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

I do, I don't have a bjd group in my province and I don't know anyone who collects bjds, or dolls for that matter. My friends accept it but I don't like to talk to them about it because I'm afraid they'll think I'm strange (its a bit late for that.) and because of that I tend to not to talk about my dolls or act like they're something I really like around them. I know my friends wouldn't judge me but I still fear it. They also don't really understand the hobby.
But I think most of the time, I don't mind being alone in the hobby. I'm used to being alone.

 

Yes, very much so, but I tend to feel alone in all my hobbies.

 

well yes and no. It seems that most of the conventions and stuff happens on the other side of Denmark than where i live, so that sorta sucks.
But i'm actually surprised every time i see yet another dane collecting! I've just started and have never once in "real life" met a BJD enthutiast who'd actually go the distance and pay for the dolls themselfs. I have two delightful friends who admire them and would love to see them, but i don't think they're actual BJD lovers.
So sometimes it does get a little lonely, loving something that people think is a waste a money or "creepy".
And i don't even have my first doll yet. *but i will! In august!! Woop woop*

 

yes, I feel alone in the hobby. Not much people around me knows bjd and some think its creepy.

 

I have the opposite of this problem I'm always surrounded by people and they are always asking me about hanging out or texting me and I already feel like a bad owner because I'm always at work and as much as I would love to have a doll friend that lived near me (my friend got me into dolls) I can be rather picky about these things and would probably hold them to a higher standard than my other friends but yeah I'm currently feeling rather guilty about not getting enough time to dedicate to my boy

 

I know the feeling. Other than my friend who got me into it everyone ive told about it looks at me like I'm stupid and my brother thinks it's a waste of money. But i enjoy it so that's all that matters. Eventually ill find more people around me that are into bjds or I'll drag some one in

 

I'm lucky because my best friend got me into the hobby so I always have her and her pretty dollies so talk to about these things, but other than that I never know how to explain it to other people so I kind of keep to myself, and at home i display all my dollies and I know my fiance doesn't judge me because he loves me and he knows it makes me happy and that everyone has their thing they like to collect but sometimes I feel awkward because I know he doesn't really get it?
I wish I wasn't so awkward so that I would have an easier time getting more involved with the online doll community.

 

I started this hobby with my best friend though they only had 1 doll in mind Ive a whole family I'm working on. I'm glad I'm not alone in feeling lonely at times. I know there are doll meets in NJ but it's not like we live close where we hang out, and now that I'm a SAHM I feel even more isolated in this hobby

 

I'm alone (as far as I know) with my hobby. I don't think it's lonely at all; I just enjoy my dolls for what they are.

 

When I first got into the doll hobby, I did expect it to be a lonesome road for me, but since joining DoA, I really feel like I belong in a group, so to speak. It really makes me happy when someone answers my questions here, and I'm slowly building up confidence to post more often here!

 

While I do enjoy posting on DoA and feel generally welcomed, I still can't help but feel a tad bit lonely due to the fact I have yet to make any friends. I'm a very socially anxious person, which makes the friendship process rather difficult for me. I'm hoping this will change as I get more comfortable in this community! I'm very fortunate there's a group for BJD owners in my city, so I definitely have the means to go out and meet people! I just gotta get the guts to do it.

 

I've sucked my friends into the obsession hobby, so lucky for me I am not alone! I could have bought myself three dolls with the money I used to buy them dolls as gifts. But they are happy and I'm happier to have only 3 or four dolls but have people to suffer have fun with, rather than having 6 or 7 dolls by myself. Of course, they are not as "into it" as I am. But it's still more fun with others.

 

Sometimes. I had two friends that I met when we were all involved in a non-BJD hobby. They became immersed in BJD life and I kept resisting. When I finally ordered my first BJD they had already sold all of their dolls! So we have lost that connection. I don't really know anyone here so it can be lonely.

 

I do feel pretty lonely in the hobby unfortunately. I still haven't actually made any friends within the community. Buuut that might be my own fault for lurking around, looking at everyone else's lovely dolls and soaking up all the information I can get like a sponge instead of actually contacting others. I've been a member here for a while but I never got accustomed to the site and how it works. It's a little bit confusing to be honest. I've never used any kind of forum before, I've only been a member of stuff like deviantart and Facebook etc. Plus I'm too shy for my own good haha.

 

Yes, but I feel like that's the case for a majority of hobbies out there too. Take drawing, reading, sewing or any other hobby you can comfortably do from home and it's pretty much the same story. Sure, I can share my interest in drawing and books way easier with my friends compared to my dolls, but most of the interaction is still through the internet as far as the social aspect goes. I'd admit that with this hobby it accounts for more or less all of it, though... It's just not as common or as easy to enter as most hobbies are, I suppose. We're a niche sort of group.

 

Most of the time, no, because my best friend is in the hobby, but sometimes I do get a little lonely because she lives so far away from me and sometimes I get tempted to see if there are any meets near me to go to and make even more friends, but I'm also too nervous to go through with that as I'm incredibly shy and quiet in person and worry about coming across as rude or unfriendly.... It's quite a dilemma, because I really do think it would be fun to be able to talk about dolls with someone who is actually in the hobby face to face. Some of my husband's friends do express some level of interest in my dolls, but not enough to go into in-depth conversations revolving around them.

 

I don't have any friends in the hobby either, but you know what? It doesn't really bother me. Sometimes I think it would be nice to have a friend to talk to bjd related stuff with but I'm mostly a lurker... I've talked to a few bjd owners at conventions but I've never bothered to put in the effort required to form and maintain a friendship.

I share some of the same hobbies with my boyfriend and my best friend though so I guess it's not as big of a deal to me. I would probably feel more lonely if I didn't have anyone to discuss any of my hobbies with. Plus my boyfriend is always happy to listen to me talk about my dolls.

 

Since I jointed YouTube, I feel less alone... but still lonely. I wished my friends were into BJDs too.

 

I do feel pretty alone in the hobby because I wish I could have a friend who is in the hobby irl ;n;

 

Reading all these posts here does make me a little sad. I spend most of my time working on the story I have for my BJDs and sowing clothes that fit into that story. I talk about it to my mother who understands it from a creative point of view and I force my brothers to listen
My grandmother helps me with the sowing. (She used to be a teacher) However I know no one in person who has BJDs so it can be a bit lonely. I do have someone who I can write too about the hobby. But that's not the same although it's great to bounce ideas and ask questions. If anyone would like to talk about dollies don't hesitate to send me a message
My main way of finding others to talk to is youtube! I have a channel there and it gives great relief! I love it.

So on a last note if anyone should wish to talk to someone I am happy to listen to anyone