How open are you with your BJD as a hobby?

Like others are saying, I wouldn't lead a conversation with my interest in BJDs, but I don't hide the fact that I'm in the hobby. I'll post them on my social media pages and I'll talk to my friends about them (even though they don't care about them, haha). I don't hide them away when people come over and I'm proud of the work I've done on them. Now, would I tell a work colleague about them? No, not unless I also knew they were into dolls. I think that's more so just because of the stigma of dolls being for children, and in work you don't want to be seen as immature/inexperienced.

 

I'm pretty open about it. If someone asks what my hobbies are BJDs are always in the list. I've met several other bjd people irl just by mentioning it and surprisingly, I've very rarely gotten rude comments about it. Someone is always going to be weird about something you've got going on, so why not just be open about it?

 

I'm pretty open about my doll as a hobby. I'm pretty proud of it.
Also, they're out in the open to anyone who walks into my room, and over my social medias.
I don't really hide it.

 

Revising my previous statement! I'm open about the hobby now and my other ones too. Why not? Life's too short.

 

How am I supposed to convince someone to buy a BJD if they don't know what a BJD is? I haven't been able to create real life doll friends in many years though

 

I work in the tech field and I love video games so we have a lot of game chat and tech related chatting, I feel like I would stick out as a weirdo if they knew I collected dolls as an adult especially, so I keep mine a secret

 

I'm fairly new to the hobby. My friends and family know about my doll but I don't talk about it a lot. Not because I'm ashamed or anything but it just tends to not be the topic of conversation. I bet if I had a friend in the hobby, I'd be talking their ear off! Lol

 

This sort of thing is subjective as far as when I would feel comfortable bringing it up. If I’m in a professional setting, talking about my interests outside of work I probably wouldn’t mention it. If I’m at a convention or taking with a person I know a little better, I might mention it if the conversation warrants it.

Doll collecting, as a general thing, seems to be seen as “weird” by a good portion of the population, so while I’m not ashamed of who I am or the things I enjoy, I am generally conservative about who I tell what about my interests.

 

I've talked about it with some friends, and managed to find a doll friend through it (I didn't know they'd been into the hobby for years and I might've never found out if I hadn't brought it up!), and have also mentioned it to my mom. I might with the people I RP with online, since I think it'd be fun to have a doll cosplay as one of the characters I play in those circles. But I don't think I'd bring it up in casual conversation with coworkers or something. I'm not self-conscious about it but I don't think any casual conversation would steer in that direction, and I usually only mention my hobbies if the topic is in some way related.

 

The great thing about being an artist (working on a masters degree in 2D animation) is that everyone around me just accepts any "weird" hobby I have. I've got plushies, action figures, video game merchandise, BJD, and plenty of other things I like. And if someone does get judgemental I just remind them that it's not only socially acceptable, but also expected for me to be weird as an artist. Why should I care if someone gets all butt-hurt about what I do? I'll do what I want! XD

 

I feel you on the expectation when you're an artist, therefore a weirdo. Quite frankly with the customization it very much is an art form even as a consumer

 

Exactly! BJD are both an art form and a hobby. No one has the right to judge what anyone else enjoys as a hobby (aside from morally bad/illegal/sick things, of course). The world would be a better place if everyone was allowed to just enjoy life.

 

I'm in the process of introducing my friends to my dolls. I took a few year hiatus after some drama came my way and last month I pulled my dolls out of their boxes and got them a place in my living room. Now when I start to talk to a friend I pause and ask 'Hey, are you afraid of dolls?' which doesn't shock them since I ask them if they are okay with stuff before I gush about my stuff. If someone doesn't like my dolls... I don't need them in my life. But I'm also happy to cut people out when they are rude and cruel.

I'm really lucky my S.O is very supportive of my dolls (he asks me for my wish list, asks me if I need to take photos of my crew and what not) and he will stand beside me with a grumpy expression if someone says anything mean about them.

 

Pretty much all of my close friends know I am into this hobby. I am not ashamed to share it with others, but there’s no point to share it to those who are not interested in this hobby or don’t want to know about this.

 

I used to be very wary. These days? I don't care who knows. I customize art dolls, I have a big collection of them, I love them. If it comes up I'll mention it.

 

Most people I know and meed know I have and collect dolls. I do not only collect BJDs but I have also had porcelain dolls, I collect regular retail dolls and Vynil dolls as well. I am very open about it and if people don't like it that is really their problem. My dolls are in my room out in the open so there really is no way to hide them.

 

I tend to be open about my hobbies, though sometimes I do downplay them. Like if I'm at a family gathering I don't mention that I just spent a couple hundred on a new doll or accessories. If someone asks about my hobbies though I will wholeheartedly mention every doll I have and show pictures, like if they were my kids lol

 

Honestly I tend to be accidentally secretive about everything by just forgetting to mention it, unless it comes up, so the same goes for BJDs. Given I think they come up a lot less in conversation than most of my other hobbies. If they do come up, or someone goes into my room and asks about the dolls, I'm actually pretty open and like to chat about it if they're interested.

 

I work mainly in the arts these days and most people I meet aren’t surprised by it at all. Strangely I have met a few people in the past year or so who have actually been interested in BJDs or have their own! That’s been a big surprise for me.

 

I'm working on being more open. I wanna stop caring what others think, and having to constantly explain myself.
I'm perfectly fine with talking about making my own bjd, showing the sculpt around and such.
However buying one... I don't know. When it comes to friends I'm okay, but family, ho boi. I'd rather not disclose the price, cause I don't wanna have to justify spending a month's worth salary on a "toy". I feel like it's easier to explain the art in it when I'm the creator, but who knows. I'm probably overthinking.

I had a funny incident with a coworker tho. I was showing him my face sculpt of a future project (3d model) and explain what it's gonna be. So I ended up showing a picture of the bjd I bought as well. My partner ofc just had to share how "anatomically correct" the doll is. Naturally coworker asked if it's something sexual. : ) I guess by being secretive I just wanna avoid silly misunderstandings.