'Cabinet Babies' or Playthings?

Mine stay on display, out of the sunlight on an L-shaped desk in my room. About once a month I go through and change something, whether is making some new clothes or a new display set-up, and of course I usually have one or two on the workbench for pattern-making or clean-up. With 20+ dolls I find its easiest to do a clean-up when I'm ready to change someone's clothes. I don't really feel like I play with them. I feel like I 'mess' with them. Fuss with them. Except at doll-meetups, then I play. All the rest of the stories happen in my head.

I don't fear to take them out and about though. I think if I kept them all inside all the time, I wouldn't enjoy them as much.

 

Well, I have a collector's mentality. I like hoarding things and the knowledge of ownership makes me...not happy, but pleased, at least. My family doesn't really understand, as while I would like to have shelves and shelves full of books, they'd rather just go out and borrow the ones they want to read from the library.

I think the difference between me and other collectors though, is that I like to collect things for their usefulness to me. So while some people like the actual act of ownership, I derive pleasure from the knowledge that when I need to use/play with/modify something that I own, it's right there.

A good example: Comic book collecting. I have a friend who is very into it and the hobby has always vaguely intrigued me. When I asked him how often he read the comics, though, I was surprised to learn that he rarely did. Now for me, I would want to hoard the comic books so I could read them again and again. Their value would hold little significance to me.

I think it's the same way with BJDs. Some people have the traditional collector's mentality. They like to own them. And it is that pleasure which drives their interest in collecting. The knowledge that they have pristine, well-cared for dolls that are highly expensive is the motivating factor.

And there is nothing wrong with that.

But for me, if I'm going to spend my money on something and invest the emotional output needed to form an attachment, I will take pleasure from knowing that I can play with my dolls at any moment. If I wasn't "allowed" to touch them it would take all my enjoyment away.

So I guess it really depends on what kind of satisfaction you are seeking.

 

Oh I love taking my guys out and about, to meet-ups, on holidays and to friend's houses. I've got some of my best pics that way because they look different in different environments.

When i'm at work they sit on a pet-bed-sofa covered by a blanket to avoid the sun's rays. I don't have a cabinet, but i don't think i'd want to put them in one if i did.

They're definitely not for display to me, they're always for play and if that means they get dirty sometimes or i have to get bits of their faceup redone (which i already have!) so be it.

 

I tend to treat mine as both, more cabinet babies if I simply don't have time for them anymore. But when I do have time, I love to take 'em out, dress 'em up, take photos, etc. I love doll meets, having them pose with other dolls, I think that's the best fun I can get out of my dolls. But if they have a really precious, delicate outfit that I wouldn't want to tear or mess up, I would not take them out as often (or just change them into more durable clothing). I have no problems cleaning my dolls with some water and soap, but I would never give them to a small child to play in a sandbox, yaknow? Just... all in moderation.

 

Right now I don't have space in my room to set them out and display them or anything. So they just sit in my closet hidden away from everyone. For the moment I prefer to keep them tucked away because 1) there's a lot of people coming through the house here and I don't need grabby hands all over them and 2) I have two dogs that aren't always the gentlest and I'm afraid of them thinking "OOOHHH CHEW TOY!"

Once I get some space high up and outta the way from rambo dogs in my room I know I'll do a lot more with them. So right now their kinda both in about the same aspects. If I didn't "play" with them I wouldn't see the point and in having spent all that money just to have them sit there and look pretty. That's just not my thing.

 

I feel kind of silly getting something poseable and then not at least periodically changing its pose (I guess pose rotation helps avoid dust on figures I have anyhow.) so I see BJDs as playthings or at least, not something I'd put in a glass display never to touch again. Maybe this is just a little reactionary to people who ask "Well, what does it DO?!" when they are perplexed by my doll interests. They pose better than a barbie doll, that's what xD

 

doll can be seen in both view like some of the responder here say. but i personaly see doll are things you play with, they're are so fun playing with, make them dress up the way you want t.hem to...hehehe. personaly i think they are useless if they are just ganna be stored away in the cabinet or something, it better to play with them then let them sit there and gather dust. it fun carrying your doll around and have people admired it then just let them sit at home. also i think that its really creepy to keep them in a cabinet, and let it just sat there, it make me feel that they dont have a soul or something. imagine your doll sat there and stare at you throught the glasses.....-_-...

