Doll Owner Stereotypes?

1) Do you think BJD owners are put into a stereotype? If so, describe it.
I'm the only person I know -lol- who likes BJDs. My whole family love Japan so they just see it as another branch in the tree...to say the least. I haven't heard of any kind of stereotype from people outside the community, ONLY from the BJD fans...they say outsiders see us as this and that but my friends who are not familiar with anime or anything Japan-related just see my love for BJDs as another 'artistic' part of myself (I paint and all that).

2) Be honest - do you think you fit the stereotype at all? Not at all? Why?
From what I have read in this thread and when people named all the stereotypes we are given, supposedly...then, yes...a BIG yes! I fit all the stereotypes XDDD I'm a Japanophile (and so is my whole family) we love the culture, food, history, the country, the people, and if I could live in Japan one day I would! but I am the only one who is an anime fan, yaoi fan (I also read gay-themed novels) I'm very introvert and a bit anti-social (I prefer to be by myself most of the time but I have friends and have no problem getting along with people). The only things is that I'm not a big fan of J-pop or J-rock...I prefer European/American music (I listen to rock and metal only).

3) How do you think there came to be stereotypes in the BJD hobby?
The majority wins? when a group of people in a hobby like almost the same things that's when stereotypes arise and people outside the hobby try to put every other person in a box...because it's easy to understand...you know, we like to have answers for everything. "Why is he/she a BJD fan?" "oh, she/he is an artist, likes anime, yaoi etc" and maybe this person is not an artist, doesn't know nothing from Asia, not a fan of anime/yaoi and so on...but that's how it is, I guess.

 

1) Do you think BJD owners are put into a stereotype? If so, describe it.
I would have to say yes to that question. People have sais all the diofferent explations already so I will not restate them. People are so different and the reason for getting into this hobby are also different. I gues maybe a large portion of the people get into it because of other aspects of Asian culture but there are some of us that do not reallt care for the Asian asthetic in ALL our BJDs.

2) Be honest - do you think you fit the stereotype at all? Not at all? Why?
i do not feel that I fit into this stereotype at all. I think of my dolls to be are customizable works of art that are yet another avenue for self expression. They may be idealized versions of parts of my personality or things I consider interesting or desireable.

3) How do you think there came to be stereotypes in the BJD hobby?
Because the crazy folks, who seem to end up being the most vocal in this hobby sit there and pontificate upon fringe elements of doll collecting that seldom have a basis in reality. That in tuen makes the outside world think we are all as nutty as a gosh darn Payday bar!

 

1) Do you think BJD owners are put into a stereotype? If so, describe it.
yes i think bjd people have been put into a stereotype. most people think bjd people love manga nime and cosplaying love japan ect..
2) Be honest - do you think you fit the stereotype at all? Not at all? Why?
yes i think i do i fit in this stereo typesimply becouse i started loving manga and watching anime and at the time i loved diffrent kinds of dolls. then i found out about bjd's by looking at youtube videos on dolls. so yes i think i fit into a stereotype
3) How do you think there came to be stereotypes in the BJD hobby?
im not sure... i think people might find out about bjd's by looking at diffrent anime and manga's

 

I do think a lot of stereotypes that exist are already listed here. I have met people that fit in, and I've also met a lot of people that aren't stereotypical at all. But I do admit that I do not talk about my doll hobbies with certain people.

 

1) Do you think BJD owners are put into a stereotype? If so, describe it.

At least from what I seeing in other places on the internet, some people think BJD owners are elistists, whiny, dramatic, smelly, immature, and just down right negative people. Some hate people who own Volks dolls, and others look down upon people who own other companies than Volks/etc. They may be antisocial, impolite, obnoxious, and feel that BJD are composed of European features.

2) Be honest - do you think you fit the stereotype at all? Not at all? Why?

No. I could really care less about where a person bought their doll. The only thing I care about is if they have a flickr so I can see their photographs of their dolls. I'm not exactly a "people-person" but I do tend to get along with people. My friends know about my hobby, and don't think anything weird about it. I'm not a loud person, and impolite individuals do grin my gears. But these are stereotypes. Not everyone behaves like this, or I least I hope not.

3) How do you think there came to be stereotypes in the BJD hobby

Bad experiences overpower positive ones. If there are BJD owners who act like this, people will remember. I think this is also a reason why some people are afraid of going to meetups. I don't want any negative comments about my doll and I. I try to treat everyone with respect, but not everyone does the same.

 

I'm pretty new to the BJD world, and definitely do not seem to fit the stereotype...I'm in my 50's (I don't at all feel like I thought I would feel at this age--still feel about 25 or so), not really into anime except for Miyazaki, not into manga, and am a lukewarm Japanophile at best. But I love customizing dolls and making them clothing (mostly lolita/goth/steampunkish styles) and BJDs seem to provide a great substrate for my creative attempts.

 

1. I am familiar with the stereotypes but curiously only through abjd devoted sites.
2. I do not fit the stereotypes in any respect with the possible exception of admiring some aspects of Japanese culture. I admire many different cultures and have travelled extensively. Quite simply, I love dolls and abjd's appeal to my aesthetic and feel much more interactive than other dolls.
3. Stereotypes exist because the people involved create them themselves and want to believe they belong to a special exclusive club with a special language with limited access by outsiders. Then there is the rest of us who are here for the enjoyment and the ability to speak to others with similar interests whatever they may be.