Don't be embarrassed!

Awww! Thanks! I suppose that's all about "owning" the feelings that come with it

If only I could feel that way about everything in life...otherwise I'd be wearing steel-boned corsets and bright red hair to work to the office every day

 

In these last few months, as I've grown more used to living out of the house and going to college in a town where no one knew me in high school, I've found that I'm not as embarassed as things that I used to. I wear what I like, try different jewelry and don't really care if people think it's weird or not.

But today, when I had to give an informative speech on BJDs and had my little Nazomi up for display, I could practically hear people's eyes rolling in their heads. It's odd, there's so many things now that if people don't like it, I really don't give a damn, but when my classmates look at me like I'm a foolish child as I try to give a mature presentation on the world of BJDs...yeah, for some reason I really wanted to go and just hide in a hole for awhile. O.o Since I'm not around my peers I grew up with, there's not a whole lot to be embarassed about, but now that everyone in class knows I collect dolls, wow, do I really wish I had chosen a different topic.

It's weird, because my older sister who still pokes fun at me on occasion is the one always telling me I should dress them up and take them to pumpkin patch with her and take some cute photos. O.o? Or how I always see this cute chocolate shop near her college, I say how much I'd like to take pictures of Fakia there but it's always too crowded, she's the one who acts like it's no big deal and that people in 'college country' see alot weirder. -_-

 

I don't get embarassed but I do feel uncomfortable trying to explain my hobby to other people. Because typically speaking, we all know it's hard for another person who knows nothing about the hobby to understand why I'd want to spend all this money and dedicate all this time to something like a doll, of all things. It's frivolous in all outward appearances. It's tough when somebody is genuinely interested in my dollies but can't wrap their mind around why I have them (at my school, this is a really big thing because we're all a bunch of eccentric philosopher types)! Usually I just say that it's a hobby like any other; I know people who will spend thousands of dollars on video games and all the trimmings (like HD TVs) or on something like decking out a car over the course of a year and my hobby is the same way; it's just usually more money spent at once than stretched out over time. That's a good explanation that satisfies the majority of people, I've found.

 

I don't have my doll yet, but I know I'm going to get all kinds of different reactions. I told my mom about the idea and her best friends daughter (whose on here btw D; ) has them too. So she's fairly used to the whole concept. She said, "Your job, your money do what you want with it. You better take good care of him though." She even thought he was really cute too hahahaha. I have two different groups of friends, the two groups don't interact with eachother ahd don't really know the other exists. It's not that I purposfully not have them know eachother, that's just how it is. Eh. How do I explain this?
Hm. Well I have my friends who are more into nerdy activities and then my friends who go to all the goth clubs, EBM concerts and parties in the big cities with me.
I am not ashamed of it, not one bit. I've never been ashamed of anything I did, wore, listened to, anything. This will be no exception, I'll love my doll and I don't care what anyone says about it. If someone has some demeaning comment to make then that's their problem and it won't stop me from doing what I love whether that be dolls, cosplaying, writing, whatever.
The one group of friends (my nerdtastic friends ) are far more open minded, they all are excited to see my doll and think they are wonderful. One of them is actually considering getting one herself after all her financial obligations are fufilled. The second group of friends might think it's a little immature, or even a waste of money. But I could care less, it's my choice not theirs.
As far as I see it everyone has their own little quirky intrests that make them happy. Whether it be dolls, collecting over priced jewelry, designer handbags, fast cars, expensive makeup, body mods if it makes you happy who cares what others think? My best friend for example: She spends sooo much money on body mods. She has 4 tattoos all very colorful detailed and expensive. She also has, 9 piercings, only two of which she did herself and a set of 50 dollar dread extentions. She's put about 2 grand+ into this hobby of hers so far, some people think it's a waste of money but what does she care? Oh god I'm getting off topic. ANYWAY.
So no I probably won't mention my doll(s) to my second group of friends. Why? Cause I have no reason to, they don't care about them so I have no reason to share them. Plus I would never bring my future dolls to the club or a show, they'd be ruined in ten minutes!
Once I start attending dollmeets, and conventions you'll always see them on me :]
I'll never be ashamed of them and no one else should either.
Woo!

 

I was emparessed about reading about us on this Encyclopedia Dramatica...It made us sound like we were crazy/yaoi/money pigs! So I made an account and am fixing it up a bit...hehe...

 

Only one of my closest friends has seen one of my dolls in person and I think I chose carefully, she doesn't judge me, but she won't be into BJD herself, it's just not her thing. Another friend may be inspired enough to join the hobby, but I think I would feel embarrassed if she knew how much the dolls cost because I don't want to address or justify how much I've spent. It works for me, it doesn't have to work for someone else.

I felt embarrassed carrying Rupert around Chester the other week, not huge embarassment, just a little, but I forced myself to do it because I wanted to draw out other BJD people who might have been lurking there that day, plus I wasn't with someone who would be embarrassed. I think my boyfriend would be mortified if I did it in his company, which is sad.

I do get embarrassed talking about my dolls with my RL friends a little because I got into this independently from any of them and now, because they haven't been there from the beginning, I don't know how to start talking to them about it...or tell them I now have six dolls!

 

I am not embarassed

I am even proud to have found something that really makes me happy and all giggly and makes me squeel of happiness!!!

