Do you believe that some owners mistreat their dolls?

I don't think a doll can be abused. Taken to it's barest level, abuse is to willfully use something for which it was not intended. Well, what was a BJD intended to be used for? Art to be admired? Something to play with? Something to tinker with? All of the above?

If a BJD is the blank canvas for all your arty needs, there isn't really any way that an owner can abuse them, because there is no fixed usage terms attached to the doll. Only what is deemed acceptable by the owner.

Is using a sharpie on a doll abuse? I would say no if it is a totally green newbie who knows absolutely nothing about resin...I might say it is if it's a community elder who should really know the dangers by now. I'd never mod my dolls (mainly because I don't know how), but I don't consider modding to be abuse, yet some people do. Since abuse is in the eye of the beholder, there isn't a way to judge abuse on a community level. We all have different ideas about what constitutes abuse.

 

I think that some owners may not give their dolls as much attention/love as they deserve, but it's their own choice. I know I always feel bad when I put Dante in his carrying bag, even if it's just for a little while

But as far as being completely physically abusive, I wonder how people can do it. It's like hurting animals to me, they didn't do anything to deserve it. Plus they spent so much on the dolly to begin with.

 

Treatment of a doll is all in the eye of the owner. I treat my girl well, I would like to think, but some other people may see how I treat her as rough or mean. I bought her to play with her and to treat her nicely.
One person may see any doll not handled with gloves and put in a case abusive, but another person may see not playing with your doll as abuse.

 

There is so much debate about what abuse is and is not, so to start off, I have below listed a dictionary definition of abuse, which you can see includes improper use, bad treatment, etc. There is no requirement in the definition that the abuse be inflicted on an animate being. Obviously, the discussion of abuse on dolls is a complex and emotional issue - both because of the very strong connotations of abuse and because of the animate qualities that our dolls have, despite the fact that they are inanimate beings. Because the dolls personify living beings, people have an easier time applying human feelings to the dolls, basically, an anthropormorphization process. We do this to animals all of the time (particularly the cute cuddly ones that look like babies, etc.), which do have feelings, but not necessarily human feelings. However this process allows us to bond with the animal, the doll, etc.

On the other hand, abuse is a very emotionally charged word, especially with instances of child abuse, sexual abuse, etc. etc. While one may argue that one can abuse a doll (which, per the dictionay definition appears to be totally in line with the definition of the word) that does not evoke in me the horror of abuse of a child, a person, an animal.

So, realizing that people are emotionally tied to their dolls and also realizing that abuse is a strong and emotional word, I think it is fair to say that people can treat their dolls in ways that we don't consider to be appropriate - whether that is called abuse, mistreatment, neglect, what have you. I can similarly mistreat my house (which I love) or my car (which I love). With that in mind, what is considered mistreatment by one person would not necessarily be considered to be mistreatment by another person. I have three dogs which I love and which sleep in my bed. I might, in comparison, think that people who don't let their dogs in the house are mistreating them. They may be feeding them, they may be taking care of their health needs, but their standards of care are not the same as mine. This is called a disagreement. It happens.

However, true abuse that results in the harm of a living being - such as a dog or a cat or a child- can result in the person losing the care of or control of that living being and perhaps even being fined or arrested. Which is appropriate!! However, if I decide to mistreat or "abuse" my house, my doll, my car, my dining room table, I have the right to do that and noone can take it away from me just because they perceive that I am not treating it appropriately, whatever appropriately means to them. So, with that said, cringe and bear it, look away, tell your mistreating friend to shut up that you don't want to hear them whine anymore, but you should realize that you cannot stop doll "abuse" if that is the way the owner chooses to treat their own dolls.


a·buse Audio Help /v. əˈbyuz; n. əˈbyus/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[v. uh-byooz; n. uh-byoos] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation verb, a·bused, a·bus·ing, noun
–verb (used with object) 1. to use wrongly or improperly; misuse: to abuse one's authority.
2. to treat in a harmful, injurious, or offensive way: to abuse a horse; to abuse one's eyesight.
3. to speak insultingly, harshly, and unjustly to or about; revile; malign.
4. to commit sexual assault upon.
5. Obsolete. to deceive or mislead.
–noun 6. wrong or improper use; misuse: the abuse of privileges.
7. harshly or coarsely insulting language: The officer heaped abuse on his men.
8. bad or improper treatment; maltreatment: The child was subjected to cruel abuse.
9. a corrupt or improper practice or custom: the abuses of a totalitarian regime.
10. rape or sexual assault.
11. Obsolete. deception.

