How Old is TOO Old?

DoA members seem to cover a pretty broad age range. For the younger members: do you feel that people over a certain age should have moved on from doll collecting? For the older members: do you feel any pressure, internal or external, to "give up childish things" and devote your time and resources to "age-appropriate" pursuits (whatever those may be)?

I hate people telling others what to do. If you want to own whatever it is, and it's not illegal, then just do it!

Most people telling others that they are too old to play with dolls mean that anyone over a young child is too old. So forget about having dolls being OK for 20 yr olds and over.

But "playing" with dolls is different from "collecting" dolls. There are doll museums that cannot be put together by young children. So is that bizarre or weird? It maybe be for some people, but then some people will thing just about anything is weird.

Young children cannot afford a collection of BJDs anyway. These dolls are not for children, although parents can certain buy them for a child if they wish to.

These sorts of thoughts-- "doing this or that is weird" really, REALLY annoy me! I wish people would stop judging others for harmless activities and do more about important things that go on in the world.

At what age (if any) does doll collecting become pathetic, suspect, or even sinister?

---and just WHY should something like dolls be pathetic, suspect or sinister at any age for for any person????? GAH. I really hate this kind of stuff! Not directed towards the OP, but just in general-- I wish people would eave others alone and go help make the world a better place instead of worrying about stupid limitations like this! People can just pick any age or none and have an opinion, but does this really matter? I don't think so.

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As another poster mentioned, people can have all kinds of horrible views about spinster old ladies with dolls (or cats) or pervy guys with DDs, but those thoughts make me sick. I really love all bjd-lovers, because I have something in common with them--the love of dolls. I think guys who have dolls show that they are secure and know what they want. And that's true of poor young folk for get flak from idiots about their hobby. So please, don't put stuff on the older collectors, too.

 

To old to me does not exist for anything can't be to old to have bjd's and can't be to old to play video games. If I enjoy something I do not care what others say or think I just do it. Look just because you are older or have kids does not mean you cant have fun. Spread fun to your kids spread joy to your kids. Some people take everything just to seriously.

Live your life the way you want to live it do not live life the way others dean it.

This is all I wish to say on this topic.

 

The way I see it, you are never actually "too old" for any hobby. It is purely a social construct that says doing things such as playing with dolls (or whatever it is that one enjoys) is something that adults shouldn't be doing. There will always be someone who thinks collecting dolls is childish, but there are also people who admire collecting. Everyone is different and it is completely impossible to please everyone or to fit the ideals that everyone possesses. I happen to enjoy many "childish" things, but they make me happy. Happiness can be difficult to find in this world, so I don't let anyone else's ideas of how I should live my life influence me.

 

I think there is no age limit on this hobby. In fact I don't see this hobby childish at all. A lot of work goes into this hobby so saying this is childish is childish in it's self. I doubt and 'child' would be in this hobby. What type of child can handle the amount of customizing in this hobby?
When I say child, I talking about 12 and younger. Now if you know a child who is in this hobby, I am impressed. But if you think about it, this is a hobby meant for older people. If and when my mom finds out about this I'm going to tell her the same thing. If anything I can say this is art on a 3D canvas. But I'm starting to get off topic. My point is, there is no age limit but instead an age minimum. But the age minimum is different for everyone. If you put a lot of effort and money into something like this, the should never be an age limit. It's obviously something you love and there shouldn't be a time limit on something you love.

 

I agree with most people here that there isn't any "too old" age. I wouldn't care if my parents or grandparents started collecting dolls. (I think collecting dolls when you're OLD is probably more socially accepted than collecting dolls when you're maybe 20-50.)
I'd be more worried about very young people being into this hobby than older people. "What age is too young for BJDs?" is probably more relevant (not that I think there's any specific age too young since that depends on the person's maturity/respect for things but yeah).

 

So, OLD is older than 50, is it? ;-) Phew, I squeeze in just under that top wire...LOL

Old is relative to where you are - to a 5 year old a 15 year old is old...

I was not interested in dolls as a child, other than I liked making their clothes and washing their clothes (hmmm, some things don't change). My sister was, and as I lost her to cancer last year, maybe I am trying to recapture something of our shared childhood.

 

My dad loves model trains so when I told him I was saving for a £300 doll he just nodded and commented that I was just like him refusing to give up childhood likes despite our age.

Mum loves dolls and was around when Clara arrived, she was fascinated by her and loved the poseability and outfits I'd made for her.