But I do feel uncomfortable in my house because I cannot talk about it XP
I have to almost whisper to my sister when I want to talk about BJDs becasue my mom does not understand and I do not want her to do something about it and not let me get one :<

I am so totally the kind of person that will go outside and show off my doll XD

The onkly thing that could make me embarrassed... is if someone decided to undress one of my dolls..... but at the same time it is more funny then embarassment XD

 

I don't really care about what people think of me and my hobbies. They might not be standard at all but hey, at least I like it!

I wouldn't take my dolls with me when I'm going out, just because they will be a bit in my way I suppose, and I would be too worried about them getting hurt/damaged. I only take them to places where other people understand what they are and what they mean to me.
My bf is really embarrased about friends find out about my dolls though... which shouldn't be any of his problems. It's only at me that they will look strange xD

People should take everybody as they are, no matter any "unusual" hobbie, characteristic etx!

 

since im a guy,im even worst off.... the first time i brought 2 dolls and when they arrived,i tried hiding it from my parents....

mother: whats these... you brought something again...your room is full already !!!
me: those belongs to me,dont open it.
mother:what huge boxes
me:ehh... those are large miniatures....large figurings...i mean

after i open them....
mother:since when you collect dolls....o_@
me: ohoh...those are not dolls...art object....O_o! for display purpose...
mother:at least they're much better looking than your "warhammer40k" minatures
mother:look expensive..how much it cost?
me: oh...cheap afew hundreds... (hiding my card bills)

 

Eh why would anyone laugh at the beautiful dolls?
It generates attention and general envy at my place 0_o

 

@ umarine
Good job hiding the expensive details from her. ^_^

As for me, my co-workes sometimes laugh, but then they start asking questions like:
Why did you buy it? What is it? Is it popular to get these? or the famous... Why does it have those creepy eyes?

I actually love when people ask, but sometimes I do get embarrassed when I go to the malls with my girl. Some people are very mean, others are just interested.

I just view it as:
If I go to the mall, and someone who is interested in BJD's asks about her, and finds out information they might buy one some day.

 

So very true!

I'm probably not going to tell any of my friends at school (though I showed a girl who sits next to me in graphics class and she thinks they're really cool) because I know they'd be like "You're buying...a doll?!" They're not mature enough to let me explain the reasons why and what attracts me to BJDs, they'd just be like "You're playing with dolls, nah nah nah!" I think in college I will definitely be a lot more open about my hobbies, and myself. Most high school aged kids, especially at my school, have a lot of preconceived notions and prejudices that I just don't feel like dealing with in my final year of high school. I'll be outta here soon enough! xD

 

You shouldn't be embarrassed to tell your friends. What about buying the doll, and then telling them, while taking it so they can see why you are into BJDs?

 

BJD isn't my only "strange" hobby (cosplay, lolita, conventions..) so getting into it I was already used to poeple not really understanding ^^; Actually, I'm really thankful for my hobbies, because they made me truly not care what other people might think of me. I mean, your classmate's opinions definitely don't matter, and stranger's opinions are useless because chances are you'll never see them again in your life. And your friends shouldn't care what your hobbies are because who you are shouldn't bother them if they're really your friends. It's okay if they don't approve, but if they purposely give you a hard time about it just to make you feel bad, then they shouldn't be your friends.

 

Thanks I rave about my dolls on my LiveJournal, but so far none of my RL friends have bitten the bait, only my online friends have got interested in what I do for a hobby.

 

Well, I'm waiting for my first doll to arrive (pause to stare at the calendar and sigh), but once she does, I won't be taking her around town with me unless I'm going somewhere for a photo shoot. In my case though, it's less embarrassment and more fear of my girl getting hurt! College towns are kind of crazy, you know..

Seriously, I'm not embarrassed about liking these dolls. The reason people get embarrassed about things is that they feel bad for not living up to other's expectations. I'll skip the sociological spiel on conformity, but there are very few people in my life whose expectations of me I even care about. And none of them care that I've picked yet another "toy hobby." (I used to build 1:12 and 1:24 dollhouses. I collect rubber ducks, draw pixel dollz, sew ragdolls and doll clothing..)

 

o.o I have to say it's taking me a bit of getting used to. XD I usually can stand walking around with my dolls and stuff with my friends there too so I'm not the only one. However, I went on my first solo photoshoot a few weeks ago on one of my epically rare days off, and It took a long time for me to adjust to the feeling of being the only person there taking pictures of dolls, and being the only one getting the weird looks from passers by.

After a little while of people breaking their necks, holding up traffic and elbowing one another to take a look at what I was doing I kind of adjusted. Well, I actually got pissed off because it was so redundant Seriously, every car that rolled by where I was paused for a bit until I looked/occasionally glared up at them, then they sped off. =/

There was a jogging couple that passed me by and the lady elbowed her running mate whispering "Look!" thinking i couldn't hear, and she almost made the dude stumble off the sidewalk

The dolls are strange and something most people aren't used to seeing, they're huge compared to Barbies and such, so I guess I can kind of understand the spectacle. Some lady in the park taking pictures of huge dolls creepy looking dolls and all that. I just wish people wouldn't let their dogs come near me when they decide to stop and stare for a minute. -.-"

I enjoy it when people stop and ask questions rather than whisper amongst themselves though ^ ^ Even if it's just "What's with the dolls?" it's better than having people stop and stare then whisper amongst themselves, inconspicuously. >.> Because that's just annoying.

 

I don't think you should be embarassed of your hobbies. Because...it's a part of you, and that's like saying you're embarassed about yourself. Or something like that. I showed my friends and my family my MD Ryu head, and of course, some of them say I'm wasting my money, but it's my money, I'll spend it on what I like. (Though, with the American economy, maybe I should focus on other things )