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

I'm very new to the fandom, so I don't know any people yet. But I'm pretty shy and have a hard time making friends period so I'm generally a lonely person, heh.

Everyone on the board has been super friendly and helpful so far, though! And if anyone here wants to chat about bjd, I'm definitely open to some messaging!

 

I do feel partially lonely not having a real in real life that collects BJDs. Talking to 1-2 people on forums who I have become close with who are adamant about BJDs are me helps alot.

 

I live in Kuwait, where nobody even heard about BJDs before, non of my friends interested in my dolls and they see it as big Barbies no matter how hard I explained, never had a meet up or convention or any public social activity, My only window is my YouTube channel and DOA

 

I do find this to be a slightly lonely hobby. Even when your friends and family are trying to be polite... they don't quite get it. I had my second BJD delivered to my older sisters house, since I was in the process of moving at the time... I opened the box in front of her, and...her remark was " Oh, so, she is like a REALLY BIG Barbie?!"

I was cripplingly shy when I was young, I was so shy and unable to interact with other children that I was mistakenly labed as autistic, which happily I am not, but I have slowly come out of my shell. I decided to go to some local doll meets because I wanted so badly to have someone to talk to who "gets" it. Most of the people in Indiana who are into the hobby are in their 20's and I am in my early 50's... so I didn't think I would fit in at first. Luckily I have made a friend who is interested in many of the same things I am. I finally have someone to share all my strange interests: BJDs, ancient Egypt, science fiction and young adult fantasy, historical costuming, painting, and silversmithing. So I am really glad I decided to try going to BJD meets.

I am a very friendly person, if anyone wants to chat about BJDs feel free to PM me.

 

Sometimes. Most of my close "doll friends" are far away; I'm planning to attend a very local meet-up next weekend (in my home town, even!), but there's always an element of "what if this is the only thing we have in common? What if we can't be friends even with this connection?" that makes it feel awkward and odd.

 

I joined a facebok group for people in Alaska and now i don't feel as lonely.

 

Yes! I live in Charlotte and I have no one around me who is in this hobby. I have no one to talk to or meet with. I'm just bleh, it would be nice if I had someone to meet with one a month to chat dolly stuff or someone to help me with tips.

 

I feel alone when I see the way my husband looks at my dolls. Also, cannot talk about them in front of our friends because they find them creepy. I feel relieved when I meet people from a forum because we can talk freely about dolls (and many other topics, of course) and we all feel comfortable about it. But in my everyday life it's true that I feel alone.

 

I'm really excited because I recently met a friend who lives nearby who collects dolls too
mostly though, I find having friends on forums is really great too!

 

Yeah, I can agree with you. I feel really lonely because I live in such a small town that I don't know anyone around the area that is interested in BJDs. And because I'm so new to the hobby, I don't have that many online BJD friends either. :c

 

I can be your online friend, DemonicAdversary. I'm new to this hobby, as well. I don't even have a doll, yet. I'm from a coastal town in New England, and I don't know anyone in my area who is into this hobby. Furthermore, I don't have anyone I can be excited with about dolls online. So, I am very much lonely. At least Den of Angels is a place that's understanding of the hobby, even if I don't interact with others here.

 

That's how I felt for ages when I first got into the hobby. It was only a few weeks ago that I finally met some people online who actually live closer to me, in state, and now we're having a meet this Sunday. Kind of nervous, cause I get overwhelmed easily in social settings plus add anxiety to the mix, but I'm excited to finally get to talk face to face with some people who are into the hobby as much as I am. I know my work people and friends and family are all just nice and listen to me ramble on, but it's not the same as talking to someone who is legit interested because they love the hobby as much as I do.
I've considered seeing if anyone wanted to do a skype doll meet sort of thing, but I'm so awkward that I'd probably wimp out. D:

 

Pretty much, I recently moved and when I went to an anime gathering the only other person with a BJD that I met wond up having a recasted luts doll. (it was a mini-sized one in ws I think?) When she told me it was a recast, I stopped talking to her completely because I didn't want to talk about BJDs with a recast supporter.

 

I'm very lonely. To be honest I find DOA very intimidating because I watch such a big majority of you guys on youtube, I feel like I'm from another planet. I've been trying to keep my chin up and interact with people everywhere I can. I think I'd feel better if I could find a doll group in my area. I can only ramble about it to my friends/mother/boyfriend but as much as I know that they are happy that I am able to talk about something with such passion, I can also see that I might as well be speaking greek to them. I'm also thinking about making youtube videos, just because it would give me a way to talk about them without feeling judged.

​

 

I was introduced to the hobby by some friends of mine from the time I was very into JRock and such, and they are still my friends today and most of them are still into the hobby luckily. Now, however, all of my doll-collecting friends have moved to another part of the country (for education), so I find I'm a little left alone sometimes. But after creating a blog for my dollies, I've really not noticed that much loneliness. So I recommend you to start a blog (even if you don't have a doll yet - as you can just write down your personal feelings and excitements for the hobby), or maybe start a youtube blog.

 

Well, I live in Mexico and no one here knows about BJDs. Some of my classmates know abou them 'cause they look at me while searching on internet and ask about them, but they think I'm crazy and dolls are ugly and expensive XD I only have one friend that likes BJDs but she is not planning to buy one. I don'y really feel alone, but sometimes I don'y have anyone to talk about BJDs with.

 

I live in Scotland and I don't know anyone from the UK who likes BJD. When I posted some stuff up on my blog, a girl began commenting and she recommended I join a facebook group but even then I feel kinda lonely

 

I doubt you're still reading the thread after so long, but I'm from Alabama as well (Huntsville to be specific, so I doubt we're in the same town :c ). The USA is definitely a hard place to really have "doll friends" since each state is so huge. I've been to two meets here, one at a con and another at a members house. I found both a tinsey awkward. I'd rather just meet up with friends that happen to share the same interests then try and force a friendship with strangers based exclusively on BJD. The majority of them are also supporters of or own recasts, so I don't feel comfortable meeting up and risking my own dolls being in any photos they may take.

I definitely get envious when I read my twitter feed and blog roll and see people meeting up frequently just as friends, who happen to bring their dolls along. Not only that but they tend to all have the same interests in doll styles and such.

 

I did, but I am feeling inspired to do a spot of travelling in the new year thanks to this thread! X

 

I know I defiantly do. I had to move from the Seattle area to Montana a couple years ago. I'm pretty sure there are no active BJD people around here. And of course I got my first BJD, Greta, after I moved. I'm sure it's easier to find doll people over in Seattle then where I am now. I also only have a couple friends and they are from work soooo. It's defiantly lonely. I just wish I could have someone to share ideas and take pictures with and such. It's also hard when you're shy. I also don't like the drama that comes with big communities so I tend to lurk on the outskirts. Just one person to hang out with would be lovely though!