Do you believe that some owners mistreat their dolls?

I think what it comes down to is that while you can mistreat an inanimate object it just doesn't really matter to anyone else. It is your doll to do with as you please. It isn't like a child or a pet, a living being with feelings, it is a doll. Now if some one mistreated one of my dolls I would be very upset with them and might hurt them, just as if they mistreated my home or my car, these are my posessions which I spent my money on, and you should respect other people's belongings. But just to mistreat your own posession, that is your business.

 

It's entirely possible for someone to mistreat their doll, or to treat it with little or no care. Throwing your doll around, leaving it in the sun or it leaving it lying around isn't abuse, it's mistreatment.

My idea of "abuse" is simple: I think horrible face-ups, badly done mods, poorly drawn tattoos, dolly gender reassignment, and dressing your doll in the latest fashions picked up at BJD Goodwill is REAL abuse.

Before anyone decides to remind me that BJD are meant to be customize, I'll say that I already know that. I'm also aware that BJD are inanimate objects, however my dolls are very important to me. I guess I look at BJD with the sense of if you're going to do something do it right.

[Edit] I just noticed that the word abuse was taken out of thread title. If you object to my use of the word "abuse", I aplogize. Just think of it as a branch of the mistreatment tree.

 

I do believe that some people can treat their dolls roughly. In my opinion, a doll may not be a living thing but someone put a lot of hard work into that doll and I believe something of that value should be treated with some respect, not just for all the money you spent, but also for the person who made that doll for you.

For some reason I've always had a soft spot for toys of any kind, I've had a deep sentimental bond to a lot of toys I own that's lasted from age five to this very day. It's understandable for a young child to mistreat and drag things about because well, they don't know any better and children need something they can rough with because for them they always need stimulation and something that can withstand their romping, adventures and methods of play. When I see a kid with a stuffed animal with matted fur, covered in stains or an action figure with it's paint chipping off, I see a toy that's the obvious favorite, the toy that's been everywhere that child has been and given a lot of love.

I don't know of any BJD owners who are small children. Most of us are mature enough to know how to handle our dolls and the greater majority of us do so. I don't understand why you'd want to mangle up something so beautiful, so expensive. How many people out there buy a new TV or game system and intentionally allow it to be bashed about?
That's what baffles me. Why would you spend $400-800 on a doll just to ruin it? These dolls are supposed to be handled valued treasures, not the average ragdoll or Barbie. We're not children anymore, we can love our dolls without tossing them about, or bringing them places we know they'll run the risk of getting dirty somehow. I think some people just need to grow up and start treating their expensive and valuable dolls as expensive and valuable dolls.

Now here's a thought, would you go dragging a doll around by it's arm or leave it in direct sunlight or on a high shelf where you know it's bound to fall eventually if the artist who painted or sculpted your doll was there watching you treat your doll that way?
Personally I think mistreating your doll is more of an insult to the artist than anything else.

As for people who mistreat their dolls by taking far too many precautions, I can't say what they're doing is wrong or right. It's true you can treat your doll however you like but if you know handling your doll with your bare hands or letting them get a little sun won't hurt them, why don't you?
Of course I can understand some people want to preserve their dolls much like any other doll collector, but BJDs are meant for much more than being seated on a shelf or placed in a box when not on display. We photograph, we make clothing, we write photostories, we carry our dolls around with us, we buy them things, we play with them, we give them lives of their own.
It's a shame to see a doll sitting on a shelf collecting dust, only touched when taken down, dressed or posed differently. Though it's not horribly wrong, it's still a bit sad.

It all comes down to this though. It's your money, it's your doll, you get to choose how you treat it. Still in the end there is such thing as excess anything whether it be too much love or not enough.

 

I cringe when I see any doll in a bad shape. Would it be kids handling their barbies and bratz as if they're are moping sticks, or grown-up people treating BJD same way. I always have to fight the urge to save those dolls. Clean their bodies, wash off their blotchy face-ups, throw away their frizzed wigs and hot-glued clothes and give them a chance to show how beautiful they can be.

 

Mhh, i think, that if a person really loves 'playing' with a doll, really loves having it laying around, and likes to see kids play with them, then it's fine! If that it the way the owner gets the best out off the doll, at gets the best experiences, then there is no better way for them to keep the doll.

