Is BJD really just for adults? And adults, what do you think of kids who like them?

As others have said it really depends on the person rather than the age group they fall into at the time.

To illustrate the point, I know two BJD owners, both of whom are in their late teens (not young compared to some people here but bare with me) the first one is mature, works and puts a lot of time and effort into her dolls. I would have no problem happily leaving one of my own in her care should the need ever arise.
The second... If I hadn't known her age before hand I would've guessed her to be in her very early teens. Despite been asked not too she touches face ups, she takes dolls without asking and puts them in positions I'd personally rather my limiteds wheren't forced into and I have had to shout at her like she's a child more than once, which frankly no one should be expected to do at a doll meet.

The money issue aside, she's a good example of why some people may think this hobby is better suited to adults.

 

I would be okay with my 19 and 16 year old buying and having bjds if they saved their money for it but it is an expensive hobby at this point in their lives. I would rather not have to support that as well as private education, clothing, travel, concerts, make up, jewery,computers( Apple), video games, books, movies, bags (Coach), shoes (Uggs), fancy cell phones, Ipods, apartment, furnishings and so much more. I am real grateful that they are not into bjd at this point. My daughters and their needs will always come first but bills have to be paid and it would be nice if once in a while, there is something left for me to indulge in a bjd.

 

Is BJDs really just for adults?
No. Why should they be?

And adults, what do you think of kids who like them?
Nothing really. It doesn't occur to me that there should be restrictions when it comes to BJD ownership. Except in cases where parts can be swallowed and the like - no dollie for you!

 

I don't think it's an adult hobby, but I think that you have to be a mature enough person to properly care for these dolls to any kind of standard. At 12-13 I would have loved these dolls, but I didn't have a job, so I couldn't afford one, and I was at school, Guides and other after-school hobbies, so I would never have had the time to do anything with them, and I was such a messy, scatty child I don't think I would have looked after a BJD properly.

Now I'm older, I have a job and my own money, I don't really have anyone else dictating what I can do with my own funds. I also have more spare time now I'm out of school, believe it or not, so I can apply myself to more hobbies. I have always been into photography, but it's only now I've been able to afford to buy myself a dSLR and practice more at it. There are kids I know with parents earning way more than mine, who have a dSLR at 9, but those kids are responsible kids and look after their equipment. If they can look after a dSLR, I believe they could look after BJD too, but those kids are very few and far between.

 

In the United States and Canada, doll parties and DenofAngels should be for 18+ only. In the Europe, anybody should be allowed to partipate. In a place so screwy as to worry about children of any age seeing anatomically correct dolls, barring minors will be the only defense against the Disneyfication of the BJD world in the US of A.

 

I'm sorry but... what?

 

^ I'm with you.

It sounds a bit screwy for someone who spends a lot of time in Europe to say that in Europe anyone can be into BJDs, but in America and Canada, there should be an age restriction! It's either an insult to North American young people or a backwards compliment to Europe.

 

I think BJD's are for any age. If that's what you really want and get the money to buy them I say Go for it!!
Stella

 

It is not an insult to American young people. It is an insult to American adults. Most people on this thread say that it is okay for a child to be into be into bjd if she is responsible and mature, but I say she should also have mature parents who won't freak out at the sight of a penis on a male doll, or a lewd tattoo on the butt of a 15-year-old female doll.

America is sick, sick, sick. While America has a long history of nudism as a harmless marginal eccentricity, in many states family nudism is more and more defined as "child abuse." Of course, once the term "child abuse" comes up, rationality and civil rights fly out the window. To paraphase the motto of the infamous patriot Barry Goldwater (don't worry if you haven't heard of him, he was from before your time), "Extremism in defense of children is no vice."

The number of French and other European families flocking to the nude and mixed nude/clothed beachs every August is almost 100,000. These are not nudists, just folks who like to toast their buns in the sun. Add to that the number of real nudists who spend the summer in naturalist resorts, campgrounds, inns, etc. Plus all French beaches (and somewhere I heard, all European) are topless. Mass child abuse?

Sorry, I sound like I work for the French Tourist Bureau! My point is that in America, if we don't want to lose our rights as adults enjoying BJD as adults, we have to prevent the bigots from using child welfare as an excuse to take over yet one more element of society. If family nudism is child abuse, why not next exposure to anatomically-correct dolls? And of a mother lets her child see such a doll, wouldn't she be guilty of abusing her own child? Shouldn't the child be taken away from her for the childs protection?
Like or not, we are up against a holy crusade, and regardess of the outcome of next election, it is only going to get worse.

