BJD and other hobbies

Do you have another hobby aside from doll collection and customisation? If yes, what is it?
Of course. I can't really see anyone having no other hobby than BJDs. You'd either have to be filthy rich or have a really monotonous life. Or both. I read, I write, I play video games, I cross-stitch, I scrapbook, I journal, I blog, I study, I watch movies, etc.

How do comments such as the above affect your experience in the hobby of your choice, and in the doll collection hobby?
No, in fact I've used that comment myself. People on here always ask, 'What do your friends/family/significant other/coworkers/etc think about your doll collecting? By answering, 'They watch sports, I collect dolls,' I'm just saying that everyone enjoys different things and who cares? So what if my brother likes to go fishing and I hate it? So what if I collect dolls and he doesn't? It has absolutely no effect on my relationship with anyone. I really don't even understand why anybody asks the question. The only time I can see it being a problem is if one spouse spends all this money to buy expensive dolls while the other spouse is struggling to make ends meet for the two. And I don't think that's what the question's asking so.. Who cares? lol
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.)
I don't have to defend myself. My money is mine to do what I want with. My wife also collects and we're both working so it's not like one of us is selfishly buying expensive toys while the other is struggling to put food on the table. Non issue.

Do you think that attitude is justifiable? Why/Why not?
Again, I see nothing that needs justifying.

 

Just to add to this long list.....

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

Yes, quite a lot, that surface and withdraw periodically from my live.If yes, what is it?

Inbetween writing and reading (fantasy novels and fanfiction), I sew, for myself and for my dolls. I draw and paint, not a lot at the moment, but sometimes. I love animes and read Manga. I'm into photography now, as part of the doll hobby and into editting. I love decorating,and archery, and..... Just a few things I do.

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

I grew out of my confirmation seeking phase, at leats when it's related to my fashion sense or my hobbies. Aka no.

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

Not exactly the case, but if the topic arises with family and friends, I defend any of my hobbies. Person x has his way of passing his time, I have mine. Both are valid and good as long as they don't harm anyone.


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

Like someone mentioned before, people tend to understand things better, if you give them a personal example out of their own lifes, not sure why though. Then they mostly get the aha effect, and if not, then it's their own problem.

 

Do you have another hobby aside from doll collection and customisation?---Yes I do


If yes, what is it?---I love to knit, sew clothes, make purses, felt, craft, make plushies and plush dolls, I am addicted to Etsy and Hobby Lobby...I also love to play the guitar, sax, write, read, draw, paint and I collect makeup, shoes and purses and a lot of other things haha. BJDs are definitely not my only hobby, but it is still one of my favorites!

How do comments such as the above affect your experience in the hobby of your choice, and in the doll collection hobby?---It really doesn't affect my hobby in any way. I still love it, even if others don't. And my other hobbies don't overcrowd 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?---Yes, I have!! haha. But my husband understands. He has several guitars that easily cost more than my dolls. He also understands my Coach purse addiction!! Along with all my other hobbies lol.

Do you think that attitude is justifiable? Why/Why not?---Yes A lot of people don't understand that the BJD hobby is the same as any other hobby. If they don't like it, they can get over it. lol

 

Do you haveanother hobby aside from doll collection and customization?
Yes.
Ifyes, what is it?
I cosplay (which includes going to conventions), read manga and watch anime, play video games, practicing photography, and I'm starting to participate in musical theater again this summer (I hope).

How do comments such as the above affect yourexperience in the hobby of your choice, and in the doll collectionhobby? [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]
[/FONT]Not really? The only thing with my other hobbies that would effect my dolls would be the musicals only because I wouldn't be able to get money to pay for them. XD

Ifyou don't have another hobby, what is your opinion on how thosecomments affect the BJD community?
NA

Ifyou have a spouse/SO, or someone close to you who has another hobby,have you used that hobby to defend your own? [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]
[/FONT]Yes? My brother has the hobby of collect movies and memorabilia from Mystery Science Theater 3000. So when he argues with me about my dolls/ cosplay I say things about his hobby. :T

Doyou think that attitude is justifiable? Why/Why not?
No. He spends more on DVDs than I have on one doll. His collection will go over $1000 when he gets his life-sized replica of one of the characters.

 

Do you have another hobby aside from doll collection and customisation? I actually have many hobbies, I collect rare video games, I needle-felt, play wow and other video games watch anime though I no longer buy anime like I used to, I sew, I try to write, I read books.

If yes, what is it? Opps ^

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 to each his own. My sister puts her money into things like handguns and off-roading which requires a car just for offroading! I don't think it is hostile I just say you have your hobby I have mine.

If you don't have another hobby, what is your opinion on how those comments affect the BJD community? (See explanation above) Same as 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? (Either to others or to yourself.) Nope never needed to justify it although I have bartered like if I can get this for my doll you can get said video game.