 

A doll in the purest sense of the word is a toy. Many people have emotional attatchments to their dolls, but once someone makes a purchase it is theirs to do with what they please. That being said, I don't think anyone would pay $200+ for a doll to destroy.

I find abuse to be too strong of a word as well... I love my dolls but to use a word that implies that they are able to go through the same physical and emotional pain as a child or an animal is wrong (I believe.)
Animal abuse sickens me... doll abuse, not so much.

 

I think I take very good care of my dolls. I will leave them lying around, sprawled half naked and bald on a table for a while, but it's not like I'm throwing them in a heap on my bedroom floor.

I take good care of all of my things, dolls or otherwise.

My friends can't get over the concept that I'd like to keep my books in practically brand new condition, because I like them to look nice. But I've spent more on those books than I have on my dolls, so why wouldn't I?

I feel if someone isn't able to have a doll without breaking it in some way (I understand accidents happen, but reading about the hand story up there made me shudder) then they shouldn't have one, period. Unless they don't mind spending $500+ on something they're going to ruin. Then they can go ahead and have all the fun they want. xD;

 

I'm somewhat perplexed at the apparent divide between "well-loved"/dirty with use and pristine/untouched out of carefulness. There is a medium. You don't need to get your doll dirty to love it, you can play with it, modify it, and enjoy it however you like without risking damage or getting them grimy - you can love them and be careful at the same time. Of course people can do whatever they want with their dolls - I don't expect all collectors should treat their dolls with utmost care, but there's a difference between a doll that's been very well played with and a doll that's outright dirty. It's always a disappointment to me to see an owner damage their doll because they 'loved' the doll more than they worried about maintaining its condition.

 

Funny how people are taking one aspect of the concept of 'abuse', as in 'child abuse', but not the other...
like 'drug abuse'. Do some people abuse their dolls in that sense? Either as a dependency to shore up some other inadequacy, or to wield power and influence over others?

Just tossin' that out there as an alternate perspective.

And no, I *refuse* to believe painting every damn dolleh I own with tiger stripes constitutes 'abuse'

 

i believe people don't consciously mistreat their dolls. It can more attributed to forgetfullness, being clumsy, and things like that.

Me? I'm not a very gentle person. Never have been. When I was little, all my jewlery always got messed up because I was alwaying banging into tables and such. I have a high pain tolerance so I tend to forget that it's not the same way with other things. I'm a "sturdy" person so sometimes I have to remind myself that my dolls aren't made of steel and to be more careful. Luckily, I've never had anything bad happen to my dolls...but everything else I break.

Like at a meet a month ago, I accidentally knocked over l33tprincess's zuzu persi. he fell off the chair, his magnetic tail fell off and down 2 flights of stairs! I could have died of shame. Luckily he and his tail were fine and she assured me it was okay but i kept apologizing like...20 times. For the rest of the meet, I sat on my hands. I know I'm not a gentle person so I try to be aware of that and control it.

 

I second that. People will abuse anything...

sadly.

 

But remember, not everybody is you. Your definition of "careful" may differ wildly from somebody else's. Your idea of Careful may be "never take him out of the house", whereas somebody else's idea of Careful is "make sure doesn't fall over the edge of that waterfall he's balanced on".

Your key phrase above is "enjoy it however YOU like" (which I have boldfaced for its salience). So, how do you know what other people like? Some people's way of enjoying their dolls means they risk dirt or damage. Your way of enjoying your dolls does not risk dirt or damage. Which one means more love? Neither.

I personally think it's abuse to dress your doll in bell-bottoms, but remember, "enjoy it however you like".

Wow, now THAT'S abuse.... Calling people 'stupid' because they play with their toys differently from the way you play with them. I really thought this whole Internet Revolution thing would cure that kind of blindness, but apparently not.

 

I am really confused, now you've totally lost me, i understood what you were saying until then. How exactly is dressing your doll in bell-bottoms abuse? Please could you explain and possibly elaborate on your statement.

 

It was a joke, because I find bellbottoms hideous.
Sorry, I can't really elaborate much further on that. But I can try, if you're still foggy on it.

