"Coming out" as a BJD owner?

Its a hobby, and probably comparative in price to many other hobbies. Lots of people have quirky & expensive hobbies. I have three - tattoos, horse riding and dolls So IMO, no big deal, its what I want to spend my hard earned cash on and at this point in my life, I have no debts and no dependents and I can afford it.

I don't get parents who want to put down their children/teens for their interests. Teach them financial responsibility, sure, but don't slam them down for being interested in something artistic and unusual, these dolls are great for creativity and imagination and I see no reason to discourage that in young people.

 

Why do you have to tell them the cost? You've been saving on your own, it's no one else's business what you do with your money. You said you're 21, if they ask for more details just tell them it's personal.

 

^ agreed.

My mum was a little sketchy on me getting dolls. I think it was just because she concerned on the financial drain it would be as it is expensive hobby. However as she put it "It's your money, you're an adult now so its your choice. Its probably a damn site better than spending your money on alcohol binges every weekend like your cousins" ((My cousins get in trouble alot do to drunken behaviour =_=))


My mum is kinda freaked out by the dolls so she ain't keen on them, probably cos I chased her around the house last christmas with a floating head XD. But bottom line its your money and alot of students etc usually spend that sort of money on alchohol over a term at uni or on other stuff. As you know from me saying IRL, my playstation 3, phone *insert electronic devce here* has devalued quicker than my dollies ever will and they are on the same sort of pricing- so they are a better investment than common place spends on electronics. I mean 4 brand new computer games (£160) are the price of a DZ MSD, so when you look at it that way some dolls aren't that expensivea purchase, its just alot of money up front. Its just, I suppose, more the social norm to spend money on games, electronics and drink .

Bottom line: its your money, not your parents. If you parents do complain however its usually cos they'll be concerned about your finances, however you are an adult now so its your choice. When my mum was concerned I just showed her the Market place on DOA, to prove that dolls could be resold off at respectable prices in comparison to technology such as the PS3.

 

My mom was suprized when I first came home talking about dolls, as I've always been more the kind of guy that likes video games and other less girly hobbies.XD However, when I showed them to her she seemed to really like them. She then got my first doll for my birthday.: D She was a little uncomfortable around her for the first few days and then I started to catch her talking to my doll and soon after she got really into kitting and sewing clothing for them.XD

As for anyone else... I love telling people I'm into this hobby. Most people seem to be curious and some look at me like I'm mental... but I really find it kind of fun.8D Everyones always shocked at the prices though.XD

 

I had to own up at the office first, because friends who come over to my house also worked there at the time. They know I sew, so when people asked me what I was making on my break, I told them doll clothing, first for friends with the dolls and then when I was going to get my own, I let people know that I had decided to get one. Outside of one guy who had to be schooled, I didn't have any more reaction than "Oh they are so big, so expensive, so cute!" etc. And when someone asked me where I was going to get the money, I pointed out I worked for a living, in that office. seriously....

My family found out by osmosis from friends, and reacted well. My long time boyfriend was used to the 1/6 dolls, so he had no problems. Then I got the Angelsdoll, Michael doll and now he's acting sort of irritated. I think it's because Miki doesn't look quite as 'dollish' as the others. He calls him spoilt and tells him he thinks to much of himself. I don't say a word about him talking to the doll.

 

I've collected dolls since I was eleven, so it was relatively easy to break the news to my mother that I wanted a ball-jointed doll. I make my own money, so all she said was "Go ahead, just be careful with the rest of your money." She loves my Johnny almost as much as I do now!

 

I found introducing the topic fairly easy - with my friends who I talk fairly frequently to, I just started tweeting about my first purchases, or linking them BJDs on Skype. With my parents and family I started by asking them if they knew what BJDs were, showed them pictures, and forced them to spend a few minutes shopping around BJD sites with me lol. Everyone likes shopping! Some of them were surprisingly enthusiastic about helping me pick out clothes & wigs for my new doll.

 

Thread from 2011 XD
I came out to my roommates and my best friends because it was hard to hide, but none of my aquaintances know about it. Hello no, I'm a professional woman ain't gonna admit that I like to dress and cuddle these +$300 dolls!

 

At first, I was kind of nervous to talk to my parents about it, just because I didn't want them thinking I was a little weirder than they had expected. I've always been a humongous fan of art though, and since I am an artist, my parents were fine with them. My mom still thinks they're creepy haha... But when I told my friend, I somehow pulled her into the bjd void with me!