 

They may. But it's up to people to do whatever they like with their belongings. I'm sure mobiles are more mistreated but no one gives a toss despite some of them costing a fair bit too.

 

well, as long as they mistreat their own dolls, it's not that problematic to me, it just means that they don't give respect to their own things [and this is bad.]

 

if they are willing to pay so much for a doll then mistreat it, than its their own fault if it breaks. I don't think that this is an issue to worry abut really. I think most people who decide to invest in a doll do it because they like them and know to take care of them. Its simply too much money otherwise.

 

People abuse cars.

People abuse animals.

People abuse kiddies.

People abuse their living space.

So, of course there's some people who abuse dolls. Yes, most people who'd put the money into this hobby would treat and respect their dollies, but it's no different than someone who buys a car and then runs it into the ground by driving it too hard and not taking care of it. I wouldn't think any one would abuse these dolls on purpose, what would be the point? But some people probably either don't know how to take care of them right, or what kind of things the dollies can handle.

So, short answer. Yes, some people DO mistreat dolls. It's sort of impossible for there not to be a few owners out there like that.

 

You've stated this better than I ever could. I definitely agree with this sentiment. One of the greatest aspects of this hobby is the creativity so many of these sculptors have invested in these dolls.

 

Depends how much I paid the artist

Seriously though, I don't mistreat my dolls, but some people may decide to handle them a bit roughly... practice dreadful faceups... etc. But, hey, they paid for it, it's their doll, good luck to them!

 

Okay, when I read this I guess I should feel kind of bad: The first thing I did when I saw a real life dolfie, was to lift it by it's legs and arms, pulling the limbs out of the sockets and looking inside, undressing it, posing it i wierd positions, and then go straight outside to play with it in the baking sun for an hour or so. Does this mean I abuse dollies?

Someone said that we are old enough to take care of our toys. I have a teddy that I love to pieces, but still I throw it on the floor when I feel the bed's too cramped, or use it as a pillow or sofa-cushion when needed. It doesn't mean I don't love it! It doesn't mean I won't love my doll even if I were to play with her in the sun or might forget her on the sofa when I get her!

I think "abuse" might be a way to strong word. I think people should be able to do whatever they want with their dolls. After all, it is a doll. I my opinion, that's exactly what these beautiful and very poseable dolls are for, to do what you want with. If someone want's to play with their doll in a way that is similar to kids, let them! It is as impossible to "abuse" a doll as it is a rock!

 

Absolutely agree with this.

I think it's ridiculous to put that kind of pressure or guilt put on people who are purchasing dolls. As you can see by the clothing for sale, the accessories, the photos & photo-stories that are taken - these types of dolls are played with, A LOT. They are dressed up and customized more so than fashion dolls. There are some that treat them like a collectible, but for a decent majority of people, though they might consider them artistic and certainly beautiful, but they aren't putting them on a shelf to admire, they are playing with them. That makes it a toy, not a work of art.

That's why getting into the whole "mistreatment" or "abuse" labeling of people and their dolls is silly, meddling and actually blatantly rude. It's none of your business nor my business how someone plays with their doll or if they are up to our perceived standards for treating these dolls.

It's not your doll, you didn't buy it, so don't worry about it.

 

I think the only thing that would bother me is if I saw a person actually doing something mean to their dolls. My doll is like a little man to me, not like a child, but I care about him genuinely. People can have their dolls look however they want, I don't care about that. I think I would get upset if I saw someone slap their doll, hit it, throw it on the ground, things like that. But that's mostly because when I see them doing that to their doll, I imagine someone doing that to mine, and that hurts me. I love my Blisdon!

 

Despite all the emotional bonds some people have with their dolls they are just that, dolls. If another owner treats his/her dolls roughly it's their problem. Would I do it? No. Do I care if they do it? No. From the moment they purchased it they can do whatever they want with it. It doesn't mean that I wouldn't be uncomfortable to see those things and I'd probably even get a little mad at it, but it's none of my business how they perceive or treat bjds.