 

I both display AND play with my dolls. I do photostories and pose them, changing their clothing...but I sure as hell wouldn't cart them around (for example) a sales room. First off, I'd be afraid to lose a wig, shoe, earring or something. Second, I would want both hands free and think it'd be incredibly cumbersome...third, and really the least of my concerns, is that the faceup would be damaged if I dropped it. I just don't 'get' why people would want to risk damaging something that is obviously so special to them, and that they invested quite a chunk of change into.

Bottom line though, is isn't it all relative? My view of 'play' and another person's view of 'play' can be totally different...but if we are both playing in the way that is most comfortable for ourselves, it doesn't really matter if it's on the shelf or off. Enjoyment is enjoyment.

 

Naturally, owners can treat their dolls however they wish, but in this case I'd definitely side with "playthings." Cabinet babies do not need extensive joints, do not need as much durability, do not need to have changeable clothes, do not need a skeleton!

Almost anything can serve display only duty--it just needs to not fall apart from its own weight. Not so many items can "do" things (flexible posing, easy customization) and still survive rough(-ish) treatment out in the field.

 

Definately play things because my inner-child won't let me lock them away in cabinets! I'm definately careful with them and I make sure they are kept in a dark room when not getting any attention, but I don't think twice about dragging them outside and carrying them around in public with me, hauling them onto planes (hand luggage of course!) when I go on holiday, bringing them to friends houses, etc. If they yellow, they yellow. They will do that eventually anyway no matter how hard you try to protect them from sunlight and stuff. That's just my way of enjoying them, but I can understand that some people get just as much pleasure from simply looking at them, so if you want to lock them in a cabinet, fair do! ^_^

 

I enjoy owning dolls, and I enjoy having beautiful, appealing sculpts, and buying things for them. By "play," I change their clothing, wigs, eyes - I paint them, give them tattoos, whatnot. I enjoy taking photos, posing them. But I would not take them everywhere with me, or physically play with them as toys. I wouldn't want to damage them, have them yellow unevenly, have others excessively touch them, have them become grungy or dirty. I took my first and most inexpensive on a trip once, but she never left the hotel room. (There's too much to do, and not enough hands, without lugging a doll around!)

I have them in my closet, but they each have their own corner, which I have decorated as a small room - they have chairs, dressers, drinks, accessories, even potted plants! The closet is more theirs than mine! This is how I enjoy my dolls - gently, admiringly. I 'play" with them at least once a week - to change an outfit, clothing to be more season appropriate (jackets, turtlenecks), wig, new eyes. When I do not "play" with them, they are essentially on display. I find this a very practical way to enjoy them, and it makes me happy, and essentially, that's all that truly matters.

To be honest, to each his own. What an owner does to an item he/she has bought is their own business; I am entitled to my own opinions about their choices, but nothing more.

 

Well, I have other dolls (Barbies, Pullips, Tonners...) which are in a cabinet. But BJDs are for playing. Obviously, not for playing as a child, but I think that sewing for them, taking photos, creating a character... All that is a game. And this is something unique that you can do with BJDs but not with the other dolls. You can give them a personality, a history, and you can re-do once and again, till you want.
Of course there is not a proper way of "playing" with your dolls. Each person has its own idea. For me, this is the only way.

 

for me it´s not the money that i spend with them, the most importand thing is the time that i spend, money is easy to get, but time is limited so i don´t spend my precius time to keep them in a showcase, thats why like see them like something to play with.

I collect anime figures too, that kind of static figure are for a showcase, but not my bjd!!(well wiht some of my anime figure i use to play too, buit that because i love toys)

 

I've always looked down on people who keep toys in boxes and never play with them. That's not what they were made for (unless it's one of those special collectors barbies or something) toys are made to be played with.

BUT BJD's are not toys. I understand perfectly well when people want to keep them for display, especially since getting my Delphine i treat her like she's made of glass! So i guess for me it's the rariety issue. I tend to treat my standards like toys and i'll play with them, put them in trees, do those daring poses and shots other owners would be horrified to think about (cliff face alone?) But with my limiteds i'm just so concious because i know they can never be replaced.

