Do you feel alone in the hobby? (even with the forum)

Sometimes finding a friends who has the same taste in bjds is hard. I know a lot of people who own bjds but we like different styles and fashion so it's hard to start a conversation ><;;

 

It would be nice to have friends IRL that also own bjds, so I could check out the different dolls they have, and maybe have them give me tips on sewing or faceups. I have one friend who likes dolls, but she's mainly into MH and EAH dolls. She's too afraid to get a bjd right now. It's nice being able to talk to her about my dolls, although I don't talk about it to any of my other friends or even family, so it gets a little isolating.

I know that there is a small community near my town and I met some of them at an anime convention. I hope to go there again this year and meet up with them and makes some more bjd friends.

 

I feel very alone in this hobby and I don't think the forums are always helpful; a lot of times when I comment I notice my posts are completely ignored, hopefully it's just because I'm new to DOA, still I wish there was a doll store like mint on card or denver dolls near me, I think that would help.

 

Besides my older sister (who got me into the hobby in the first place), her friends (who I don't see much), and my other sister (who isn't much in the hobby anymore), I feel a bit isolated in the hobby. Especially because I'm younger, don't have a job, and can't drive. I can't go to conventions or meet up with people.

 

I've always felt isolated because no one I know is into the hobby at the slightest, my parents are only mildly interested as well.

 

Hi Novaevitae, i'm pretty new too and I agree. I think because the forums are just so large and people are discussing so many topics that it can make you feel worse when your post is ignored but where my posts have been responded to people have been super helpful - it just seems quite hard as a newbie to strike up rapport with people in such a large forum, I am hoping it comes in time for both of us I take it from the stores you mentioned that you live in the US? I live in the UK and there is practically no bjd activity going on where you can meet up with people so DOA is my only hope for 'meeting' some likeminded bjd fans

 

I used to. There are no meetups locally and I know a few people in the area who own a doll each that they never touch. One doll I know of doesn't even have clothes or a wig and lives in the box she came in.

When I met the guy who would later become my boyfriend we bonded over his Mecha Angel that he had to keep in the box because his family was scared of her and her clothes were pretty ugly. I bought a pretty dress from her and these days she lives in a display cabinet. I also got him a honey delf for Christmas. He loves taking her to work and having her 'help' him fix things. Excluding off topic dolls we have five dolls, four in our living room. Living the dream! Would be great to have a local doll community though.

 

I feel very lonely too, especially that I live in a city where collecting expensive dolls is a bit weird + my friends are all not into this kind of hobby

 

I used to feel very alone in the hobby when it was just me and my first doll. About five or six years in I started to attend meet up groups and become active on Tumblr and that was when I really started to make friends and get to know people. My fiancé has also become involved in dolls this past year and it's amazing to live with someone who's as enthusiastic about the hobby as I am.

I really am very lucky in the regard that if I want to talk dolls I can either turn to my partner, login online or attend a meetup. It's made the hobby infinitely much better than taking a few lonely snapshots when I'm bored.

 

I understand completely. I have always been addicted to dolls, and it has always creeped some of my friends out. My great aunt and my mother in law are both avid doll makers and seamstresses. But even they don't really understand the "soul" behind the art---that every doll has a story and a personality. I have even found myself arguing with my dolls in the fabric store over the fabric I am looking at to use for thier outfits! It's alot like writing (fanfiction or otherwise). You end up arguing with your muses, and evrntuslly they win!

 

All of my friends who I've mentioned it to still think dolls are creepy, but after getting my first, my sister expressed some interest in getting one. The only thing that's stopping her is the price... But perhaps some birthday money and a slight push in the right direction will change that. lol! I plan on going to a doll con as soon as I'm able too, and if I can bring her along, that might be even more incentive plus we can meet other collectors.

 

Yeah, all the time. None of my friends irl know about my hobby so I can't share it unless its online. Its alright though I guess since the hobby's still super fun with the forum and other social media such as instagram, so whatever

 

I do kind of feel alone in the hobby.. I have online friends who enjoy bjds and one of my irl friends likes them but she doesn't have any and its a bit difficult to have a connection with people near me about it.. It makes me a little sad..

 

I haven't even told my family yet. They might find out if they read my art pages, but oh well,...it is a great hobby for an artist!

 

My close friends think doll collecting is creepy and mock me, which is super disheartening. I have a couple of work friends who are into dolls and they are so awesome. It makes all the difference and flames your passion and excitement. I've found my inspiration and ideas come back to life after so many years.

 

None of my friends are into the hobby. A few of them will let me talk about it, but no one is really all that interested or understands the appeal of bjds

 

I don't feel alone, but I do wish I had some "in person" dollie friends as opposed to just online ones!

 

When I lived outside Toronto or Ottawa very much so, that mistake won't be made again lol.

 

Somehow. I joined some community but it didn't work because they're such an elitist.