Do you think that attitude is justifiable? Why/Why not? I don't think you should have to explain your hobbies to anyone if it makes you happy then what do you care how that person views your hobby. You could say you know this is my money and I enjoy this you have your hobbies I have mine if it got to that point.

 

Do you have another hobby aside from doll collection and customisation?
Yes, I have collected made to measure corsets since I was 16 (I'm currently 22). Right now I'm sort of "done" with that since I have gotten just about all the corsets I've imagined getting, but I guess I'll figure out new designs sooner or later. :3

How do comments such as the above affect your experience in the hobby of your choice, and in the doll collection hobby? I can't say it has much inpact on me at all, first off I'm not very attentive internet-wise so a lot of comments just pass me by, but when I do see them I usually just shrug. Everyone has different tastes, and just as I can't wrap my head around certain things I guess a lot of people don't get what I'm doing. If I bothered with that I'd be annoyed 24/7. 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? Weeeell, when my fiancé comments on how much money I spend I can always remind him that his movie & video game collections have cost him far, far more. But it's never been a real issue, we just laugh about it and tease a bit. Other than that, no. :3

Do you think that attitude is justifiable? Why/Why not?
As a lot of you have already said - yes. I have my hobbies, you have yours. I'd say that as long as no one starts sneaking grocery or rent money to support it, there shouldn't be a problem. ^^

 

Do you have another hobby aside from doll collection and customisation? If yes, what is it? Yes, yes, I do. Ballet, music, antique mourning fashion, Lolita, Star Trek Online, fashion, bath & beauty, aromatherapy, and puppy training.

How do comments such as the above affect your experience in the hobby of your choice, and in the doll collection hobby? No, I don't see why they would hurt. I can easily spend $1,000 on a doll, but I am careful about dropping $400 on an antique opera cape. I did fork out the cash for my dream everyday Coach purse when the chance came, and if I could find my dream Luis Vuitton purse or the wallet from the same collection, I would hold off on a doll purchase to get it. It's a matter of what is the most important to me at the time, and what I can afford. I don't see how it should make a difference. It is also about being a confident adult in the choices you make, and surrounding yourself with people who don't try and treat you like a child.

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.) Actually, I have found that people with highly indulgent hobbies are the most understanding of it. I may have defended my right to spend my playcheck with people in the past, but as I got older and the people around me got older as well, the less I bothered or needed to defend it.

Actually, when I have begun to panic about spending hundreds of dollars on my hobby while my husband is less than $100 a month, it is my man who encourages me to keep it up. To paraphrase, "I get the same enjoyment out of finishing a $15 video game that you get out of finishing one of your dolls. It doesn't make one more important or less reasonable than the other. It just means that your hobby gets a bigger budget." How can a girl argue with that?

Do you think that attitude is justifiable? Why/Why not? I don't think it is really an attitude, more of an argument. The argument is rather valid, because it is true, people can spend an insane amount of cash and time on a hobby. It highlights the fact that everyone has their indulgence that they love to play with and spend with.

 

Do you have another hobby aside from doll collection and customisation? If yes, what is it?
Yes! Surely enough, I do! I read literature like a bookworm -always need to possess at least one unread or unfinished book- I play video games like a nerd, I watch anime, although I always read more manga, play D&D and L5R (the Pen & Paper RPGs in both cases), I play TCGs -Yu-Gi-Oh! and Magic: the Gathering-. I also love miniature war-gamming and am knee-deep in Warhammer 40k but I don't have an army of my own (One day I will start with my Tau... one day...) I also art, photograph, make short films, write, perform, and I used to collect stamps until a few years back too. Recently I've been into nail art as well~

How do comments such as the above affect your experience in the hobby of your choice, and in the doll collection hobby?
Simply put, comments like that do not affect me at all. I do what I do because I like it, not because other people think it's great or not, or try to make it seem less fun than their own hobbies (I'll be entirely honest with you, to me customising and collecting dolls is just as much fun as playing my favourite video games or having a D&D session with my friends or a friendly yu-gi-oh! showdown). I don't think spending 200$ to own all the guides and books for D&D is any better or worse than spending them on buying a doll either. Each one is what it is, that's all.

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 brother does collect Warhammer 40k miniatures and has a rather vast Space Marine army by now; one day when he asked if the cost of a certain doll was too much I had to remind him how much he spent on his own for him to realize that we each have our interests and we can both spend as much as we want on what we want. Neither comment was made with a hostile intention though; it was simply brought up while talking and resolved immediately.

Do you think that attitude is justifiable? Why/Why not?
I don't think I can justify being 'rude' like that in any way. People should just stop bothering other people about their hobbies. Can't we all simply enjoy what we like best without being critisized or forced to compare with others? What's the point in that, even?

