DON'T Call Them "Toys."

They are grouped into the category of toys yes...but they are more than just dolls like what we had when we were kids. You all know someone who might have a collection such as model cars, warhammer figurines, pony figures, ect. They are art. Art can be played with. Yes they are expensive but they are something more than toys. Thats why its called a hobby. We didnt spend $100-$500 or more on a doll to have it be called a toy. I see where they are coming from. I have my own issue where my mom calls my Resinsoul Mei my "baby". First off...shes an adult...second shes not my baby. Good lord i hate that. If youre going to call her anything..call her my girl.

 

It annoys me as well, calling an expensive art doll a ''toy'' its so disrespectful and annoying. People need to open their eyes and notic that. A toy is made of plastic and is made for kids t play safe and its made with products not as fragile as resin is. Ball Jointed Dolls are expensive and they ARE NOT toys, they are ART DOLLS and its a hobby

 

I do consider the resin to be toys, I suppose.

I've gotten this before, though not in such a hostile tone. That particular comment doesn't bother me much, maybe because I don't get the 'toys are just for kids' implication. Lots of adults have 'toys' they 'play with' for recreation and stress relief. People don't, or shouldn't, stop playing and having fun just because they're grown up. Some people like to play with game systems, or figures/models, or boats, or scrapbook stuff, or nature itself. My father-in-law plays with camping gadgets and food (fancy cooking); my husband plays with motorcycles--and they may joke about their 'new toy' within their respective interest, but that's exactly what it is. It doesn't all look like acting out voices with a Barbie doll in each fist, but even if it does that isn't a bad thing. (Some fond memories, right there.)

I guess I think of it all (collections, sports, hobbies) blanketed under recreation and self-expression, which is essential to a full life. No one has a right to question how you play if it's not harming anyone, and if they choose to look down on you and spit negativity into your life when you've simply found something you wholeheartedly enjoy, well... remove them. You and your happiness are worth more than that.

 

Nobody has ever called my dolls "toys," aside for me.

As @Havra said, I view my dolls as adult toys. I mean, they're dolls. Dolls are practically the oldest kind of toy in existence (except for balls, I suppose). There are plenty of people with expensive toys out there, so I'm not sure why dolls are any different.

 

I wouldnt care. If someone sees a doll as a toy then i can understand. If they say it in a rude way, its still a really weak insult. I can only really imagine some evil old lady saying thay about her grand daughters ipad or piercing or something.

 

To me, a toy is something of minimal to medium value you give to a child to play with. A collectible is a delicate item of medium to high value that is not meant to be manhandled in rigorous ways. Barbies, babydolls, plastic horses, stuff like that is a toy you give to a child to play with. It's of little value and it's not a big loss if it gets broken or misplaced. A collectible, like a BJD, figures, expensive electronic toys, and even some plushies are not meant to be given to kids. They're more meant to be looked at and to have as part of a collection or hobby. You would give your child a mini RC car, but would never give your child a hobby RC boat or plane. You would give your child a barbie, but would never give them a BJD (Unless deemed responsible). You would give your child an action figure, but would never give them a figma, hot toy, or a similar figures of the sort.

I got a little off track. BJD's are most certainly not toys. Well, maybe not some of the plastic/vinyl ones, but certainly the resin ones are not toys. They are delicate pieces of art. If someone called them 'toys' I would say a conversation is in order.

 

I don't really mind if someone calls my dolls toys, because they're something that exists purely for my recreational time and I have no problem labelling them that way. I call my art supplies and some of my makeup toys too, because I buy them to have fun with.

 

It doesn't bother me, because I consider them toys too, much like I consider the plushies I collect, my gaming systems,... Nothing wrong with that. The word doesn't have that negative meaning to me. Different people have different hobbies and if it makes them happy that's all that matters. An ex-friend's father calls his motorhome his toy and I never saw anything wrong with that. It was something he "played" with after all.

If they say it to spite me, I'll simply point out to them that surely they have their own hobbies they like too that I'm not obligated to like just like how they don't need to like mine. Plus, I could be stealing, I could be killing, I could be doing drugs, but I'm just here enjoying my dolls, so why give me a hard time about it? And if that doesn't get through to them, well maybe they're not someone I need in my life if they can't at the very least respect me and what makes me happy.

 

I usually just explain inferior beings what they are and let them in adoration u_u

 

wow, this is an old thread. anyways, I think it depends on what you consider as toys. I would not be offended when someone calls my tinies or msds toys because I think that's what they are. But I would be a little upset at miscommunication and the inability to understand if someone calls my sd doll toy (i don't have one, btw). SD's are more like little people.

