BJDs in a poor community - thoughts?

I totally agree with April on this one. For example, when I have a large party at my apartment I usually put my dolls away in the bedroom. I trust and love my friends however, I think the situation calls for it. I don't like the idea of reminding people (who might be rather tipsy) that the dolls are "fragile" or creating a "be super careful" zone in my flat. It just seems like the logical thing to do.

I always found threads where people discussed public mishaps somewhat funny because they described situations that are totally avoidable. Adults are accustomed to being permitted to touch "toys", and I am sure that our dolls can look like that. Most people don't imagine that a doll that is not displayed behind a piece of glass is worth 300+ dollars, so it's natural that they might reach out and hold it or caress the face and hands. If your doll is customized or presented in a way that results in them judging it as pricey (like a crazy complex frilly dress and lots of props and accessories) they might ask the price simply because they are impressed. No harm intended, but maybe not the situation you are wanting with every acquaintance you have.

My suggestion is buy your doll and keep it put away when receiving many guests or keep it out of a high traffic room in your place. If you really want it out for display, say it was a gift and give the impression that it's not precious because of cost but because it was a gift. Don't call attention to it being in the room with you and perhaps keep it up high to give the impression that you like to keep it safe and away from casual contact.

 

double post.

 

The OP is doing missionary work. She stated that so it's understandable that she can't move. She is choosing to live with poor people. Anyway, paying rent monthly is far more expensive than most BJDs.

 

Exactly what I was going to say At the end of the day, some people will choose to live in a "poor" area over another for not just financial reasons. Maybe they have friends or family nearby, maybe their kids are settled in the local school, maybe the commute to work is shorter, maybe they simply enjoy the grittiness of the area. I don't live in a very expensive place, but I enjoy living there nonetheless, especially as the lower mortgage allows me to afford dolls. HoushiChan, I'm finding your viewpoint rather narrow and judgemental here.

 

OMG
I live in a very mixed neighborhood. The old Victorian house next door was bought as a fixer-upper by a nice Yuppie couple, while on the other side is a house converted (oh, like MINE) into apartments. My apartment is nothing fancy at all. We are close enough to downtown that I make sure to never advertise any goods likely to be stolen (not BJDs, no one knows what their real worth is) but TVS etc. I live here because I prefer spending MY money on dolls & conventions rather than rent & especially rather than buying a house & having to fix it etc etc etc – what a headache at my age!
Don’t judge! Probably the best advice anyone can give.

 

I think that where ever you live this can be a problem. I know that where I live would be considered a rather wealthy area people still get very shocked by the price of my dolls. But I think no matter how much money you have you should be entitled to spend what money you do have just as you wish. If you really love dolls then you should be free to spend money on them and enjoy them

 

for Isenn and april. I could say more but they've already cut to the heart of the matter. Rich or poor, no matter just treat yourself and your belongings with respect and only share them with folks who will do the same.

 

Echoing what most people have already said, but basically just don't bring up the cost and just mention she/he's really fragile.

I'd honestly just keep it in my room or put him/her away when expecting guests if I were in that situation.

You might be able to get a piece of furniture to aid you? We have something like that in our house, the bottom is a dresser with drawers, but the top is a wardrobe sort of thing with doors that open and lock. It has a larger open space for a small TV and then a couple thin shelves.
Ideal for doll display, storage, and hiding?
This is the closest image I could find, but ours is a much older design.
It'd love something like the image below.
http://img.archiexpo.com/images_ae/photo-g/contemporary-corner-wardrobe-11219-3138685.jpg

 

I never let anyone know I have anything expensive. People are getting robbed left and right where I live,so my dolls are hidden in my closet. You have the right to buy anything you want with your own money no matter where you live,but I would be very careful about letting people know what I have.

 

Like others have said, you can simply just state that they are very fragile. ( Though you may want to keep an eye on that. I let my niece play with one of my tinies, she was 2 at the time, and I really didn't mind it, but she shook the doll making her "dance" and her wig and headcap flew off! Her mom freaked out and thought it was broken, and I had to explain that it's supposed to do that. xP )

As for the price, I was recently at Wal-Mart and saw an articulated Bratz doll that had to have been over 70cm, it was very tall, and it was $35. So unless you state it, people will probably figure it's something like that.

 

Im very sorry, I posted this prior without understanding the situation. I was thinking of a more specific sort of lower income neighborhood we have in my area and that may have skewed my judgment. Everyone in my area knows that in this one area, if you have any money to burn, you get our of there because there are literally hasn't fights weekly at a lot of corners. I want trying to judge people for doing what they wanted with their money, I was just misunderstanding what the poster meant by "poorer" area.

I think its wonderful you're doing mission work. there's no greater joy in life than by living for the sake of others.