 

I table top game, and a special special joy of mine is Warhammer, which is about as expensive as dolls at times. Sometime in the future ill probably have to decide "Army upgrade with new books? Or new Dolly?" I fear such a time ; 3;

 

@k0b0ld I hear you... I sold all but one 40k and one wfb army to get into the bjd hobby. I figure it would be good for me to pare down anyway

@raevynvelcros they make functional gun blades? Mind->blown

 

Do you have another hobby aside from doll collection and customisation?
Of course OvO
If yes, what is it?
Uh, I collected stickers until I lost my huge collection, I also read and watch manga and anime quite, buy a few manga if I really like and want to own it, I play games, not like super addicted or something, but yea, I do like quite a few, I also read books, especially when on vacation without computer and it's kinda difficult for me to find books that I like, but yes...I also draw. Can't think of much more right now.
How do comments such as the above affect your experience in the hobby of your choice, and in the doll collection hobby?
Hm, I am rather indifferent to such comments. I mean, sometimes I'll think 'Maybe I shouldn't buy that game cause that money could go for my doll's wig' or the reverse, but that doesn't mean I prefer one hobby over the other and others should respect my choices UvU If they don't...see if i care 8D
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 father is a beekeeper (as a hobby) and my brother had a HUGE collection of YGO cards...neither of them know of my BJD collecting, but if it came down to it, I would indeed use it to defend it. Both of them have spent a lot of money on their hobbies also so it's only fair they respect my hobbies too.
Do you think that attitude is justifiable? Why/Why not?
I think everyone should just respect each other. In the end, it's their money, they do what they want with it.

 

Do you have another hobby aside from doll collection and customisation?
Yep =3

If yes, what is it?
It? XD I have a few hobbies. I'm a reptile keeper; 2 Crested Geckos, 7 Leopard Geckos and 4 Corn Snakes. I love watching films and anime, I have a small collection of DVDs. I read fantasy books. I draw. And I play on two petsites a lot (Aywas and Subeta.) Urm there might be some others but nothing I can think of right now D

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.)
No it doesn't bother me in the least to be honest. My (now ex) friend had a major go at me for even thinking about buying a BJD, but it hasn't put me off in the least. I've also had to defend my Reptile hobby and I defend it so fiercely that me and my sister fell out over it. I won't let people tell me what to do =3

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.)
Yes, in above arguement with said ex friend. She'd bought a PS3 recently, so I said "How is it any different from buying a PS3? I get enjoyment from BJDs in just the same way really." As long as it's not used in a nasty kind of way, then it's fine.

Do you think that attitude is justifiable? Why/Why not?
Of course it is, if someone is attacking you for your hobby, but they have a hobby that can be just as expensive, then why not? It might enlighten them and make them see things from your point of view. Again, as long as it's not used in an aggressive way, it's fine.

 

Do you have another hobby aside from doll collection and customisation? If yes, what is it?
The dolls are by far my biggest hobby. i also role play (the dolls...) and collect Monster High dolls. I also have a collection of ghost story and mystery books, Final Fantasy figures and stuff and Simpsons DVDs. but all of my other hobbies/collections combined don't come close to my doll hobby.



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 affect me in any way, as I don't really care what others think. I've even said that kind of thing before, but it's NOT to put down other hobbies, it's simply just to say "You enjoy your purse/car/shoe/DVD/game/etc collection and spend your hard earned money on it, I choose to do the same but with dolls" It's not an insult so much as an explanation. As in, they may not understand the doll hobby, but comparing it to something they CAN relate to helps them get why I have the dolls and will spend so much on 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? Yes. He spends hours playing WoW and thousands of dollars on his motorcycle and computer/technology upgrades. But we are very tolerate of each other's hobbies, he spends his extra money on his, i spend mine on the dolls after bills are paid, so it really is no concern to each other what we're doing with our own paychecks.

Do you think that attitude is justifiable? Why/Why not? Sure. It's not meant to be an insult most of the time, it's simply to help non-doll people understand why you'd drop $500 on a doll. They might not get it or think it's silly, I might not understand why they'd pay that for a purse, but comparing the two just points out "hey, I don't share your interest, but it's okay to enjoy what you enjoy."

 

I personally am a J-fashion addict, everything from lolita to gyaru to fairy kei, and am also an avid cosplayer. Luckily, a lot of my hobbies fit together in the fact that there are also many cosplayers/lolita/gyarus that have dolls, so i haven't gotten any comments yet. I'm still saving for my first, and i know many other friends who are as well, so i'm not too worried.

 

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

If yes, what is it? mini war games, D&D, comics, action figures, world domination, bad movies, the little subcatagories that fall into each of those.... argh.