However, if someone I knew had a bjd, treated carelessly damaging the doll and then had the audacity to play the victim... I'd give that person a piece of my mind

 

Not that i wanna get technical or anything but 'abuse' means "to use in an improper or incorrect manner; misuse."... i don't know why some people are on about 'oh you can't abuse a doll'. Of course you can... in many different levels.

I'm quite careful with my boys. I don't keep them in their boxes or behind glass or anything so extreme, but i do watch out for them and i don't really trust anyone handling them. My friends are a proof of that... if they are holding them and i see that the wig is falling to the side, or the arm or leg joint dont look natural i either call their attention or fix it while they are still holding.
To me, any scruffy wig is a bit of an abuse u_u; ... not only my own, but other people's dolls as well. I don't know, call paranoid or over protective, but i would only let someone handle my boys without my supervision if i knew they had been in the hobby for ages, their dolls were carefully treated and that they would never dare doing anything that could damage them.

 

Well technically that really doesn't make any more sense, because who is to say what is a proper or correct manner people should play with these dolls, especially when it's someone else's purchase.

 

After reading pages of the other responses here, my own opinion is this:

Yes, I know these are dolls we speak of - money-sucking-attention-taking dolls - but I think that something like stepping on them when you should know better or purposely dropping them (or any of the reams of other examples many others have given before me) are reasons I'd rather stay away from a person like that. It shows their character off rather well, though.

Let me do a comparison to illustrate what I mean - I love books about as much as I love my BJDs. Borrow a book from me and you get this warning: "don't dog-ear pages or curl the covers, unless you want to buy me a brand new copy." If I know that someone does these things to their own books I generally say "no" to requests for book borrowing. I paid good money for my dolls just like I did for my books and I expect others to respect my things just as I do theirs.

In summary, taking care of your possessions is like playing sports - it'll reveal your character more than it will change/shape it.

 

Hm. While I am still waiting to order my first doll, I hope I can participate in this.. It's very interesting how dynamically on either side some people are.

I do agree that, as innanimate objects, the term "abuse" may seem offensive to people who are aware (or victims) of domestic violence of any kind ( I fume when watching animal rescue shows where people abandon animals without food to the brink of death).

Abusing a doll can also mean taking the doll for granted in my opinion. No, it's not going to get it's own charity for abused toys, but it's still abusing and wasting money that could be benefitting OUR economy, not Asia's. No offense to anyone in Asia! It applies for any place. I just think if someone is going to pay that much money for an overseas doll and then rough-house or be careless with it, they may as well have eaten the money and crapped it out.

I guess it all depends on the person. Some people dearly care for their dolls, and I would bet many people would get teary eyes if someone threw their doll on the floor.I would get pissed. I know an elderly woman who cried because someone in the nursing home stole a doll of hers, and it was an old rag doll. But logically, I do understand that dolls are irrelevant compared to the abuse of a living thing.

My explicit idea of Dolly abuse is when they are left on the floor or anywhere either cluttered or open to be stepped on or sat on or have things dropped on them (i know a girl who smashed her cd drive on her laptop cause she left it open on her couch and came home one day and threw her bag on the couch...dumbass..). I've also heard stories about pissed off boyfriends throwing the dolls off the couch/bed whatever to move them or out of manly temper tantrums. That qualifies for me.

I don't see how some people can get so bent out of shape over their dolls though.. But then, I'm a book and music kid; if my books come back damaged or my CDs scratched, I WILL smack a bitch. But when no one is allowed to touch or hold dolls, or the dolls never see sunlight, etc it gets a little out of hand.. It may be cause I'm a noob, but my little boy is going to go all over the place with me! I plan to play with him, take him outside (when/if I ever do ), and he's definitely moving into my dorm with me. I see no point in spending $600 for some dolls, only to put them behind glass.. I believe if I spend $200 on my doll and spend time with him for a little every day for a year, he's more than paid for himself for $1 a day.

Sorry for long windedness. Long post short, I don't think you can abuse a doll in the meaning of violating rights like a human being, or cause undue harm to them like a puppy. But you can abuse the dolls as an investment in and among themselves. It's unnecessary to be reckless with posessions, especially things as expensive as dolls. You wouldn't set an expensive china set in the floor for it to be stepped on. What would you say; "it's okay, it's not like it has feelings"?