 

So basically... some of yah'll believe you shouldn't have anything nice...til you get on out of the "poor neighborhood.." ( no names here)
This sort of thing bugs me to no end. I'm not rich. i'm below poverty level.. i like in a "bad" place...but my kid, is healthy, clean and has more toys than she can play with... i scrimp, save and starve...( well not really but not buying lobster!) to get my dolls. Moving is not an option for me. I live in such a small town, there are no places open, unless SOMEONE DIES. -.- so. i was lucky to get this one bedroom apartment.. with ghetto ( think traditional fights, drug use ect) people around me. but i keep my head down.. and i do what i can. So i can't " move up" Nor will i sit there, and deny my hard work.. to get an item i adore.. cherish and keep close to me. I have few joys in this life. one is my daughter, the other is my dolls. I have no shame in telling people about them. Everyone here knows i have them. I don't tell people how much they are.. because it is not their business what i spend my precious little money on.

 

If this is about me, im really sorry. Im not saying "you cant". I mean, based on my family's income and size, im at poverty level, yet im still in the hobby honestly, im probably sounding very ignorant and stupid. Its really not that you can't have nice things just because you're not rich. I'm just trying to raise a c concern for prioritizing what is important in your life. Of course peoples priorities are their own, but I was just trying to state an opinion. I'm really sorry that im upsetting people and sounding like a jerk but that is my feelings. I'm not against people with less money having dolls. I'm just trying to say that the doll hobby should not be affecting your living conditions.

Once again, im very sorry if im upsetting others I dont want to sound rude or judgemental, that really wasnt my intention at all. I dont know how I can apologize any more...

 

Many of us do it this way here :-)

We are proud of you and us :-)

 

I don't like to let others know the cost of my hobbies anyways. There will always be people who think what you spend your money on is stupid or frivolous regardless of where you come from or your income level. Some people have $50,000 cars or $5000 TVs in every room of the house. I'd never do that, but that's my opinion. As long as you manage your money right, you are free to spend it however you want When it comes to income, I have friends who complain about never having money, but then go buy $100 worth of clothes every weekend. Obviously there really are people out there who don't have enough to get by, but I think a lot of people simply make poor spending decisions. But that's their choice.

It's like others have said, you don't have to tell anyone the true cost of your hobby, and if you enjoy it you shouldn't let it make you feel guilty.

 

@Shandrel: Most of us won't think that you can't have a doll like this when you're not living in the proper area or have tons of disposable income to spend. We all have to save up for our dolls (sometimes even years). Personally, I love the sense of satisfaction you get when you're finally able to get the doll you've been working so hard for.

Back to the topic:
I agree with April. I used to live in a lousy neighborhood, but recently I've moved to an area with nice people. No matter where I live, I'm not going to say that I have this collection in my house worth several thousands (or whatever). It just doesn't feel very sensible to do so. People I care about, know about my hobby. For others, it's just none of their business.

As for doll breakage: I think it's my own responsibility to keep them safe. That's why I tell people not to touch my dolls or ask me if they want to see them closer. I have a cat, so I keep my resin bunch safely stored away on top of a cabinet, anyway. You'll need a chair if you want to reach for them, so I'm not too worried that they get knocked over, or their face-up gets smudged.

No matter what area you live, these are expensive, fragile items and it's best to use common sense when dealing with them.

 

I think that a person's economical place shouldn't be a factor in determining what they should like and dislike. It's their money, and they can save and spend it as they want. Also, chances are a lot of people won't know how much a doll costs, and, unless you go around telling them, it probably won't come up. And if it does, just let them think what they want. And as for hiding it, where I live it's easy just to put my dolls in another room, and since most people don't think of me as a doll collector they rarely ask to see my dolls; except in the cases where I bring them up.

 

I live in a lower income area...9 years ago, my husband and I were barely scraping by on one welfare payment (he wasn't eligible due to no residency) and I was looking at dolls when I could barely afford a low end second hand PC.

Now we still live in the same area, we have been burgled and have since taken more security measures but now I can have dolls and other nice things because we've learned from the poverty line how to manage our money.

I think anyone able to afford this hobby in that situation should be commended, purely because they recognise that a person needs to live, not to just survive...and part of living is having "frivolous" things that aren't necessary.

I do however stick strictly by not telling people in my area what my girls are worth, though I don't mind sharing with my coworkers because we're all like that, sharing massive bills or "I just spent X on a bracelet/night out".

At the end of the day, I have something to show for my splurge rather than dropping $400 on the bar on a Friday night

 

Ahhh, I know what you mean. It's not really my neighborhood, though (we just all ignore eachother here for the most part) but more with my friends. I have a lot of friends who are struggling with college, work all the time to get by, and live with other friends since they can't have their ow place, and I always feel bad talking about BJDs when I know they can't afford them, so I only talk about it when they bring them up. Still though, they don't seem to mind much. As for people that don't know the price of the dolls, I don't bring it up unless they specifically ask; I knew someone who refused to tell people the price of her dolls as well, which is understandable.