How do comments such as the above affect your experience in the hobby of your choice, and in the doll collection hobby? the comments don't effect me at all. actually, i've used similar things myself to explain my hobbies to family members. ("you know how J likes playing fantasy football? well i like pretty hunks of plastic. both involve imagination and overealous fan-ness")
in person tone can at least be picked up, and if people are being intentionally demeaning than it can be called out on. but online, tone is harder to pick up. i prefer to assume people are not being jerky just because it makes me life easier. heh.

If you don't have another hobby, what is your opinion on how those comments affect the BJD community? I dont think the comments effect the community. it might effect individual members, but the group as a whole would survive :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? not really. we've used hobbies as a reason to defend not doing other things though. like sports. or kids.

Do you think that attitude is justifiable? Why/Why not? humans are naturally comparative creatures. we like to know how we are the same, or diffrent, than those around us. *shrug*

 

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

I have many hobbies.

If yes, what is it?

Well, I am a gamer and an otaku, as well as an avid reader. I collect many things including (but not limited to) books and video game and anime figures. I also write poetry... and fanfiction. I guess you could also say arts & crafts in general...

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

Well, I've pretty much always had hobbies that other people don't understand, so it doesn't bother me.

If you don't have another hobby, what is your opinion on how those comments affect the BJD community? n/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?

I don't get along with real people very well. The one friend that I do have in real life thinks it's cool that I "play with dolls" but doesn't really have any hobbies that I know of.

Do you think that attitude is justifiable? Why/Why not? not sure what this question is asking.

 

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

If yes, what is it?
Well, this is less of a hobby and more of a career prospect, but I am a drummer. I play 40K as well, but that's slacked of as of late due to college and other things. (And my Space Marine army is all complete!) I'm also into Gunpla, which for those unfamiliar is plastic Gundam models. Those I plan on using in future photostories...giant robots and dolls make for interesting prospects to me. I also do a lot of writing.

How do comments such as the above affect your experience in the hobby of your choice, and in the doll collection hobby?
They really don't, since it's a doll collector's way of validating their choice of hobby and giving themselves strength. It's like when I tell people that some folks listen to this or that kind of music, and I listen to the other kind. I'm not putting anybody down, I'm building myself up. Basically, it's a matter of pride, which you should always have in your hobbies lest you see yourself wondering why you're paying so much for it.

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, because of reasons I'll outline below. My girlfriend and her love of drawing and video games is very supportive of my interest in dolls, thinking that it's a pretty nifty thing to get into. When the two of us start living together, it'll be a joint hobby for sure.

Do you think that attitude is justifiable? Why/Why not?
No, because that's just not the way you do things. Hobbies aren't competitions, they're stuff you do to have fun. When you start flinging words around to make one seem more "legit" than the other, it stops being fun and starts being a chore. Dolls shouldn't be a chore, they should be loving things!

 

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

If yes, what is it?
I have more than one another hobby: photography, historical reenactment, fantasy dress creation, etc.

How do comments such as the above affect your experience in the hobby of your choice, and in the doll collection hobby?
Sometimes it's hard to explain to people who share my other hobbies with me, that dolls are serious hobby, too. So I just don't tell them about bjd to not to listen another "Phh! You aren't twelve years old, aren't you? Why DOLLS?"

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. If someone don't understand that everyone can have a hobby that may look weird or too expensive or something to someone else... well, I don't think I can (and have right to) explain it to him/her.

Do you think that attitude is justifiable? Why/Why not?
Any hobby means to be something you have fun from, not a reason to start a fight. Especially with someone you love.

 

My hobbies are drawing, painting, watching anime, chat with friends, listen to music...
My friends know my hobby and a lot of their think that BJDs are interesting. Somebody think that they are gorgeous

 

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

Yes.

If yes, what is it?

Playing video games, watching anime and films of all sorts, writing, reading, playing guitar, and messing around with computers.

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. I have a lot of nerdy hobbies in general. People are actually more likely to comment on the fact that I'm a gamer. Why? 1) I'm female, 2) I'm nearly 30, and 3) Gaming is my main hobby. People think I should be doing something else I guess. I don't know. Dolls is probably the most "girly" hobby I have so people don't comment on it.

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

It's hard to see that, honestly. Why? I just can't imagine having only 1 hobby. I never have. It's nice having multiple hobbies, because then when one gets boring for a while, you can focus on another. They all stay fresh and interesting. And if you let people bother you about your hobbies with their comments, you really need to learn how to ignore people.

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 husband actually shares a lot of my hobbies. Pretty much the only ones he doesn't is writing and playing guitar. He's a musician himself, he just plays brass instruments. He loves dollies as much as I do, so no problems there. No need to defend anything I do to him. As far as others... if people don't like what I do, I really don't care.

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

Their attitude? People are allowed to think what they want. And I'm allowed to ignore them and go about doing what I like.