Calling BJDs "It"

I don't think I've ever called a doll 'it', even when talking about joints or sculpting or other things relating to dolls that focus more on them as 'objects'. They just have such obvious sexes that it doesn't feel logical to refer to them as 'it'. On the other hand, even my androgynous-bodied Soom Ai has an 'obvious' sex to me, so maybe there is more to it that just the body

I don't think I'd be annoyed if anyone else called my dolls 'it', though - especially as some people honestly have trouble telling what sex a doll is (even if that makes no sense to me, since most of my dolls are Super Gems - not exactly the most gender-neutral of dolls!).

 

Depends.... If I'm discussing a doll as an object, for example, joint structure, or why I collect them, it becomes an "it". If I'm discussing dolls in terms of characters, then I use the appropriate gender pronouns. I have one gender-neutral doll who's character is also quite undecided in that sense, but I default to using male pronouns for his character too because, no offense, but the gender-neutral pronouns made up for the english language are just.... dumb. I'd rather default to a gender than have to use one of them.

In Russian, the default gender for a doll is a "she", so it's even more awkward when trying to talk about a boy doll... saying "he is a doll" just isn't grammatically correct (not to mention, sounds funny), but then what do you do when the doll (and the character) is obviously a boy? I keep garbling up the gender pronouns when talking to my grandmother about them because I can never stick with one and referring to my boy doll as a "she" just doesn't sit well with me.

 

That's simply awful! There's a very strong bond between me and Louis, so that I can almost perceive him as a real person. Thus, calling him it would be like degrading him back to an object. Which he's clearly not. When talking to non-owners, I can do with reffering to him as "dollie" instead of calling him by his name, as that tends to create confusion. Still, that's as far as I can go. No it for me. It's him. And he happens to have a name, too.
Still, I have to admit it's everybody's right to call their dolls however they wish to. Still, it's so frigid, can't help myself! Where has all the love gone?

 

I never use 'it' when talking about a specific doll. bit if I'm talking about dolls as a whole using singular terms instead of plural. I generally use 'it' dunno why....or if that even makes sence D:

 

People confuse my doll's gender. He's intentionally androgynous, though, and it doesn't bother me if he's mistaken for female. "It" would be less likable but I wouldn't complain at people for it. I don't call my dolls "it" but it doesn't bother me when people do, really. People do the same thing with pets and sometimes even babies when they don't know their gender!

 

I think there are some dolls that are an It. most of them you can tell...but some times with gender spliced heads its hard not to. Normally I just say he/she if I'm under sure :3.

 

I think 'it' refers to the doll it's self as an object. It's a doll. He/She is what you do to the doll and make it. That's why female-bodied dolls can be male to their owners, and vice versa. That's what they make them, so that's what they are. Until you start assigning your ideas to a doll I think they're its, and can quite possibly remain its if that's what you prefer.

 

I have a hard time calling anything that's been given secondary gender characteristics an It. These dolls are usually clearly meant to be representations of males and females, so I call them He or She, much to the consternation of my mother, who feels you shouldn't apply such pronouns to something that isn't alive.

 

I think I've referred to some creepy porcelain dolls as "it" before, but never BJDs. They have genders, the same as people, and so they get called "him" and "her."

 

When I talk to people who also collect BJDs, I use s/he. Anyone outside of the hobby tend to get a little creeped when I refer to them like that, so I tend to use 'it' in every other situation.

 

I don't call my doll "it", I use she. I wouldn't be offended if someone called my doll an it, especially if the person wasn't a doll person. I can see how that might seem odd to people! I'd probably be a bit confused if a doll person referred to my doll as an it since my doll is rather obviously female, but I wouldn't be angry or anything. I'd feel weird calling her an it though, while of course she isn't alive she is more important than your average inanimate object!

 

I personally use she or he for my and other people dolls because i'm a lot attached to them and its part of my personnality, if I can say in that way.^^

But I don't mind if people call them using "it" because at the start dolls are innanimate objects and I totaly understand some people are not that attached or just don't use this word for something else than human/animals etc^^

 

I think I've accidentally called mine 'it' a few times.

Otherwise, if a doll has an obvious sex, it's 'he' and 'she' unless it's supposed to be called an 'it', not being either of those.

 

When there is a slip of tongue, I sometimes address BJDs as 'it' and I will feel so guilty and change it to what I believe is the correct gender (imagine if some dude said 'it' then change it to 'her' then the angry owner answer that the correct gender is 'him'). They need some form of respect. Anyway, that's how I treat my stuff toys too.

 

I would have to say I would use either. Him or her is fine but there have been times when i have used 'it' interchangably. basedon the fact that this is an object ansd not a person, I am quite sure that their feelings won't be hurt.

 

{I would like to hear the answer of someone whose first language is one of those that have masculine and feminine attached to most words.} Whether it is too high a people-pleasing level in my personality, or just some kind of sensitivity to another person's perceptions...I would be more likely to call a doll it when around "outsiders" -- and careful to respect the love of a collector for their dolls. In that case I would try to remember the dolls name as well as it's sex.

Mostly I use their sex as they are male or female in some sense -- some more than others. Hah.

But in an unknown sentence speaking in general terms I might say IT​ for a single doll. If speaking of a group, I'd probably think of the word them. I guess them is not a humanized word though...

 

In internets I usually call Sakarias by name or as "him". However, when I'm home, he is usually "it". Why?

Well, my motherlanguage is finnish. "He" in finnish is "hän". She in finnish is "hän". Already confused? Don't be, we simply don't have gender to attached to the word refering to a person. That's why it's a pain translating finnish stories to english because there is lot of cool stuffs you can do with androgyn "hän". So "he/she" is "hän", and "it" is "se". Technically, you should use "hän" from people. But in spoken language in part of Finland I live, majority of people use word "hän" only when they talk in situation which needs formal language, when they refer puppies, kittens, babies or something other cuddly and cute or in random situations. To most people, we simply refer as "se" aka "it". Older folks don't like it too much, but that's the way it works. Is it disrespectful? Maybe, but it's not like we would care.

So, we come to a question: why I would refer an object with "hän", as I don't use it usually even with living people? I do use "hän" many times with other peoples dolls though, probaply out of respect.

 

in italian there isn't "it", anyway when I write in english about my doll I use "she" because she's a girl. I don't think it's weird......

 

I call it "doll" most of the time, and "it" sometimes, "he" only if I describing the gender of it to someone.

 

I only use 'It' when talking about doll as a general, or dolls that still in parts or not formed. I do feel guilty about it though. It's only he or she for me most of the time