"But its just a doll.."

I don't refer to my dolls as "children" (too young to be a mom, imo), but as my "dolly family" or "plastic roommates".
Of course when it comes right down to it, they are just dolls. But I like to believe they're more than just dolls. When they're sitting in their spots, looking like they're talking or deep in thought. Who knows? They might be leading their own secret lifes.

 

If we had to real them like real children I wouldn't collect them. I treat mine however I want to treat them. Sometimes I stick them back in boxes and ignore them, sometimes I take them out and play, sometimes I like to have them in my sitting room, lolling around like a bunch of friends. I usually refer to them as the tribe.

To me they're movable sculptures, avatars for characters, models for clothing designs, eye candy, cures for writer's block... whatever I want them to be.

 

I actually caught myself talking to them today. I hope it's just because I want to get used to their new names.

Tia got some boots and a bag in the post today - and Puk got a teddy bear and some new eyes - and I actually asked Tia if she liked the boots and the bag. And when I gave Puk the teddy I'm sure I said something too...

Am I going crazy? Narh - I'm alone here during the days, so I guess I just needed to talk to someone... I hope it's that... I do treat them carefully; but not as I would treat a real life baby.

 

I consider Azure "My Friend"...maybe my child.

 

I don't like refering to dolls as "kids". They're important to me, but they're just "my dolls" in my eyes. I'm not sure why, I think it's just a personal thing.

 

i always believe they have souls ^^no matter big or small

 

I don't think of them as my kids, so I don't treat them like kids. They're beautifully sculptured articulated figures, and my creative outlet. Whenever I make something using fabric, I tend to talk to myself. Usually I make soft toys, so I say things to them while I'm sewing on the faces, face = personality, so it helps me to get the right feel for what (or who) I'm making. I've found that I do this with my dolls too, when I'm painting, or making them clothes.

 

to me my dolls are companions, they are based of characters I know and care for and have sometimes known for a very lon time.

but in the end they are dolls, If they had to be treated like children I'd have a problem , I do not have time to play, hug, fidget with them every day (sadly)

 

Err...I'll base this of my first doll, which was a Dream Of Doll D.O.I A&D ver. 1. Cause I never really held one before and because of his amazing height, I considered him my child and that I was 'adopting' him. But my second reason, is because he looked so human like and he was like...a billion time better than the barbies I normally held and I don't think it's at all weird that I treat them that way. Some people ask me this question every now and then when I treat them that way. "Have you turned crazy?" and due to annoyance, I give them a glare before smiling devilishly and say. "Yes" cause what? I do treat them like that. To bad my relationships with my dolls never last and that I always find them on selling sites. Hopefully I'll be able to keep my Homme Kirill.

 

I personally feel that these dolls are close companions of mine, because I often travel around alot and get sick so much, its always nice to know this sweet little guy is always with me when I need it and being that I always appreciate that I find myself call him just by his name and nothing more. It always feel uncomfortable for me to just call it doll, right to its face and calling it my child is just overdoing it, seeing as he looks around ,my age

 

its not just a doll. these dolls are so pretty and you can do so much with them. and they are made better then a regular doll

 

I also see them as pieces of artistic expression. that's why I want one- they're just beautiful, and so customizable. I could never see myself treating one like my child or even as a companion, that's what I've got cats for xD ^.^

 

My mom teasingly called Liina my "baby" but I know its a joke. My DOG is more my baby than a doll could ever be. I tend to call Liina my "boy" or the collective he'll be with the other one that I'm waiting on my "Menagerie" more than anything. I also expect several more over the next few years, so calling them a menagerie would be oddly appropriate. XD

They're pretty much adult-size (and priced) toys, and I treat them that way. I play with them, taking them places, taking pictures of them, and making clothes for them. More than the doll I cherish the character that the doll is based on. I've had the characters for longer than I've even known about BJD's. The characters are pretty much a way for me to enjoy myself without thinking about reality. The dolls are another way of doing that.

 

I can understand the point-of-view on both sides, but I think I see mine more as 'children' than just dolls. (Though you probably couldn't tell since I don't take them out much, haha)

 

Personally my dolls are little physical manifestations of my various book and story characters. I am really attached to them, but I'm even closer to the characters I write. I spent years creating and fleshing them out and I love "bringing them to life" through their face up expressions, clothes and photos. They have personality to me because of who they are to me.

But not children, I can't say they are that dear. I'm a vet student, so I'm psycho ( not to call anyone who considers their dolls their babies crazy, but to me animals are my babies and I AM a little crazy about them...) about all my patients and my pets at home. They are my childen for sure.

 

Child? God no. I mean, I refer to my doll affectionately calling him my boy and I spoil him with toys and stuff, but he is not any sort of child equivalent or substitute. As you said, just a doll, if a very precious one

 

As some have already spoken, my dolls are artistic expressions of the artist and myself. The artist, of course, sculpts the doll but ah... I get to make the doll my 'own', so to speak, by putting the hair, eyes, and clothes I want on her. And I don't think we ever really lose that desire to 'play' and 'imagine' unless we stifle it. Heaven forbid!

 

Personally, I see them as "being" in itself.
I do not consider as an object or an artistic representation, they are more than that for me.

More than Object, but unless people.

They are sublime creature xD​

 

They certainly are not my "children"; I have three children of my own and don't need resin substitutes. Nor are they my "pets"; I have two cats for that. They are beautiful works of art that I enjoy and am frequently inspired by, each of which has his or her own personality - but I am under no delusion that they have souls or that they can speak to me, and if ever I did then I would consult a psychiatrist.

I think it's very telling that doll owners who call their BJDs "children" tend to be younger and more emotionally immature teens, whereas the ones with a more dispassionate, rational attitude to their dolls tend to be older and more balanced.

 

Actually it's quite the opposite among doll owners that I know/know about. But then we have to remember that not all doll owners write in this forum/this topic - far from - so we can't really assume anything looking at the small number of people that wrote here.

I might add that when I say that my dolls aren't my children it's not the same as saying that I have a dispassionate, rational attitude towards them. If e.g. someone says stupid/bad things about them I defend them passionately... Sometimes so much that I surprise my family. So - it's not like I don't have feelings about them; but to call them my children? Never. Then - I have children - some still living at home. Most teens doesn't have children yet - luckily - so when they say that the dolls are their children, they probably don't mean it in the same sense older people do....

I also think that there aren't that many emotionally immature teens here. I've found that teens that collect bjd dolls mostly are quite mature - both emotionally and in other areas. That's one of the reasons that I enjoy to spend time here though I'm a bit older than most people here are.