Has owning BJDs increased your tolerance toward other people's 'weird' hobbies?

I don't personally find owning or collecting dolls to be weird. Collecting things aren't nearly in the same category to me as furry conventions. I have a pretty high tolerance of respecting other people's hobbies. If you don't like something just...don't do it? I'm not into the furry stuff at all but that incident with the bombing was sick and harmed more than just people who are Furries. I think everyone needs to be respectful of other people's hobbies unless they're harmful to others. Wearing a mascot suit isn't going to kill anyone. Holding a plastic doll isn't going to kill anyone, either.

 

doll collecting or in general doll hobbyists have been around for a very long time, while it isn't common it isn't rare either. So I wouldn't call it weird. I don't really care what other interests people have, to each their own, as long s it doesn't hurt anyone.

 

I think that the BJD hobby has increased my tolerance and acceptance of other people's hobbies. Even though collecting dolls is markedly different than mascoting/cosplay, it is an unusual hobby nonetheless. Just like I would want acceptance or tolerance of my unusual hobby, I should start by extending the same tolerance to other people and their hobbies, too. I am by no means a beacon of acceptance and warm fuzzy hugs (I strongly believe that no matter the hobby, there is an expectation for reasonable and unobtrusive behavior, and anyone bothering the non-hobby public needs to seriously tone it down) but I would like to consider myself a very understanding and open-minded person.

So yes, BJDs have made me more tolerant of other eccentric hobbies.

 

I think the internet in general has desensitized me to a lot of things that would typically be considered strange. After a while, everything becomes normal if you see it enough. I was never particularly judgmental, but I do suppose I am more interested in hearing other people out after being in a semi-taboo hobby. Where I used to be neutral and not care, I find myself willing to listen to others and learn what makes their hobby so enjoyable.

However, getting into BJD's has given me a new found appreciation of the creation of all things. The amount of work that goes into making anything is really amazing. Be it a beautiful vase or picture frame, my computer, a fur-suit, or a BJD, I am so much more appreciative of all the work that went into making it.

 

I clicked "No" because I'm no more or less tolerant of other people's hobbies now than I was before joining the BJD hobby. I've always been fairly tolerant of what other people are into because I feel like people are entitle to do what they want, as long as they're not hurting anyone or breaking any laws. I try to live by the idea that I will treat others in a way I'd want to be treated. I'd like people to tolerate my "weird" pastimes, so I will try to be tolerant of theirs.

 

I said no, but I was already pretty open-minded and already thinked that anyone can have any hobby, as weird it could look to people outside, as long as he loves his hobby and doesn't hurt anybody. We are free to love whatever we wants and not only "common" hobbies.
If people ask me what my hobbies are, I won't be ashamed to answer that I collect dolls and sometimes "play" with them by dressing them and/or taking pictures of them, if they try to make fun of it, then I won't care because it's a hobby like another and I like it myself so that's all that count to me.
I don't think that it's more weird than collecting stamps for example. I don't see the use to collect stamps myself, it's boring to me, but for a stamps' lover, it's fascinating.

 

Collecting dolls has not altered my opinion on other hobbies at all. What I thought was odd before is still odd to me now. But live and let live. If something makes you happy, then go for it. It doesn't affect me What other people do.



But honestly, I've been in this hobby for about 8 years and there are things even in collecting dolls that I find odd.

 

While I've always seen myself as pretty tolerant of other people, collecting BJD's has been my fist exposure to a hobby that gets lots of crap from other people outside the hobby. I feel like this has made me more vocal about supporting people with unusual hobbies, which is always a good thing in my book.

 

I said no, since I've had many friends with not so mainstream hobbies before and learned to be as open-minded as possible.

 

I already had a high "tolerance" of hobbies other people perceive as strange. I never had any issues with the furry hobby (Thundercats fan here) and am amazed by some of the fursuits people have made because I know that is no walk in the park.

I don't think collecting dolls is strange, but this could be because both my sister and I have collected figures.

 

No, but I was already extremely tolerant and supportive. So there really wasn't anything to change.

 

I voted "no," because I don't think BJDs have increased my tolerance, particularly. Rather, just experience in general.

Not just the internet, although that is a large factor, but life in general. The older I get, the more things that used to get a "that's weird" from me now just gets a "not my thing, but if it makes you happy, go for it." As long as it doesn't harm anyone else, people should do what makes 'em happy. Life's too short.

 

That's very true, Leokitsune

Its amazing how much growing up makes you not care about society or other people's opinions. I was actually just thinking this morning about how silly it was in high school and the early college years that people are so cautious about fitting in.

 

I don't think that being in the BJD hobby has affected the way I look at other hobbies. Like a lot of other members stated, I consider myself pretty tolerant of other hobbies in general. I may not understand why people enjoy certain hobbies, but I don't expect people to understand why I collect very expensive resin dolls either. I think it's important to find a hobby that makes you happy and give you a mental break from life's stresses, whatever that may be

 

No. I already was. I can be pretty tolerant without supporting things I don't like or get. Tattoos for instance. Or extreme piercing. As long as your hobby isn't purposefully causing harm or distress to someone not into your hobby, do your thing.

 

I would say no and I would also add that while I try my best to be as tolerant and open minded as I can be, there are still some things out there that I'm not okay with and I probably never will be. I think that's okay. I'll just be honest, there are some subculture things and other hobbies that go in tandem with dolls occasionally that I don't enjoy. Am I going to be rude about that stuff? No, but I will probably scroll past it since it's not my thing just as I would expect other people to do when my hobbies don't match theirs.

 

I voted no because, like many others, I was already open minded to people's hobbies before I started collecting dolls. I just never could see the point in getting worked up over someone's harmless but strange (to me) hobby. Sure there are some things out there that might squick me out, but hey, I just ignore it and don't seek it out. Whatever cocks your pistol, mate.