Dollies and Social Networking: Fun, or Just Wrong?

I don't do it, and wouldn't think weirdly of any else doing it. It's just for fun. There isn't any aspect of this hobby that I see as crossing any sort of line.

 

I don't find it strange at all! I think its just something that is an owner's preference. I don't have an account or anything for my doll, but I do roleplay other fandoms, or something I create on my own. I feel it would basically just work the same. I think the only thing people probably have a problem with is that there are horror stories about people whom end up being unable to separate fantasy from reality. Of course, you only hear about the bad side on the news. For every person who does that, there are perhaps hundreds, thousands more who can understand and respect that boundary. People are able to have a more biased opinion based on the facts that "stand out" rather than the every man. It goes the same for every hobby, religion--anything out there, really.

Its really just another form of telling a story, I think. People create photo-stories in the galleries, or even sign up for the BJD pen pal, or other such on DoA--its hardly different. Its just another way that people express themselves. YMMV, of course. ♥

 

I think it might be an interesting rainy day project... But i don't think i will -ever- actively use any sites like that again, to me how easy they make it for people to find you is really creepy, and after having been stalked through them once before(very serious here), i don't want to ever get back into them.
Plus... in my opinion the whole social networking thing has just never really been interesting to me. It seems like a "Dear diary" thing that can be read and judged by everyone you know and don't know,
As for is it too far? is anything really too far in this hobby? (ok i know some thing are buuuut) Most of the weirdest things imaginable have already been done. And some of it, compared to this? kinda makes it seem tame and innocent.

To all who dedicate that much energy and love into building your dolls persona and developing their character, more power to you. And to those who don't, to each their own.

My only concern here is when it can be taken too far on part of the owner, such as starting real relationships with people that don't realize the person they think they're talking to is a doll, it can be suprising how attached someone can be to others met over the internet, and finding out that person isn't real can be messy.

I suppose if good judgement is used, this activity is harmless, and could probably be fun for alot of people. I don't see it as being too far.

 

This is a concept quite new to me, but it definitely sounds fun. I don't know if I'd try it, myself, mostly because I'm not quite sure how well I'd stick to it, especially with all the things I want to make for my doll(s), as well as other hobbies clamoring for attention. But it certainly doesn't strike me as odd in any way, shape, or form. It just seems like a different kind of roleplaying, really, so what's the harm?

 

Now I made something during the process of buying and getting my doll. Since I got her, I've been sort of slacking in updating.

I used to have a hyperlink in my sig, but since then, I've changed it to Emma's pic. Maybe I'll make a new sig and hyperlink that???

 

I think that would be a fun aspect of owning a doll! : ) It would help one to further explore the character and deepen parts of them that may have been glazed over before, because there was never a chance to investigate that aspect.

I could see myself making at least a twitter, and probably not telling my IRL friends, but I think making a facebook to connect with other BJDs and BJD owners would be fun! It's like roleplaying your doll's character! And, besides, your doll is probably just as, or even more, photogenic as many of your friends on social networking sites. ; D

 

I think this type of thing caters to that hidden creative/imaginative streak adults don't get to exercise so often these days. It's basically a virtual version of pretend play. I see these RP's a lot, even in the "mainstream."

Look at Fifi Lapin, a fictional fashionista bunny who has captured the hearts of the fashion world. Her blog is written from her POV, as if she were real. She basically does the whole "online fashion blogger" thing, posting pictures (well, drawings really) of herself in various designer outfits that she "styles" herself. She interacts with readers through her blog, facebook, myspace, & twitter. She has thousands of readers/followers, has been featured in fashion magazines, even a book has launched recently! And it all started as a simple blog, combining the artist's 2 hobbies: art & fashion.

And then there's Jessica from True Blood's blog. She's obviously a fictional character, but hundreds of people follow her & interact with her through her blog. A lot of commenters pretend to be experienced vampires, answering her "baby vamp" questions.

Personally, I think if it's okay to interact with those fictional characters, it should be okay to interact with BJD's. But I guess those examples are viewed as "acceptable" because they're based on popular subjects (fashion, True Blood)...while BJD's are more of a niche thing.

