Do you believe that some owners mistreat their dolls?

People have different desires and different skills. It can be intimidating to customize an expensive doll. Even when I see ones that makes me cringe I have to give them credit for trying and being fearless.

 

It just goes to show "One man's meat is another man's poison." I admire the skill and imagination that goes into the modding and customizing process, but for me, I bought the doll because I love that face and appart from a touch more blush or lip colour I don't think I would want to change them that much at all. I do PLAY I love changing eyes, poses, wigs and clothes and my girls are all fit models. But I do adore them and would certainly rescue them in an emergency (after husband and cat )
It would be so boring if we all felt the same about things, but I do agree that taste is a funny thing sometimes.
Welcome Usada, thanks for sparking off an interesting debate, and I would love to see some pictures of your Dolls.

 

Hey Usada! This thread might help you out too.

It doesn't really bother me. Their money, their property. It makes me a little sad to see a work of art treated that way. But it has nothing to do with me, so I move on.

 

They're called "Dolls" for a reason, and not figurines, not collectables. My dolls are toys; albeit very expensive toys. The only dolls I've ever seen truly ruined are those who've gone through fire damage. As has been mentioned many, many times over the years (take a look through the General Discussion and Debate forums) every owner treats their dolls differently and they have every right to do so.

 

I chop away at my dolls with a scalpel, stick stuff to their faces, and put glue on them. I like being creative with my dolls. Some of them are projects. [edit] I'd like to add that I really like the doll shown in the pictures. Got him just the way I wanted him to be. I can understand people may be shocked by my brutal modding habits, but so far nobody complained to me personally. [/edit]

Taste is personal. One person finds glueing glittery gem stones on dolls horrible and another finds it beautiful. I've seen face-ups and other things that made my skin crawl (both good and bad), but it remains a matter of taste. Some people may not like the "extreme" way some of us play with their dolls, but I've also seen people getting angry at others who have their dolls for display only.
It shouldn't matter whether you "trash" your doll or put it behind glass never to touch it. It's your doll.

 

Everyone treasures their own dolls in their own way. It might not be to your taste or your standards, but that doesn't matter. Truly. It doesn't affect me whether you treasure your dolls or not...so even if I spray-paint my dolls or stick them on the windowsill waving to the people outside in full glare of the sun*, it doesn't affect you and it shouldn't irk you 'cos, with the greatest respect, it ain't none of your business what I do with my dolls

As long as a doll is loved and played with, that doll is having the time of its life. It doesn't matter if the doll has been sprayed tan (although if you're going the tan route I'd recommend dye because spray tan chips around the joints ) or is in 'factory-fresh' condition, as long as you love your dolls, it doesn't matter at all what anyone else thinks.

Welcome to DoA, Usada! I hope you're not put off by some of our more forceful opinions!

*I really wouldn't...but I defend to the death someone else's right to do whatever they like with something they paid big money for.

 

I pose them around, redress them once in a while when I get new clothes/wig/eyes. I DO play with mines. I don't throw them around even though they aren't as fragile. (dollfie dreams) I like to keep them on display most of the time because they look so pretty, and I think ABJD should be noted for their crafted beauty and not treated like a 'cheap plastic toy'.

 

I understand what you meant by abuse...as a generic term.

For me it depends on the cost of the doll really...I am rougher with my PpoPpo than my Baha for example. I will keep my dolls laying out on my desk, but not at the window or where my dogs can get them because that's just careless.

I was raised to respect my belongings, especially the more expensive things. My dolls are for me to enjoy but that doesn't mean I can just do "whatever" with them. I was taught that the way a person treats their property (and other people) is a reflection of the respect the person has for herself...especially if she's worked hard to earn it.

My dolls are my expensive playthings...but it doesn't mean I'm going to let my dogs play with them or let myself drop them unless it's inevitable (I'm a klutz)

 

While I do play with my little darlings I don't take them out as often as I'd like - I don't like to take them on the bus... and they want to visit their friends... which means the bus... so mostly they sit on top of my desk.

 

I was stunned, too, when I first saw extreme modifications on bjds.
After months of looking at a wide variety photographs and after attempting face-ups myself, I am not stunned any more.
Now I am just in awe of modifications that turn out good.
This hobby can really be a form of art.

 

I think that after a while, you come to appreciate what people do with their dolls more. At first, it is shocking, but then you come to admire people's ideas. I think it is most important that people are happy with their dolls.

 

I think that for instans what Muisje did to her doll is clearly art and I admire it even though I wouldn't want to do that to any of my dolls. I like looking at dolls like that though. But I also think that there really are people out there who doesn't really care much and do things that makes the dolls look not only ugly but mistreated. And that does make me sad. (I really doubt that they would care enough to be on DOA though.)

