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

I'm already known among my friends as an eccentric that loves strange things, so being thought of as a "crazy doll lady" doesn't bother me in the slightest. If anything having a reputation like that helps me narrow down the people in my life. If they can't handle me being something of an oddball then I don't need them in my life.

 

Nah, it doesn't bother me at all! I definitely try to curb my enthusiasm around most of my friends, though. And finding another doll person out in the wild is a fun and hilarious experience! As it stands, I don't have that many dolls (I have a ton of "bait" monster high dolls for customizing, but they're all put away and not displayed). Right now, I've got my tiny BJD, Allura, and two custom monster high dolls that are both works in progress. So I don't have too many dolls! However, it's not as though I don't want more. For me, as long as the dolls are unique and beautiful, I don't feel an ounce of guilt towards having a lot of saying I collect them.

Even if I decided to start collecting non-customized dolls, that would just be my prerogative though! I'm a firm believer in "do what you love" and if it's not hurting your finances and what you love is dolls, go for it!

 

I've been collecting since March of this year, and I have 8 dolls haha~ so I think I'm already a crazy dolly lady, and have not a single crap to give~
I say do your own thing and if it makes people think you're odd or creepy, that's their problem.

 

If you have a stable life with shelter and food, if your not hurting yourself or anyone around you, if your enjoying it, if it makes you happy, then nothing else matters. The only things that truly matter in life is that you and the people you love are happy and safe.

 

haha worry? Nah I embrace it!
people come into my house, which is full of all sorts of dolls and they always ask "are these YOURS?" and I grin and tell them "mostly. Those are husbands, the rest are mine all mine whahahahahah" and they look a little scared. <_<
But then I don't really have much shame when it comes to my interests. Dolls make me happy, so screw what anyone else thinks. There's worse hobbies to have, at least it's not self destructive like gambling or smoking or drinking or something right? Worst health issue we have is the sealant we breath in hah.

But yeah.

I collect a lot of dolls. It started with Bratz Boyz and then My Scene and Sindy, then vintage dolls in general, Monster High happened... Bratz relaunched... Makies, Hujoo, Pullip... now BJDs. I'm a "if I like it, I like it" kinda collector.
Thing is, when people do actually come in and get over the initial "oh god they're looking at me" shock, they're often quite interested to see the various different dolls. Particularly the ones i've customised myself, they're my little art pieces heh. Kids also love coming here, because it's like a freaking toy shop! hahaha.
They aren't allowed to play with the expensive dollies of course, but the barbies? heck go for it kids. Whatever.

I dunno, I enjoy it and it's an outlet for my creativity and a distraction from the crappiness of real life. So why not?
I've only had a few unpleasant negative experiences, most people are actually really accepting of it, even if they think it's weird they can't deny my passion and it makes them smile.

 

I think a great part of this will be how well socialized a person is. People who are all caught up in any sort of thing (dolls, cats, games, cars, whatever), in a super-obsessive way so that it's all they do and all they talk about and they really don't care about anything else-- so that all those around them can no longer relate to them and visa-versa... That's what causes people to start dropping them as friends (and visa-versa), and for things to become uncomfortable for everyone.

If a person has a healthy way of pursuing their interests, they aren't going to be viewed as crazy by others (well, this isn't a guarantee, since some people will have biases against many interests--but those people you can't avoid upsetting and you'll need to try and ignore them and live your own life). If you really love something and love spending a lot of time and money doing it, as long as you're happy and as long as you don't ignore everything and everyone else in that pursuit, it should be OK. Others shouldn't be worried about your dolls. They are your business. If you keep going on and on about your dolls to someone who isn't into dolls--well, that's just not acting properly in a social way. So people will think that's annoying and strange.

Negative aspects like that might mean it's more of an unhealthy obsession... We need to watch for that, just for our own good.

 

I told myself I would only have one doll..Now I am up to four, I keep wanting to buy more lol,They simply make me happy. I constantly hear "Those are creepy!" "Ew! You are like in that one evil doll movie!", But when I look at my dolls my troubles melt and I can relax a little,I never thought a hobby would hit me so hard like this,but I don't plan on stopping my collection,I just got to start dressing the ones I have before I get ahead of myself with too many.

