hobby of your choice, and in the doll collection hobby?
I haven actually recieved any nasty comments before about any hobby as a whole. For bjding I've heard people say how creepy my doll is but I dont mind, each to their own. As for anime and manga not much either I guess I'm just lucky~

I dont think that anything that anyone says will make me completely drop my hobby and run away from it. You may get upset, but it would never have me quit a hobby. Usually a hobby is something you love, you wouldnt put it down so easily