Does becoming a "crazy doll lady/person" concern you?

I feel the same way!

An entire wall in my bedroom is dedicated to my playline / fashion dolls and I hope to have a doll room one day too, because I have boxes and boxes of porcelain dolls in my garage. I don’t think I’ll ever lose interest in dolls x

 

"Crazy" is so subjective... "crazy doll person" doesn't concern me, because it's normal to me. I'm a creative and artsy dreamer, dreaming up characters and telling stories has been going on inside my head for my entire life. It happened to be mostly unseen before, but I now get to externalize it very obviously with BJDs. Making characters for my dolls, playing with them to tell stories, is as automatic as breathing: I don't know any other way to live. People who think I'm a crazy doll person would already be thinking that I'm a weirdo artist. Which is perfectly fine by me, because they'd either have to accept me the way I am (I don't know any other way to live), or I'll part ways with them. I don't wave my doll hobby or any of my other creative hobbies in everyone's faces -- I've learned to exercise discernment about which people are trustworthy to share my creativity with. But I don't apologize for it either.

I'm not worried that people think my dolls are child substitutes, because I don't treat them or talk about them like they were my babies or children at all. --At least, I don't think I do? I suppose I treat them a bit like imaginary friends, so if anything, I'd wonder if people think I'm a loner and have no friends. (I am a loner who has good friends.)

None of my good friends are into dolls, but they do know about my hobby, and I don't bother to hide my crew away when they come over to my place. I never thought of asking them if they think my attitude to the hobby is weird (... it's normal to me so I haven't thought to question it?), but I think I shall ask and find out.

 

It's bizarre how many different stereotypes people project onto dolls and their owners! The one I'm worried about is "you're just living vicariously through your mini-me because you're too ill to go out and Live Life For Real". Sure, my doll wears clothes that I like, which I would never wear myself, but that's because those clothes would be uncomfortable in real life! I also wouldn't want to work as a model in 1950's Paris, even if I wasn't too sick to work most of the time. There's definitely an element of fantasy, but it's not really that related to my health...

I also probably wouldn't show a non-doll person a bjd without clothes on, lest they ask questions like "why does your 'fashion doll' have intentionally sculpted nipples and genitals?" I don't really have a good answer to that one!!

 

I have way too many matching outfits with my dolls to not be a crazy doll lady at this point. Take it or leave it. I'm not interested in stopping my fun for anyone.

 

I’m not sure, I think that you should surround yourself with people who understand that you like what you like because it’s just something that interests and means something important to you, and even if people try to get judgey I think that your situation can be explained easily to people who are willing to listen! Never back down from the things you love!

 

There's an Instagram account called kendoesdolls, and he posts reels showing his childhood friends his (play line) collection. I love watching the short videos, because his friends are delighted and amazed, even though they aren't doll collectors themselves. I might be a bit jealous, too, cuz my friends have all been scandalized and had the "sell your dolls now!" reaction, but it's fun to live vicariously through him.

 

I have been through too much to let the opinions of other people matter so much, especially online. I don't care if people think my doll thing is weird. I'm happy with it and that's all that matters to me.

 

Considering how many OT dolls I already have from before I discovered BJDs, I already am a crazy doll person. lol

 

Just wanted to add that Elizabeth the first of England, you know that Tudor queen who made her kingdom a superpower of the time she was a doll collector, with an elaborate doll collection and now "crazy doll lady" suddenly doesn't sound that bad.

 

I used to wear my oddities on my sleeve but over time I learned to enjoy the perks of conformity. I'd rather be boring in the eyes of acquaintances. I love the internet for making it possible to get in touch with fellow weirdos

 

It doesn’t concern me! I’d rather stay true to my interests than try to hide them. Plus, it’s a good way to meet others with the same interests (and to convince more people to join the hobby )

 

Oh yes! She liked dressing up her dolls, most of whom represented/were named after people around her, into costumes from operas she liked for instance. They were in cosplay, if you will (although, fair enough, one has to be at least a bit crazy to rule a country)

Edit: mixed up with Queen Victoria sorry but still!

 

Oh I didn't know about queen Victoria... thanks for the information such an interesting thing it seems she would be a bjd collector if she had lived today!!!!for me this makes it even better!!! I'm happy to be in that club lol!!!

 

I understand what you are saying, I am not that open too to most people , but not really to look boring to others more so because I don't really want to know everyone in depth, It is not that I share the boring info of myself and hide my interests it's that I don't care to share anything about myself because I am not really interested in their company, I am sure they don't care about what I like and I am definitely sure I don't give a crap about what they like lol this sounds so arrogant but well it's the truth anytime any of them starts telling me about their fave band or whatever I roll my eyes and think "why on earth they believe I even care" lol

 

Nah, not at all. I know I'm weird, and I'm very comfortable with it. Let them think I'm a crazy doll lady, I'm happy, lol.

 

People I know put up with it. Sure, some of the people come up with nonsensical ideas that have already fallen here and are out of line (child replacement, therapy, etc.), but I don't care. I need to create stories, so I do. And the less ashamed I am about my photos and my hobby, the more people outside of BJD tell me they like it. I had a hard time accepting praise after hearing mostly criticism from many quarters, but I'm glad for the change in perspective.

 

I don't see it, why would it be arrogant? It's a fact that most people don't have niche interests, or the niche interests wouldn't be niche. I've been a comic artist as a hobby for about a decade and not a single time I've found that sharing the info outside of related circles brought anything positive to the table. I've found that past the dreaming teen years, if you're not making substantial money out of the weird thing you do, the average person will most likely judge you negatively for wasting time, money or efforts on something he sees as useless. I have no shame about my activities, but I'm not willing to take a handicap either. One good thing about the internet is that you don't have to go through this trial and error which used to be necessary to find people with similar interests to discuss. That's probably why strictly on-topic forums like this one were some of the earliest things to happen online.

 

Agree with everything you say but if I feel that I can't talk to someone because they will judge me I won't sit down and listen that person blabbing about their interests when I shut my mouth I shut my ears too. Everyone has something that is out of normal when I am judged I will judge and when I can't talk I won't listen. Moses was right an eye for an eye.

 

Sorry I should not have been that arrogant, maybe dolls really make me a worse person and thankfully I have to step back. The point is If I want to "appear" normal in something it means this is shameful so in reality I have not to hide it but not do it. So in the case I am afraid a judgement it means I don't do something not do it and then hide it. As about online sharing there is no hidden sharing in today's times if you post something online is public knowledge. So I don't really worry about labeled a crazy doll lady but I don't want to be associated with a huge collection of every doll type (as it doesn't fit with my social class now which is low income) and that's why it is sold or for sale.

 

I don't mind if I am, honestly. I've always been a bit different than those around me. Always been passionate about my hobbies. Not married, no kids and I'm happy with that. I love collecting dolls and fandom related stuff. My house is a treasure trove of nerdy stuff.