 

It doesn't bother me whatsoever to be perfectly honest. While I of course don't like to be talked down to or have people make fun of things I care for I would honestly be more insulted by having someone suggest to me that a BJD is somehow superior to other collectibles than having someone call my dolls "toys" (just to be clear I didn't say that anyone had that attitude here, I'm just using this as an example). It's not like resin is unique to this hobby after all.

I have been collecting toys for years and have what can be considered as "cheap, plastic, kids toys" that cost me more than any of my dolls have. So no, It doesn't bother me because a "toy" isn't something to be ashamed of or something to look down upon either. Toys can be "collectibles" and expensive dolls can be "toys" depending on your point of view. In some ways you could say that I "play" with my dolls when I make my photostories which is very similar to the function toys have. I do something, I have fun and if that's the same as "playing with toys", then that's fine by me.

As I see it there is no major difference but I do however believe a healthy dose of respect is in order when talking about someone's interests regardless what it may be since not everyone will shrug and feel "yeah, whatever" about it and it is understandable that we feel differently about these matters. So I don't say it's wrong to feel upset because that feeling is just as valid as feeling it's okay.

 

I'm new to BJD's specifically but my hobby has always been toy collecting. (Retro magical girl toys, Japanese figures, etc as well as Blythe, Pullip, Pureneemo, etc.) If someone refers to any of my precious collection as "toys" it honestly doesn't bother me. I have cheap, plastic pieces of "junk" that are worth twice what the average BJD costs. (Keep in mind, an item's real value is whatever the person who owns it truly feels!)

The same goes for my lovely BJD. She may not be plastic and certainly isn't cheap, but referring to her as a "toy" suits her. Whether a doll is artisan or something mass produced they're still dolls, made to be enjoyed and loved even if by adults. Unless someone is being nasty, I definitely don't really care what they're called. I also agree with @JAS101 that it may even be considering "playing" when I dress them up, take photos, etc. (I don't really see how that's different than when we were kids other than the item's value and lack of rough-housing!)

 

That word does not offend me. I often use that word, naming the dolls and other things, no matter how expensive they are.

But I remember the situation, when that word made me angry. It was on Christmas day. My ex (now ex, fortunately) constantly chatting online and flirting. I received the following response to the comment: "I do not make you claim for your websites with dollies". These “dollies" sound like TOYZ and it really made me angry.

The context is very important)

 

I'm not offended or otherwise about people calling BJD's 'toys' - it is simply inaccurate. The definition of toy = either a child's plaything or something miniature. Now if you are using the term as one does with dogs (toy dogs etc) then sure, BJDs are 'toy' or miniature representations of people. However, most are referring to the FIRST definition and these dolls are NOT children's playthings. They are objets d'art. The only way to accurately refer to them as 'toys' is the way people refer to other adult obsessions (cars for instance) as 'toys' which is said as a joke.

 

If they said it in a demeaning tone, I'd get tell the person off. But if it really was out of sheer ignorance I wouldn't really mind. Someone who doesn't know about the time, effort, customization, money, etc. that goes into the hobby would understandably assume any doll is a "toy".
That being said... they are toys, to me, in a way. I like playing with them, handling them, giving them characters, dressing them up. They are MORE than a toy and certainly exponentially higher quality, but they still have that "toy" element for me. So if someone refers to them as toys in an affectionate or joking way I'm cool with it.

 

BJDs are toys, though not perhaps in the same way that a lot of people associate dolls being. They're customizable toys, ones you can paint, dress up, change parts around... like a small, doll-shaped sports car (which, if you wanna get technical, cars could also be considered toys).

I don't know why "toy" has become such a bad word. We all have our own toys, whether they be plastic figures, cell phones, BJDs, or puzzles.

 

It definitely depends on the context in which it has been said. If someone unfamiliar with what a bjd is, described one of my dolls as a toy, I would gently explain that it is more than a toy etc and expand on the art involvement.
My work colleagues know of my bjd love. One of the men in my office got cross with me the other day, mainly in jest but told me to 'go and paint one of your dollies or something'. I was irked at that comment as it had been said to irritate me and was derogatory. He also tells me to 'go and pop the kettle on there's a good girl' from time to time too, so you get my drift!

 

I don't get upset when someone calls my beautiful boy a "toy." I explain that he's actually a highly mobile work of art, one that I can move about the house or take with me, and one that I can restyle and re-pose as the fancy or my home's decor takes me. If the person meant to be offensive, then I can pleasantly and genteely retaliate by boring them to tears with a long-winded talk on the comparative aspects of dolls sold in toy shops versus dolls sold as artworks.