How open are you with your BJD as a hobby?

I never cared what others think. I speak of all my hobbies openly, and most of them are "strange" to people around. But I like strange, strange is good, strange is interesting!

 

Not very quiet about it to be honest. My coworkers know I collect dolls, as do all my friends and my husband has always been pretty supportive of any hobby I dedicate my time to. I'm grateful for that. I've also been the one to not care what others think as well but sometimes that's easier said than done.

 

You both have more brawn than myself, I’m so secretive from people in my past throwing my handmade dolls, toys, and art away; I really admire when people have strength to love their hobbies bravely. Only five people I love unconditionally know, and two thought it was “creepy” but they respect it anyways. (Funny enough, they have a massive anime figure collection but feel weird about my love of BJDs.) I wish I was bolder about it like I am about most other things. But dolls are way on my down-low. Insert Gandalf’s, “Is it secret, is it safe?” vibe here. Haha!

 

Actually I even brought my dolls to my workplace, bcs my boss wanted to see them XD. She thinks they are creepy yet beautiful . I'm a graphic designer, so I guess people expect me to be a little excentric .

 

My sister collects fashion dolls so she gets the idea behind bjds and finds them interesting.
My parents probably just see it as another eccentricity because they don't get why I'm into jfashion or video games either.
No way would I ever be open about my hobby at work - I have a lot of coworkers that have nothing better to do than gossip and they already pick on people for the slightest variation from what they consider "normal" hobbies

 

Most everyone that knows me knew I collected Monster High dolls. I gave those up after gen 2 got cancelled and found myself with the finances to buy my first bjd. I don't talk much about them unless people come over to the house and then I'll show them a couple of them that I don't mind being touched. I hope to attend some meet-ups or conventions so I can talk to other collectors.

 

As a transmasc neurodivergent person, I already pass as a freak, so it’s not this hobby that is gonna make people think I’m weird =‘)
As for my family and close friends, my parents love looking at my faceups and dolls, my mom sew for them and own a few herself, my enbyfriend likes them and is very supportive, same for my friends.

 

I don't hide it, even at work - what I do in my free time has absolutely no bearing on my professionalism and if they don't like it, it's not my problem ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Don't ask if you don't want to know!
My family think I'm nuts (no change there, I've always been... eccentric ) but they don't care as long as I'm happy

 

Everyone who knows me pretty much expects me to be eccentric so collecting dolls isn’t anything too crazy. I’ve told one coworker because I always ask her for sewing advice, but I mostly have talked about it with people in my private life. Most people in my life are just kind of bemused about it.

I was hanging out with old friends from college last night and a few told me that they love seeing my doll pictures and what I make for them! My one friend says she thinks my boys are so cute. We are all weird artist types so that’s probably why but it was so nice to hear!

 

I've let some coworkers know that I enjoy them; we're all kind of geeky and so there's no judgement towards me and my love for dolls, even though it's not everyone's cup of tea.

 

I wouldn't say I am secretive but I definitely don't volunteer the information. I want too but I have so much anxiety I don't even tell people about all my pets, my family knows and two people outside my family knows about my dolls thats about it.

 

Ooh, this is a good question.

I’m slowly learning to own it. Like many collectors have said on here, people have a tendency to say they don’t like dolls or find them creepy. A lot of times if people say that to me, I feel as if they are saying by extension that I am creepy and unlikable.

But that’s really not true. I can say I don’t like football and find it stupid, but that doesn’t mean I’m calling the person who likes it stupid. So essentially I’m trying to learn not everything is an insult and I don’t need to take it all so personally. What matters is if people treat you differently after they find out.

By now most of my friends know about it. I don’t tell strangers or most family members.

I did have a really nice experience the other night with some non-doll friends…my D&D group is on a break and I asked them if they wanted to have a craft night. They did, and while they were over I brought down one of my boys to make him a new wig. My one friend who previously said dolls were creepy thought he was actually really cool up close and found him fascinating. Even wanted to hold him! I count that as a serious victory for my confidence. It definitely made me feel like I could trust her more and just own my hobbies!

 

In my case, I won't be telling you if you don't ask, but if you do ask, I won't hide it.

I am more wary of saying their price because well, you know, in desperate times... And I only keep that info for my closest relatives (those who live with me and could be affected if I go on a shopping spree). If someone else outside the hobby asks, I would just say that as any other hobby, it's not a need, so sometimes can be seen as a waste of money, but it makes me happy, so that's enough for me. Also, sometimes I let them believe that they are as expensive as a Barbie (as no one has access to them that it's not me or my partner), so I don't have to end up listening a list of reasons why I shouldn't spend my money on the hobby or the others don't have negative feelings towards it like jealousy about the money I can or can't spend and such.

So, secretive? No. Wary? Totally.

 

I am very open about my hobby, because i’m really proud of my dolls. I mean, i don‘t just tell randomly people that i collect bjds but if anyone asks about my hobbies, i tell them about my dolls. Everyone i know knows about my dolls and many of them think they are creepy but they are still very supportive and i’m grateful for that
But still i‘m scared to go out in public with them :,)

 

I’m very open about the hobby in certain online circles and with my closest friends, and one or two family members know, but otherwise I don’t bring my dolls up in person or online. I’ve run into too many people who find it creepy for a grown man to appreciate dolls.

 

I can't keep anything to myself (perpetual oversharer here!) so since getting into the hobby I've gone as far as to tell my coworkers about it! They definitely think it's weird, but I'm already kind of the "black sheep" of the office, so I feel like it fits me fine. It's been neat seeing the transformation from "that's so weird!" to "aww, okay, that's kind of cute", even if they definitely don't fully get it!

 

I don't hide it, but I also don't really tell about it if it's not a topic of conversation, like what are your hobbies, what do you do for fun or so. I also don't really deep into it if the other person is not asking more. My family, friends and classmates at university courses know. People at my work know I like dolls, but I don't think they know about BJDs, because we have not really been super deep about it. I am wary with new people or people that I don't know well, because I have met some doll phobic (or rather just hateful) people before, that have commented how dolls should be burnt etc. Later I was just happy I did not say anything about my dolls. Not because I am wary of what they think of me, more like, I don't want to hear vulgar things said about my BJDs if that seems a high possibility. Most people who know me a bit better also know that I love all little curiosities, have lizards as pets and I love the dress in vintage clothes among my other hobbies, so I think they would just expect me to have some other not so common hobby.

 

I wouldn't tell anyone at work about my hobby-- I dont want to get looked at as childish or anything. I will tell every single one of my friends, even those who don't want to listen. xD If they go into my room they'll see my little collection anyway. I'm proud of them, so I might as well be annoying about them.

 

i don't mention it at work, but all my friends know! we often go to doll events together. i've gotten a few of them into the hobby

 

I am open about it to one of my closest friends. When i decided to order my first doll, they encouraged me and were very excited, because I only paint resin statues and not dolls, which was very new I have not told my family or my less close friends yet, but I would like to surprise them if they visit me or see my doll(s) by chance.