 

My immediate family has no reaction at all to them. My sister likes them to an extent, but I couldn't see her ever owning one because of the prices. I "came out" on Facebook but didn't make it a big deal. I just posted a bunch of pics of Zenith and said, "Isn't he so cute? And he's mine now!!" And that was it. I got one comment that was a bit like a "," But for the most part my hobby's been a quiet interest that not too many people around here really care much about aside from my wife and I.

It could also be the fact that I've dropped too many bombs on my parents for them to really be fazed by anything I do now. First it was my homosexuality, and then my alternate faith, so collecting BJDs is one of the tamest interests of mine in their eyes, lol.

 

All of my family, friends and acquaintances labelled me as the weird one years ago, so I never hid this hobby. I don't think anyone is surprised by it, and I don't feel the need to hide something that makes me happy and harms no one! Sure, some might find it strange that a grown adult loves these little resin people so much, but that's ok with me.

 

Well, mine is simple. My mom already knew I was into weird stuff (anime) so when I asked her for a doll it wasn't weird. She didn't end up getting it for me, but she is familiar with my dolls now since I walk around the house with them.

 

I've put my first BJD on layaway. I don't think I'll ever tell my mom haha!! But I suppose she'll find out. I have so many hobbies though, I'm sure she'll get used to the idea quick. As long as I don't tell her the price ha!! On the other hand, everyone I've told so far has been pretty supportive. And really, life is too short to care much what other people think

 

I tend to keep my hobbies and a lot of details of my life pretty close to the chest. My friends know I have dolls, but I don't really talk about it. I think the only relative of mine that knows I have dolls would be my little sister. She visits me twice a year so she's seen them before. We've never really talked about them.

I do have friends in the hobby and they're the ones I talk to when I'm excited about dolls because they're excited about them too.

 

I told my husband as we share our incomes and my childhood friend as she also collects. Everyone else finds out when I show them my dolls. My friends are rarely surprised. Apparently they consider me the "whimsical" one.

 

I kinda keep my interest in the hobby a secret for about a year before i got around to telling my mom. Little backstory is, i was a senior in high school when a friend told me about Volks. I instantly fell in love with the idea and really wanted one but the price tag stated otherwise. So i put it on the back burner until i came across another company, resinsoul. They were far cheaper so i continued to look at then and fell in love with the Mei sculpt. I waited a bit longer until my mom and I started talking and the topic just sort of came up. My was a bit suprised at first but said its my money do what I want. Now i have Lorelei, my Mei, and a doll on the way. Just wait until the times feels right.

 

When I got my first, I made sure to tell everyone how customizable they are, that you can sew and craft for them and paint their faces and all, so they are really tied in with arts and crafts, which everyone knows me for.
That way it doesn't come across as just a doll to play with like a child, but more like a creative, artsy thing.

 

I've always admired the hobby since I was 14. The very first company I knew was D.O.D. My family knew how much I adore these kind of dolls and they were totally okay with it. They just keep on reminding me not to dismantle the head like the way I used to do to my Barbie dolls when I was a kid. Took me a while to get my very first BJD and my dad helped me ship her from US to the Philippines through his friend fron New York.

How I actually showed the rest of the world the I'm a BJD enthusiast...

When I first got her. I posted her photos on social media and tell the world how much I loved her.

At work, I bring her to my office every weekend and don't freaking care if my boss laughs at me thinking I'm crazy. I just told her that I'm very happy with my life. Unlike the rest of the people making fun of other because their hobby is different.

Showing her to my friends was easy since I've already introduced her before I even got her.

 

My family aren't surprised, i've been collecting dolls and retro toys since my late teen years and still do so in my 30's. It's simply who I am, I don't recall ever making a big announcement about it. I bought what I wanted and they would have just seen the items I'd bought when I put them on display in my room.

 

I am a grown woman with an 11 year old daughter. My daughter loves my dolls and especially now that I have a Mini Dollfie Dream as the MDD is the same size as her large monster high dolls. My spouse is supportive of my hobby. My only problem is my daughter knows too many details--especially how costly these dolls are--and tends to tell EVERYONE. I really don't need my parents who are both struggling and ask to borrow money from me a lot to find out how much money I'm spending on dolls. It's not their business. Other than that, I got my first doll about 3 months ago and I now have 4 dolls. I have no problems with people seeing or knowing about my dolls. I just don't like to discuss the costs associated. And everyone always asks.