How Old is TOO Old?

I am going to be 39 this year and got my first doll just under a year ago. I've gone a bit nuts since then and have 15. >.> There are plans for more. My partner, a year older than I am, has also started collecting them. No such thing as too old... I DO wish they'd been around when I was younger though. My 16 year old son is also gaining interest in BJD's, and I hope he has a wonderful, LONG life with them to enjoy.

 

When is old to old? Does that even apply here? Personally I know people from their teens into their 80s who all collect dolls. I'm 58 myself so I guess I'm starting to fall into the "creepy old lady who collects dolls" category. But I was in my late 20s before I ever got into dolls at all & those were only antique ones back then. Heck, BJDs weren't even someone's dream yet. So while the types of dolls I've collected over the years have changed, the hobby itself is something timeless to me.

While society may think it strange for adults to collect & play with dolls, I've never been one who cared much about what the mainstream thought. Besides, people of all ages collect all sorts of things so why should dolls have to be a "dirty little secret?" In fact, dolls are the second most collected item, just behind stamps & coins. And if those two weren't considered one category, dolls would probably be number one.

So for me, there is no age when this hobby becomes unacceptable. In fact, I think it might be harder for younger folks like teenagers to be accepted as doll collectors since they're in that age where most people think that they should be moving on from "childish" things.

 

Not really. everyone collects different things, and older ladies are kind of notorious for having many dolls. There's not really such thing as "too old" when it comes to collecting.

 

Perhaps one of the best ways to sum the subject up.

 

This thread has some of the funniest answers. I enjoy stopping by to read them. [You know who you are]

 

Being 19 and having grown up in a culture where I've heard parents telling their young children (this one boy I saw looked no older than 3 or four) that they're too old for toys I'm going to answer from both perspectives since I know compared to others in this hobby I am still young.

I don't think that people should have to give things up just because they're over a certain age. There are no "you must be this young to use" stickers on dolls. In fact a bit of maturity (not necessarily age I mean acting like a mature person) makes BJDs especially more enjoyable.

However, I do feel that people look at me like a(n even more) crazy person for owning dolls at my age, when I say I collect them they still get this image in their head of me making them dance and do flips and stuff (not that there's anything wrong with it if anyone chooses to do that, your dolls, your hobby, no one else's business) or that I think they talk to me; or they don't know what BJDs are and they see a room full of dolls like in the movie Dead Silence. But then as I said there are people where I live who believe that the age to start to grow out of "toys" is like 5ish. That coupled with the fact that there isn't a huge following for any kind of doll here outside of toddlers means that a lot of people just look down on me as this nutter with "dollies at her age".

 

I'm in the "old lady" category. I discovered bjd's just before my 66th birthday a few months ago. Part of my enjoyment of this hobby is taking photos of my dolls - just plain snapshots of them wearing clothes I've made them or different wigs - and sharing those photos with my 86 year old mom & sisters (age 52 & 58) on the internet. It was interesting to me that my younger sister questioned my sanity, while my mom immediately thought it was wonderful. Now all 3 of them want dolls of their own so they can give them personalities & join me in the fun. So, no, I don't think anyone is ever too old for bjd's.

 

I feel old every year (21 currently)

 

Age is just a number to me (even though I am 25 looking like a 14 year old kid xD) dose age really matter when it comes to something you really love doing? when you come home after a hard days work or from school seeing your dolls lined up or sitting around , that just brings a smile to my face and just by spending time with them brings you such a calm happy feelings, age to me never mattered, as long as I have a young soul and a big heart.

 

When I started looking into this hobby I saw it as a hobby for 20-50 year olds. Looking into the different owners. I saw the age varied more and having older to younger people in the hobby I felt more comfortable. I'm seventeen and find the older members of the hobby to be a comfort. I think this hobby shouldn't be restricted to older people. When you look at the dolls and the work that goes into them should anyone be too old for the hobby- if anything too young. I've watched people younger destroy priceless items. I've seen anything from cars and phones. Things to be important. At least the older people have more respect for something of value. Maturity being debated? You should be very mature and responsible to take care of a Ball-jointed-doll. These dolls arent exactly cheap are they? Im sure most of us here have felt a pain in our pocket before the orders over. You have to be mature and responsible to take care of these dolls. Maturity comes with age.

 

I think that's just the ignorance of people who think they are very mature. It's all about doing what you love.

 

I really don't think there is an age limit (up or down) for this hobby or any other... I got into this hobby young, and will hopefully still be in it when I am old. ^^

 

Actually being older helps ENABLE one to embrace this hobby - ie the kids are off on their own w/college behind them & you've started collecting retirement etc (& have TIME - another precious commodity this hobby eats up LOL)
I know this is true for me - I couldn't afford BJDs until a couple years ago.

 

You are never too old or too young!

Well actually . . . maybe you could be too young; giving a BJD to anyone under the age of nine is probably a bad idea.

 

I'm 32. Yes, my family think I'm childish. But they don't put pressure on me about this hobby.

 

I always thought I was too old after I was a teen until I bought my first BJD in my 40s and found this and a few other sites, boy, its so nice to be out of the closet!! I finally found out I was perfectly normal to love and collect dolls at any age

 

You're too old for dolls when you're dead.

 

I don't think there is a "too old" for doll collecting. One can collect them at any age.
If someone wants to he or she should...And there's a point I always read of...Its always said "women"..I'm no woman and still I love my dolls...o_o And I collect them and make clothes for them and so on.
But that may go off topic here....

 

My parents always say "You are 23. You are too old to be playing with dolls!" - But I am not playing with them. I am merely collecting a beautiful thing and it makes me happy.
I don't think there is an age stop on this hobbie. Aslong as it makes you happy, so what?

 

if any one has seen " my crazy obsession " on TLC and saw the old couple in there late 60's collecting cabbage patch kids and playing with them as we do with our dolls, then there is no limit when it comes to something u truly would love to keep doing till the end or something XD
either way we are all strange but we love it