 

No, I've got to the point in life where I just don't care. I'm an avid collector of 80's/early 90's toys and dolls (from my own childhood) and lurve dolls in general. I've been collecting since my late teens and i'm 33 years old now. I actually can't explain why I have such a fascination with toys and dolls in particular but I don't see my ball jointed dolls as child substitutes as they don't look anything like "real" children, proportion wise at least. You do need a thick skin in this hobby as you're bound to get some negative comments at some point. Personally I just view them as narrow-minded, boring farts lol I know it's not typical but i'm happy to be a single, independent, mature woman. I've personally found that folks (both grown up men and women) generally regard my hobby as strange and childish. However you only live this life once and i'm not living it for anyone else but me. People tend to be very arrogant and if they say it's odd then it must be so. I don't appreciate people telling me what I should and shouldn't be doing. There's no rule saying you can't collect dolls after a certain age, it's not like I play with them like I did as a little girl by giving them voices (using my own hee hee) or role playing. As an adult collector I see them as works of art and enjoying displaying them. I'm also interested in their history and development especially with regard to my older dolls/toys. Unfortunately many adult men & women tend to think it's immature so the dating scene for some people can be very tricky, if you're fortunate enough to find someone like-minded, perhaps they are a collector as well but not necessarily dolls, then that's great. I love my pets, they don't give me aggro, hee hee. I enjoy being able to do as I please (within reason of course) without someone making petty remarks or basically giving me the ultimatum that I need to give up my hobby, which isn't going to happen. If people call me a crazy doll woman so be it, it's only their opinion....not fact.

 

I feel the same way. To me, my dolls are Art. I have grown children. They live far away from me. Dolls are my joy, my therapy, my fun! When I had ten BJDs, my OCD-ish boyfriend was calling me a hoarder. However, to me, a hoarder is when they are wall to wall, knee deep on the floor unopened and moldy, etc. I have about twenty bids of various sizes now, and I have at least ten that I strive to get, haha.

To the original poster: Don't worry about what people think. Worry about allowing yourself to enjoy something that gives you pleasure and peace.

 

Yeah, I'll admit, it IS something I've thought about...the only good thing about a lack of money is there is no feasible WAY for me to go crazy with my collection.

 

What's really a bit strange (on my part), I think, is that I sometimes feel like I'm betraying a friend when I sell one, which is usually only so that I can fund a different doll. Trouble is, I hate selling mine. I talk to them when I pack them up ... ask them to forgive me, lol. Alrighty then!

 

I've been a crazy collector of things my whole life. So Im not at all concerned lol

 

I would be upset if I was called a "crazy doll lady"--I aspire to own enough cats when I'm finally living somewhere more permanent that it would be insulting if they commented on the dolls first.

I am, first and foremost, a "crazy cat lady."

 

This - so much. I'm disabled, too, with multiple hobbies. And hell, everyone in my house collects something - whether it's my mom and her trinkets, dad and his sports memorabilia, my younger brother and his computer keyboards, or me and my otaku merch/art supplies/books/cute things.

The dolls are more recent, I'll admit, but since I was that kid who had a ton of well-loved Barbies, it was only a matter of time before I moved up to BJDs. I've loved dolls all my life, and I don't think that will change anytime soon. As for my becoming a crazy doll lady, it's not going to happen. I don't have the space or money for more than maybe 3 max.

 

I am 65 years old and I don't give a hoot what people think about my dolls. Some have the nerve to tell me they're creepy and some tell me they're beautiful. I don't like it when people ask how much they cost. None of their business, do I ask them how much their newest handbag cost? I don't travel, I don't smoke, I live in a modest house. I have one addiction...dolls. Loved them all my life and I'm not about to stop now.

 

I sort of enjoy the idea of being a crazy doll lady. My last birthday party I invited all my "regular" friends, and all my "doll" friends and decorated with all my dolls. A good time was had by all.

 

I honestly never gave it a thought. It's my life, my money, my business. I just don't care what anyone thinks about it.

 

Hey, Em. I am so bad. I am just seeing this now, two years later. I agree with your philosophy and hope you keep collecting dolls! At my age, I don't care either, lmao!

EXCELLENT.

Sounds like great fun to me, lol.

 

I'm already a weird person, becoming a crazy doll lady would just be the next step in my life at this point. I sorta enjoy being a crazy doll person though because it's a unique thing and most people's reaction to it is hilarious.

 

I am already a single woman over 30 in an area where that makes me an "Old Maid" (we're expected to marry between 20-24, by 25 you start getting meaningful looks and jokes, by 30 people have given up on jokes and carefully point out that "You'll find someone one day")

And I live in a house in a neighborhood, instead of in an apartment like a proper un-wed person.

(In this area I live in people won't let you rent a house if you're not married, you are expected to live in Student Housing because Homes are for Families. Read: married people, not you, you statistical outlier. No they really don't know what to do with Single Adults here.The Rockies are... unusual.)

So let's tally this up: I am an Unwed Spinster, I occupy a home where I "do not fit into the zoning plan", I dress funny, I have a little black dog I talk to and spoil, I do Martial Arts and Medieval Reenactment for my hobbies. My gardening hat is black and pointy.

I really, really don't think adding dolls to this mix is what makes me the Neighborhood Crazy Lady. I am THERE, guys.