 

I think I'm more of a collector than something else. I don't like to bring my dolls to meet-ups, don't like it if people constantly touch them. Most of the time, my dolls spend their time in a closet, kept away from sun and dust. I'm very careful with them and am almost paranoid about the yellowing. I do take pictures of them, look at them in awe regularly, but really 'play' with them, no, that's not my thing. I like to write about them, look for props that define their character, though.
It doesn't matter to me if the doll is limited or not, it's expensive no matter what. I'm careful with them, 'cause they mean a lot to me.

 

I'm still pretty new, so things may eventually change, but I keep mine out. They stay on top of a dresser in my bedroom with a couch and shelves and things for them, and I always have them posed reading a book or playing on their laptops or something. I change poses or at least touch them at some point every day, and take pictures at least once a week. I've taken them to a friend's house, and Riddick to work and out shopping before.

As expensive as they are, I still don't think I'd enjoy them as much if I didn't do things with them. I'm careful with them, but still I enjoy taking them outside for photos and changing their clothes (not that I have many clothes for them yet) and even sometimes sitting with them beside me on the couch.

My ipod and camera were both more expensive than Riddick, and no one thinks twice about me carrying my ipod around in my purse all the time, or hauling my camera around Walt Disney World or outside or wherever - I guess because those are meant to be used. To me, BJD's are meant to be used, also - that's why they're so poseable and customizable and have so much personality. It doesn't bother me one bit if people prefer to keep their dolls in a cabinet behind glass and just look at them, or even to keep them perfect in their boxes on a shelf, if that's what makes them most happy. For me, though, I'm happy with them out and able to be played with.

I also collect Hallmark Christmas ornaments, and have TONS of those, but recently I've kind of wondered why I bother. They're awesome, and beautiful, and fun, and I love them. And they sit in boxes the vast majority of the year taking up space in my storage building, and take HOURS to put up and take down each year, which I dread, and hardly anyone ever sees them but me. Dolls are more fun.

 

I feel guilty if I don't do something with mine, at least every few days. Now that I'm making jewelery for them, I do tons with them, but they for the most part stay in this neat travel bag my best friend (she's Orca on the boards here) made me for my birthday.

It's butterfly themed, with cushions and padding all around, plus bags to put their clothing in. It's fairly cozy, and it keeps them secure until I come home from work to take them out. The bag stays by the foot my my bed, mostly.

 

Well, I've been playing with dolls all my life!....I don't have a cabinet big enough to fit them in!....you'll find them all over my house, popping up here and there!.....I'm forever changing their clothes and wigs for photo shoots, they do get grubby...but I enjoy cleaning them up and giving them new face-up's. ABJD's are the Ultimate doll find for me, I just can't put them down...I guess I'm a dolly player.... And proud of it.....

xen

 

my plans for my dolls make them more of play things. although i guess you could say ill be somewhere in the middle. i have looked at tall black cabinets with glass doors and talked to my step dad (who owns a wood shop) about making me small wooden railings for the top and bottom of the cabinet doors, so i can make usable curtains im paranoid (already, and i dont have them yet) about them yellowing, but dont want them locked away in the closet. i want to be able to keep them in a glass cabinet so they can stay dust and pet hair free, and i can still see them, but i also want the option of closing the cabinet curtains incase i want to let some sunlight in my room without harming my dolls

but i will be taking them out to play with pretty often.

 

I believe in playing with my boy, partly because I can't otherwise justify the money spent. When I first opened Yurii up, I really didn't know how else to bond with him other then by dressing him, posing him, taking pictures, and showing him off to my friends (two of which have made vehement vows to own one XD) I can't just change his clothes once a month and leave him on display, he'd have no character and no place in my life if he wasn't played with. I'd be better off selling him then. So today he took his first campus bus ride, was manhandled and groped by my friends, and was photographed (also by them) within an inch of his life, and (I at least) had a great time XD

(Admittedly, Yu-chan isn't so happy about all the groping and friends shouting to the crowded bus, "YES he is anatomically correct!!" But he did like being photographed ^.^)

So yeah, I'm a leniant doll owner- I don't mind if he gets dirty, everything does eventually, I'll just clean him up. And as long as they're good friends, people can hold him, pose him themselves, and generally enjoy playing with him as much as I enjoy having him