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

Well, I can't say I'm compensating for my looks or anything, because my dolls are anthros and a boy...
But I am making up for the fact that I am an only child, and my home life is lonely(parents work constantly)) so I need a friends at home ^_^
I admit, my dog and cat are great friends, but they would kill me if I tried making them clothes and pose them for photo stories O_O

 

With all the stress in my life (college, my mom getting laid off, my uncle just dying, etc) if I didn't have cosplay and BJDs to focus on who knows what craziness I'd get into. It's not really compensating for anything but cosplay got me to stop smoking years ago and I haven't touched a cigarette since, as sewing kept my hands busy.
I guess my BJD will be just another thing to focus many hours on other than cosplay. It's not the reason I fell in love with them, but I guess it's an added bonus.

 

I would have to say no.
I've never been too interested of being beautiful (expect for my bf), and everything I could do with a bjd, I could draw. I'm more drawn to how beautiful they are...

Well, hmm. Maybe the clothing bit is one - I wouldn't feel right buying myself a goth loli clothing, or really sexy goddess cloth... I love extraordinary clothings like that, but I wouldn't feel 'right' wearing them. I'm comfortable in my jeans and such.
but on a doll they would make the perfect sense.

 

I rather do think people portray some aspects of there personality onto their dolls. I know that my doll has some traits i would want, and i've noted some people have their dolls dressed in ways they wouldn't. I also tend to couple my doll with the type of people i would go out with.I've never really heard anybody pair their doll up with another doll who's personality they couldn't stand. If that makes sense.

 

Yes. My reason for wanting one is torn somewhere between having my childhood taken from me too early, and not being able to wear the gorgeous j-pop and j-rock outfits.
But, then isn't that almost every girl's dream? To be able to go to the store and know exactly what size you are, and then it fitting perfectly? And always looking absolutely divine in it?
I think that's one of the big appeals of ABJD's.

 

So many APs and honors can cause weak people like me to look for distraction.

I ordered my doll about a month into junior year, I think that says a lot.

All I really do this year is read textbooks and sleep. It's not even exciting like college-- it's that awkward and painful state where you have no idea where you're going with your life so you pile on all the AP classes you can and hope for the best. I'm lonely because I don't really see the light of day or interact with people (other than in passing periods). My friends are in the same situation.

I know there's life after high school, and I think subconciously (I've only realized it now) I wanted someone to accompany me through all of this. And to be honest I probably chose a boy doll because I wish I had the time for a boyfriend... (not that I'm going to view him that way, he's more of a son to me. But yeah, I wanted a boy in my life! haha)

 

Lololol

 

I find this thread to be fascinating....
For me my dolls are more of a creative outlet than a subsitute for anything.
It's almost like an addiction. When I have an idea in my head I HAVE to express it in some way. And I'm very happy to have found a way to do that with someone who doesn't talk back, complain or gain 20 pounds right before the prom.

 

No. They add to my life. They are wonderful outlets for imagination and creativity. ~Gus

 

the only thing i dont have at the moment that i want is a bjd..... so they wont be replacing anything for me except the need for a bjd lol that doesnt make sence does it? i have been up since 1:34 am and it is now 6:19 pm here =]

 

boyfriend LOLZ

no haha

just something I found that added to life and added as an outlet for artistic expression, and it's fun to cosplay with them, heck of alot easier to pack cosplay for a doll as opposed to a human

 

Not really, but sort of? I've always had the need to be artistic, but a serious lack of ability. Just call me Salieri. I've been a dancer and singer my whole life, but I feel like those things don't really count as art because, well, they're just things my body can do. Sure, there's work that goes into perfecting them, but it isn't work that really makes me feel like I've done something amazing. It's just work that feels like, "Oh, hey, look, I choreographed another piece. Woo, me. *sigh*" Dolls give me an opportunity to stretch my aspiring artistic muscles in a different direction - painting, sewing, recently-discovered affinity for sculpting, etc. That being said, I'm very glad no one else has to look at the dolls I've modified (just vinyl fashion dolls so far, don't feel too sad for their pain); my ambition and vision definitely outweighs my talent and skill at this point.

 

Second this! My doll doesn't compensate for anything. She does, however, allow me to expand my artistic horizons. I already knew how to draw. Now I'm getting into sewing, and eventually (hopefully) sculpting.

 

I give my characters very defined personalities and I guess I give them various character traits I don't have myself - endless amounts of confidence in one doll, an appealing bumbling shyness in another. I could never be as patient or relaxed as one of my dolls (I can be a real stress bunny about exams etc) so it's nice to play with a doll who has such a different character to myself.

 

Ive noticed a lot of people mentioning school and such.
I must admit, since I'm a senior in high school I have all the stress of applying to college on me and all, and the moment my IO arrives, I swore to myself I would turn in my applications ^_^

Hes compensating for my lack of caring...

 

It's a very new interest for me, but perhaps it's an outlet for mild narcissism (part of the reason I love Domadoll's Jado is that she looks like me as a child) and the lack of horses in my life (I love dolls with hooves)

 

Yes; long hair, boobs and a vagina, and the ability to wear a dress.

 

I'll admit that I haven't read through many of the responses yet, so I apologize if I seem to be repeating things said before. Firstly, I just wanted to say that this is a great thread. Thanks for bringing up the subject.

As for compensating for something lacking irl with bjd's... Well, my most basic and literal response is that yeah, it compensates for the lack of doll options and customization that I missed out on when growing up. *snerk* And that is only partially in jest. I've been into dolls since I owned my first Barbie. I loved the life-like qualities and gave individual names and personalities to each Barbie I got. But I also remember feeling thwarted that I couldn't take the reality further, and that there were only a few Barbie models. And only one Ken model!! I remember wishing I could find a doll that was more poseable, more life-like, that looked more unique, or that I could at least customize better. *was real big on "modding"/mutilating barbies... * Fast-forward a few decades *coff*, I spotted my first bjd and I fell in love with them for all those reasons.

An answer that's probably more towards what you're looking for... One of the things I'm interested in with owning a bjd now is the character designing aspect. Story and character creation are things I've always done as a child and adult. I did it with my Barbies, I did it anytime I drew, later on when I began writing stories, and on into college where I stumbled upon role-playing, both tabletop and online story-based. In fact, I had known about bjd's for a while before I decided to finally buy one. What ultimately pursuaded me was the temptation of recreating some of those characters I'd made, giving them a reality that I couldn't achieve with words or pictures. So I guess bjd's provide an additional creative outlook for my imagination, as well as give me another proving ground for character generation. (The process of modding a doll just for one character alone has created all sorts of challenges & questions about that persona's makeup!)

I dunno if I'd say that I use bjd's to express a more beautiful side of myself that I cannot achieve. Definitely with my drawing, I've always been interested in exploring a more colourful, a more curious world at least. And amusingly, bjd aesthetics fit rather nicely with some of my drawing styles. So again, another outlet, I guess.

 

I feel that these dolls are yet another way for me to deny that I really lack the ability to have meaningful social connections with people. They're surrogate confidants for the things I have a chronic inability to tell real people. They represent my characters, and bringing them into a physical medium is extremely reassuring.
I'm into junior year of high school, and I also feel like they're a way to channel all my nervous energy about SATs, college, and the future into something more constructive. If I can't keep hold of my own situation, at least I can pretend that I'm in control of someone else's.

 

BJDs offer me a creative way to de-stress, but I don't think that's the same as compensating for something missing. It's value added. And better than seeing a shrink.

Great question, though, and some really honest answers!