My fiance isn't bothered at all, he is obsessed with football (British not American) so doesn't mind what I'm obsessed with.

I'm 27 and have always loved dolls and sewing, it was a perfect step for me to buy a bjd. I've posted pics of my outfits on facebook and my friends have been supportive, if anyone thought I was too old they have said nothing. I guess I'm lucky I have very supportive friends and family, on top of that I don't care what other people think about my hobby.

 

This. I've never met an actual Adult (maturity not age) who is worried about whether they are too old/young to be pursuing a hobby like dolls or cars or model trains or whatever.

 

Quite. From the point of view of a teenager those in their thirties seem to be old. Age is also relative, a 15 yo can be older than someone in their forties. I believe that one is as old/young as one feels, so if you feel young then you are young (whether you have a few more wrinkles than your neighbour).

And one is never too old to collect dolls, model trains, teddy bears, model horses etc. If collecting beautiful dolls makes you happy, then you should collect them. Who cares what neighbours, friends and relatives think.

 

I really do not care, how old I am. Everyone has some kind of hobby, I am not that old, but my birthday is coming, and I wanted a doll. It is what you like, not what everyone thinks of you.

 

I don't think you could ever be "too old". If you love collecting the dolls then age shouldn't matter

 

I am one of those who believes that there is no age to play with dolls, and considers BJD collecting like a "forever hobby". Unfortunately many people (very often members of your family our some of your friends ) think that playing is for children, and look unfavorably on the fact that we could be interested in this hobby past 10-12 years old.
I'm 25 years old, and only a few people know how much i love BJDs (my sisters, my cousin, and my family-in-law, that's all !), because i already know the reaction of the others... and i don't want to hear how much i seem immature to them. I just get tired of those pathetic reactions. There is no age to be happy ! [TABLE="class: WRD, width: 524"]
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I've been a toy collector pretty much my entire life. Mostly I have stuck to horse collectibles, like breyer or MLP. However, I have always had an interest in the back of my mind for BJDs. It was just the expense that kept me away from collecting them for so long. I'm 28 years old now, by the way. I'm very used to people's odd reactions when I say I still collect toys. I really don't care. As long as they aren't hurting anyone, people should be able to have whatever hobby they please. I even support people who collect baby dolls, which I was never a fan of. However, I'll defend the collector's right to death to collect them : )

 

I'm 50 years old and collect, sew for and play with my dolls. I can't see myself stopping any time soon and I do see collecting all sorts of dolls as a hobby with no age constraints.
I've never been bothered about people thinking I'm too old for dolls and should be doing something else and I really thing that as a hobby, doll collecting is an 'ageless' one!

I also wonder if the older we get, so the easier it is to be accepted as being a 'dolly collector'.....there are so many of us 'oldies' collecting and playing!

 

Too old means 100 years old. I'm 61 years old. I'm young.
I love dolls and dollhouseS.

 

I'm 66, and 100 isn't old!

 

I am 40 and I have more dolls than my daughter who is only 8. I like pretty things and I do not see it any different from collecting nic nacks or shoes for that matter. It does make my husband nuts that I spend ridiculous amounts of money on things that sit in a cabinet. But I love to look at them and they make me free good so that should be all that matters. I also have lots of pets, so what lol Why should I conform to societies rules. If I am not breaking the law I should be able to collect what ever crap I want. But one thing that is true I did not have this sort of money when I was in my 20s. I collected barbies that cost around $80 and that was expensive for me.

 

I still belly dance; listen to rock (& KPop which kind of horrifies my classic rock friends); watch anime; cosplay; go to conventions. I will do these things until physically unable. (never mind how old I am - but I'm retiring next year!) My grandma took her collection of dolls to the nursing home. There is no 'too old'

 

I'm in my late 20s and am just now getting into the hobby. Certainly I have more money now to invest, but I wasn't so keen on BJDs when I was younger, I probably would have opted for something else. Now however, I pay more attention to detail and love beautiful things. I have every intention of having my dolls for a long time to come and I don't feel that there is an age limit ^^

 

I am 15 now, but I can see myself with dolls when I go to university. I don't think you will get too old for collecting dolls, even bjd's. It's something everyone from every age can enjoy, so that doesn't mean when you get to a certain age, you have to quit. There is a chance there will be a point when you will kind of get over collecting BJD's, but I think that can happen at any moment and not when you grow older.