 

At the risk of sounding like a lunatic, I would totally create a Facebook page for my dolls! It would be a fun exercise in creating a more in-depth personality for you doll.
To be honest, though, I probably wouldn't friend them - People think I'm eccentric enough without having resin friends on an networking site.

 

<---Has a facebook for her cat
(But I did it for testing purposes when I was a video game tester.)

In anycase as someone who role-plays online a lot and really likes developing characters, I like making journals and such for the characters. I usually post them in places where people will "understand" the characters...so like DeviantArt.

I'm barely on my own social network pages so I couldn't commit to that. I think I agree with many of the replies in that journals and such targeted at the right audience is something I would be more comfortable doing myself. But I have no problem with how anyone else does it. I find it fun.

 

I'd really like to make pages for my dolls on a networking site, or something similar, as I'd love a chance to help flesh out their characters a bit, but I don't think I'd want it on a high traffic network site. I figure I could probably do little blogs for them and put them all attached to a single domain, but that would be about it. I'm horrible about updating, sadly. However, it would be great fun.

 

I'd say making a page for your BJD and stuff is no different from online RPing.

It's all fun and in good taste as long as it doesn't get out of hand I think.
If you want to project a part of your personality onto the doll (which I'm sure we all do), then I don't see it a huge problem to take it a step further and even give it life.

 

I think it is totally fine- just an extension of the role playing of character that you created. People create Facebook pages for fictional characters and pretend to post as them- why not for your dolls? It's the same idea. I don't think that it's 'crossing a line'. I dunno if I would personally do it, because I'm really lazy (the constant updating of my doll's status, or what have you)...buuuuut.... I might create a profile for them, have a biography for them, even if it's just something for me to look at. It's good to know your own doll's character and history. I think that dollie social networking could be a useful and fun tool.

 

Both my dolls have Facebook pages, and I've already made one for my next. I don't see any issue with it; it can be amusing to see people's interactions with the fictional beings. There is no real problem in my eyes with them being on such sites, and it doesn't seem creepy.
Goodness knows, there are enough bots on facebook...

 

Probably not, but mostly because I barely maintain my own FB page, so I highly doubt I'd do it for my doll, unless as some kind of joke. But I don't think it's weird, and could possible be a lot of fun.

 

Absolutely do this, all of my three dolls hae facebook and livejournals accounts, my friends and family are the ones who add them! XD

it's not that your crazy or anything, it's just that you are imaginative and you expand the walls of your dolls' character & personality. It is a good role-playing activity, which develop creativity and innovation to a person. This is also a good way for other people to understand your hobby and the beauty of such dolls... ^__^

 

I'm on the BJD network. Though I haven't found any friends on there... which is unlike Xeph. He's an attention whore.

I can't wait to get pictures of him to add to his profile page.
December come quickly!!!!

And just to clarify, I Roleplay my character all the time. He was a character created for a comic I started 5 years ago.

 

I would sooner create a Facebook for my doll rather than myself. I cant take anything online seriously so I would rather be a doll online rather than myself! I think as long as youre not pretending to be this personality to people who are unaware, as I find that creepy. If someone became your friend doing this and then you had to admit youre actually a doll...weird. But if youre a doll being friends with other dolls, thats quite fun.

 

Like many said, I don´t think it stage or negative. If it´s what they like, the they should do it...
I myself tried to have a myspace, and now and the I even post somethin..... once a year or so.
Oher social networks are not for me thank you, much less for my doll.
Besides, I have better things to do than that.

 

Both of my girls are on the Facebook. All their friends are dolls. It's a lot of fun and is a nice way to socialize and show new things you've done with your doll. My dolls are more popular than I am, I think. There friends are a lot more... friendly.. too. The dolls all know what each other is doing and everything. I think it's very cool. I'm one my first doll's, Letty's, Facebook more often than I'm on my own. My other doll's Facebook is usually just her updating her pictures, commenting on other peoples things every now and again.