Do you feel that ABJD's compensate for something you don't have IRL?

Hm. No, not really compensation. It compensates for my lack of an all-engrossing hobby, and gives me more of a creative outlet.

Maybe it compensates something for other people, and to be honest, I think that's okay too. It's not my place to judge anyone's reasons for having a BJD doll and enjoying them.

I have them just for their enjoyment; the sewing, the knitting, the costumes I can come up with and so forth. It's like an Applejacks commercial: I just do! There's really no reason other than they're neat, and I like them.

 

I don't know if this silly answer is appropriate to the gravity of the Dolly Debate section but here goes. I used to be a goth, and am still very interested in everything pertaining the scene and the clothes, but for various reasons (mainly having no place to go in this town and having no other goths to peacock around in front of) I don't dress up anymore. So with my dollie I am able to have the fun of putting together outfits on the small scale! It's even cheaper than putting putting together a human sized outfit. Marginally cheaper...

So it's not really that I'm compensating for something I don't have but rather that I'm living my goth life vicariously through my doll.

 

I dont even have a doll yet but just looking at them distracts me from my insecurity and worries.

 

I have always been an escapist-- but I've always sort of had a REASON to be that way, so I don't know if it's an adaptation or just something I was born with.

Dolls are just another facet of that for me, I think. I've always attached to and involved myself in things that aren't real-- from cartoons and movies to role-playing and novel characters. I think it's a safe way to focus a lot of energy into something/someone that's safe and comforting. Inanimate/nonexistant things can't change and disappoint you, as is so often the case as we get older. Not that that makes them BETTER than real people and real experiences, but it's nice to have that security.

 

yeah, I have kids, so this way I have little people that actually do what they are told, hehehe

 

I will also use my doll as a model.
I bet it makes drawing bodies alot easier.

 

I think my interest began with wanting a little Marie Antoinette to pose/include in posts for my French related blog.

But now I think it's partially to have a creative outlet, and to live vicariously through my doll through photostories etc.

Also, I think it's partially because it will be a subsitute for the daughter I dont have, and would have fun dressing up and playing with.

All this...and I dont even have my first doll yet. LOL.

 

Hey, these dolls don't have anything on me--except youth, good looks, a fab wardrobe, and a slim waistline..

sigh

 

Yeah i agree with this artists. For example: You want to dress in a way and you want yourself to style like that, but you lack on confidence or it just isnt possible. So why not wear it on my doll?

 

*laughs* Of course they compensate. I don't like being myself, and take every opprotunity to be someone else. Dolls can be one way of doing so. They also compensate for lack of affection from family or friends when I'm far away from them.

 

i think BJDs compensate, at least for me, my lack of ability to make friends.
sure i can strike up an conversation with just about anyone.
but after a while either they or i loose interest in the topic and move on
i believe that BJDs are an outlet for me to make and keep good friends ^_^

an example would be between me and nicole (gothiclolitadoll). nicole and i have been friends sense i was 7, we met in germany and were together ALL THE TIME. but we moved back to the states (the both of us) her to st. louis, me to newnan and we still talked and visited eachother, but not so much, we had nothing to discus and we got bored after a while. but once she got into BJDs and then got me interested in them we've talked more on he phone and we're on DOA every night discussing things we never did before. so i can personally say that BJDs have strengthened a bond between myself and a long time friend even further. i love knowing that when a new doll comes out that i can call and squeel in excitment to her, knowing that she understands and feels the same as i do about our current and future resin children. ^_^

 

Yes. They compensate for the lack of bishounen around me. >.> Not to sound boy-crazy, but seriously... there is NO guy in the world who can look as beautiful as a boy doll.

 

Nope not at all.

I collect them because they are are like pieces or art and in this way I can bring my characters from my comic book alive in a way. Not actually living versions of them but solid forms of them.

 

LMAO QFE!

I was gonna say an army of hot pretty boys that bend to my will Lol but in general, it would be a lack of bishonen :P

Though I'm kinda glad o.o Guys that hot, I probably couldn't handle it o.o I'd overload and burst into flame at the sight of them O.O

Edit: Oh snap, seems people have already beaten me to my answer :P

Lmao that too.

 

I don't know if this is something I lack, but they represent something I cannot be. They look physically different (ie Hazy is Asian, I'm not) so they have a type of beauty I don't. Also, I love photography and I don't have a model and I don't want to be the model because I would feel egocentric. Thus the bjds make great models.

I'm sure many dolls represent people's fantasy selves, fantasy friends, and even fantasy bf/gfs. If I got a boy, he would definitely represent my dream guy.

 

Sortof, but in a different way.

I'm recovering from an eating disorder and my doll is almost kindof like my way of saying "goodbye".

Instead of being triggering (Why would a doll be triggering?), it's more of an outlet.

And reminds me never to go back. =)

It doesn't make sense to other people, I guess...

 

maybe it's just something as simple as owning dolls of the opposite sex and living vicariously through them.

At times, I believe that is the case as, to me at least, dolls are not unlike fanfiction, fanart, or fan rps. Especially when it comes to the extremes (abuse 'n at), where as a younger person might choose a doll/character of the opposite gender and inflict harm on them as a subconcious attempt at "revenge" for being harmed themselves.

Though I do like the thought of owning something pretty to make yourself feel good. ^.^ I know that I tend to feel really good when my room is clean and I've done a lot of cleaning. A nice, clean environment makes me feel accomplished and, well, clean. XD

I canNOT wait to own a BJD. I feel that once I have him, I'll have three new gateways into hobbies that will make me feel not only more confident, but more artsy and creative. I'm hoping to add photography, scrapbooking, and sewing into my name through my doll collecting. ^.^

 

For me, I just like having something pretty.

But I know for a lot of people I think they are used as a form of companionship. I was watching this documentary of BBC America called "Love Me, Love My Doll" which basically talked to men that were not accepted into society because of the way that they looked or acted. So they purchased life-size dolls for companionship. They would do basic thing like watch TV, hold hands, cuddle to more physically intimate things.

I think overall humans are very compassionate creatures and when there isn't someone there physically for them to love they will find some other living creature (i.e pets) or they will find a human or animal like creature (i.e dolls, stuffed animals) to make themselves feel a little more connected to the world. Or to control the world in a way that they can feel comfortable.

Like the man said in the documentary..."I don't mind being alone, but I don't like being lonely."

 

Yes. She compensates for a girlfriend!! el oh el..

Not quite, but my gran thinks she is...

8D
She is really pretty thouhg xD

 

.....truthfully I believe I am OCD...and collecting bjd's provides a focus for that neurosis....I also love photography, and there is nothing more perfect than bjd's for photo shoots. And as other's here have posted....you can live vicariously through them; fantasy, photstories, and much, much more..as well as meeting other collectors at events and meet-ups is a great way to make friends!