But that's how life is. Some people doesn't treasure their belonging however beautiful and expensive they are. We can't do anything about it so it's best to just let it go and not worry about it. There's still plenty of things to worry about in this world.

Perhaps it's just because I'm older (55) I don't let a lot of these things upset me any more. I feel my life is too short for that.


Dustbunnie

 

Sorry, I also disagree with the opinions of the OP. I think dolls are expensive, true, but I don't consider them collectibles in the sense that preserving them default retains their value. Value, aesthetic, and disrespect are all relative. I wouldn't let someone else get creative with my doll but it doesn't offend me when someone does something with theirs that I don't find appealing. I don't think people should be careless and unintentionally damage their dolls with permanent markers or glue. . but if that's what they want to do and they understand then I don't have a strong opinion about it.

 

i change their clothes constantly, i dont like when things stay too much of the same with them. im always posing them making little actions and storyies as they sit there with me or stand or...well whatever it is they are doing! they are my little companions like a dog or a cat, very comforting and unlivingly loyal lol! they do go through eye and wig changes, mogi has two wigs he shifts through regularly, dosent really change his character to me. i do plan on having a few glue on piercings for Takeshi my incoming migidoll Miho but i dont see that as "destroying" a doll its making a character.

 

I think it's hard to tell if someone just doesn't care for their doll or if they're just making it their own, but I know I've done things to dolls that people would be appalled at (not BJDs, though). Mostly with something like a BJD (or a collector edition Barbie, etc) I end up not wanting to mod it too much because I feel I spent SO MUCH money on it. But I don't mind if other people do.

Even if it makes me want to throw up in my mouth a little, I have to step back and say "Whatever.. their choice."

 

I'm extremely careful with my dolls. I've taken my boy outside a few times, but I try to keep him out of the sun as best as I can. When I'm at home or they aren't with me, they stay in their boxes (I have a lot of pets, and for all that I try to keep my bedroom door closed, they sneak in sometimes and I don't want them unattended with anything fragile) on the bottom shelf of a sturdy book case. I never leave them standing ANYWHERE if there isn't someone nearby to grab them if they start to swagger- I know one little spill likely won't break them, but all the same I'd prefer not to risk it. And, heaven forbid I put them down while at a convention. I'll tote them around until my arm is about to fall off, then take them back to my room and stash them in their boxes before I put them down.

The first 'bad' thing I'd heard about a BJD was a friend of a friend who'se parents bought her a BJD that came default with a blonde wig. She wanted a black wig, so she colored it with sharpie and then put it back on the doll. The poor things head was ruined. I can understand people playing with their dolls and whatnot, but random negligence like that pushes the line for me. I can't imagine ever being that careless with my dolls, especially if it was a gift from someone else.

 

Sometime I really felt bad when I saw people have my dreamdoll that I will never can get it and treat it like an insane toy. I feel very dislike when I see something like this but I can't do anything for that doll. T_T

 

OT: I LOVE the mod you posted. It's an amazing change--I'd love to see it in person (and it's too bad that I don't live anywhere near you; I'd be begging you to show me how you do that ^^.

I think "mistreatment" and "abuse" of dolls is subjective: some people would consider any major modifications to a doll to be "mistreatment," while others would consider the aforementioned sharpie-dye job to be "mistreatment." We pay a lot of money for these dolls because they're well-made and they're meant to be customized in some way. I think the worst "mistreatment" you can give your doll is to buy it and then store it away, never to play with it or do anything with it.

Well, no--the worst mistreatment would probably be deliberately smashing a doll. You can probably recover a damaged doll and modify it to make it new and different. Smashing it to bits would completely ruin the doll, and be a total waste of money.

But in the end, it IS just a doll, and what happens to it is up to the discretion of the owner.

 

Honestly i dont think you can abuse an inanimate object. You either take care of it or you dont. Though everyone has a different outlook on the word 'abuse'.

I dont let some people play with my dolls, but I dont think I treat them like diamonds or children. I pluck them up by their heads, or hang them over my shoulders. I even toss them onto beds, or soft areas. I, by no means, 'abuse' or 'mistreat' my dolls to an extent some might think, but I'm not always gentle.

They ARE toys, to me, at least. I wouldn't take up someone else's doll by the leg, head, hand, hair, clothes...It's just a personal thing.

I guess that might make me a bad doll owner? xD

 

I believe that some owners mistreat their dolls. Rather it be on purpose or accidental. Some people will leave them on the desk or table for long periods of time and never play or at least clean them up.