 

I speak from the experience of being accused ( as face to face as online and international can get) of abusing my dolls ( even sexually), because I submerged them in water for a photoshoot . I wasn't asked why I took the risk but they "hoped" I took them apart and dried them properly. Admittedly I set some of them out to seemingly sunbathe face down and naked and took a shot and of course let everyone know that they dried very carefully in the tropical sun. Not true but I was irritated to be question on the care of my dolls. None of my accusers lived with me or near me (I checked) to see how I spoil and pamper my dolls near as much as my children. The shot took all of one minute to take after two minutes of laying them out so that none fell or rolled etc. I take my dolls out in the sun but not all of them. I have a couple that I try not to have in the sun for longer than necessary because they would become Martians. Still they are affected by the climate of where I live. I have learned that a tan doll doesn't have to see any sunlight to fade or begin to change color. Unfortunately there is nothing I can do about it. My home is not centrally air conditioned nor can I afford to constantly run a huge fan in the room I designated for them, especially since electricity gets expensive if I even bake cookies. And believe it or not a dark closet or bag or box in this climate isn't much better.
Do I let my kids play with them? Yes. They each own a doll that they worked hard for. My youngest is 5. While not able to go out and work, each one of them worked hard to earn the right to have one, and take really good care of them. I don't want to say tha no one can abuse a doll, they can but who are we to judge them on what they do with it. In the end if it comes down to a choice between life or the doll, I choose life over what is essentially an object that, even if irreplaceable, is not a substitute for life. I have no intention of ever letting go of my dolls. So while I don't stress about their Marketplace value, it doesn't mean I don't appreciate what it cost me to have them and keep them, or the effort the artists made to create them. After all it was the "art" of BJDs that drew me in the first place.

Phew that was a lot but I hope it helps

 

Hmm how interesting....

 

I think mistreat depends on your definition. Mistreat could be: putting them in the sun, not buying expensive enough clothes, not put in a case, handled with gloves, stray wig hairs. ANYTHING really.

People may think I mistreat my dolls. I don't they are way too spoiled in my opinion. Sure, I can't afford to buy them the latest outfit or take them to Dollectable, Dolpa's or any of that, but I love them. In my mind, if they were conscious beings they'd know that.

I don't mistreat my dolls. I just love them too much. They never get taken out for photos unless I feel like it. I don't have the time off to go to meetups so they stay inside. If you were in my room though, they have their own couch, each of them with 2 or more stuffed toys. XD They're spoiled.

I do lend my dolls out. We have a very tight knit group of 3-4 friends who just borrow dolls. I usually borrow so I can do photography for my deviantart.

There is one friend who has no dolls. I let him borrow my Twing Key(Kana). He loves her to death and never has harmed her one bit. I'd never sell any of my dolls, maybe that's why I play with them so much.

People say that is mistreatment, but I honestly believe if you love something so much, you should enjoy it to the fullest degree.

 

mm... that's depends a lot of the person. A person who have a lot of money and can buy a lot of dolls, buy them the most expensive clothes, and things, sure..I'm sure, * I know some persons..* that they can't love their dolls as one who was working so hard and saving money 3 years to buy one, one who makes they their own clothes, cute clothes that fits theirselves ^^ . sure that person , who know that's is a expensive and delicated thing,, will be afraid if someone who never caught a bjd runs over his doll x__D right?
I know a girl, who is a ...fake * I'll just say that* , she was envy for me and my bestfriend, because we * are a bit poor x_D* and were saving almost 3 years to get one dollfie... and she * who have a lot of money, altought she is younger than we* got one on a week. just saying : mom, dad, I want this. So she got a more expensive doll than us, with expensive clothes and complements. ...

What happened then ?
The poor doll is in a box under the bed, withouth makeup and his expensive outfits.

and while? my best friend and me do every day a new clothes for our dolls ^^ they're with us, carefully, but we play with them, we take pics, and we 're happy, we ' use ' them, with care ^^ ♥

 

I think the one who spend a lot of money on something won't try to destroy it. If there are somone that mistreat the doll I think it is not the owner of that doll. But the owner have all rights to do anything to their property, including their doll, I think it's their own business^^"

 

I do think there is a fine line between "playing" and "abusing".

If you're merely playing, a small risk of falling for the length of time it takes to snap a picture isn't too bad.

But if you lay your doll on it's back in your hand and he's floppier than a ragdoll, you have a problem.

 

I don't think a doll can be abused, cause no matter how you look at it, it is still only a doll.
It's all in the eye of the beholder.
I personally won't do weird or crazy things with my BJD's 1. because they have cost me heaps of money, and 2. because I just don't want to.
I don't see it as abuse when somebody 'drops' a doll, only if it wasn't on purpose.
It's still their doll and other people can't do anything about it.

People can dislike the fact that some people do unusual things with the dolls (put them in water for a shoot, drop them, let them have sex with eachother, putting scars on them or just modding them) and they may complain to the owner, but in the end only the owner desides what happens with the doll.

So far for the 14year old dutchie :'D