So kids, I didn't mean to saying anything to insult you, or to imply that you were in any way inferior to European kids (or your fellow adult BJD owners, for that matter). Personally, I would even lift age retrictions on the 18+ forums, but it is all about self protection.

 

I'm sorry but I know plenty of British adults who would be just as offended as you claim americans are and likewise I know plenty that aren't. I can't speak for the apparently freespirited Europeans but I'm pretty sure there's gonna be some there too are offended at seeing nudists.

I'd be very careful about making broad sweeping generalisations about entire nations and continents if I where you because while yes there may be a very vocal minority who may be offended you're tarring millions of people with the same brush.

It's a parents responsibility to ensure their child is safe and doesn't view things that are inappropriate for their age bracket, so frankly I find the idea of putting age restriction on dolls on the off chance a few people may be offended to be more than a little ridiculous.

 

I agree with you. There are just as many conservative Brits and Europeans who never go to nudist beaches as there are the 'free 'n' easy' type. British people are reknowned for being uptight about personal space and nudity.

I can tell you that possibly all French beaches are topless beaches, but this really does not apply to the rest of Europe. Where my boyfriend went on holiday in Portugal, you could be as unclothed as you wished on the sand, but step on to the pavement without proper clothing on and you could be arrested for indecency. In the UK a topless man walking into a shop or getting on to a bus is frowned upon, and in some parts of Greece and Spain, he'd have to go outside, put his t-shirt on and then come back in.

Personally, I think a lewd tattoo hasn't really got a place being near a fifteen year old *anything*, but if a doll owner chooses to put one there, they believe it's an important part of the character, that's up to them and more power to them for doing that. The tattoo thread wasn't about the doll owner's parents, it was about whether or not photographs of a fifteen year old female doll with a tattoo on her arse was appropriate for the forum...and it probably isn't. Possibly because some people aren't fond of tattoos, possibly because some people would feel uncomfortable that the doll was underage...but this doesn't really have anything to do with the current thread.

 

This is probably the most bizarre thing I've ever read on DoA. You clearly have no understanding of Americans and the United States at all or you wouldn't have such a narrow-minded, ignorant view of it. Americans are a LOT less uptight and backwards than most non-Americans give us credit for. Certainly, there's a vocal segment of the population - religious fundamentalists, usually - who try to sanitize everything we come into contact with, be it books, movies, toys, what have you, but to imply that we're all that way to the point of insanity is just showing ignorance of who we really are.

There is no Disneyfication of the BJD world over here. None. If someone has complained about anatomical correctness of the dolls, then they are in the minority and it does NOT reflect a mass, American belief that they are dolls only suitable for adults. Honestly, it continually amazes me the ideas that people have about Americans.

 

Well said, Krissy.

 

-applause-
Really, that's like saying all Americans are gun slinging rednecks, or that all Canadians live in Igloos and ride dogsleds instead of driving cars. I've always had teachers and whatnot telling my mother that I'm an adult trapped in a childs body because of my mannerisms and such. When people over the internet try and pin an age on me, it's from 16-25. Thing is I'm only 15 years old, and this estimate of age is starting from when I was around 12. People who pin older ages are usually slightly taken aback when finding out my actual age. I even had a friend who forgot how young I actually am.

My mom doesn't care about nudity. She doesn't care what I watch on TV, because she knows just because I watch it doesn't mean I'll imitate it. So she doesn't care about the correctness of the anatomy on the doll. My father is the type who freaks out at first, but after reassurance doesn't mind. For example, with the male parts on the male doll he wouldn't mind so long as he's always wearing his pants. That isn't a very out there request. When it comes to expensive items, both of them agree that as long as I pay for all of it myself that it isn't a problem. I've earned the trust from them and therefor they let me do things like this.

 

.....What the heck?

I honestly think that every person is the same. Everyone wants to eat food, have water, shelter, and nice things.

What does age/gender/race/location have to do with it?

Krissy really nailed my post. =D Great job!

 

*points up* in fl we have gun slinging rednecks ^^

Anyway, dont ya think, maybe, that American parents would rather their kids collecting anotomicaly correct dolls then oh...I dunno...killing people and doing drugs?

France is no better than America, no country is better than any country at all *well japan is more techonogically advanced than anyone, but still*

I think Krissy summed it up the best. Kids who are into abjd's EVENTUALLY end up telling their parents because they're gunna wonder where the doll came from lol, theres no disneyfication anywhere, yes we may bring our dolls to disney and corrupt small childrens minds, but that's because we can. This is America afterall.

But yeah, Krissy summed it up the best *nodnod*

and plus, the 18+ thing would never fly at american and canadian conventions unless it's yaoi/yuri-con, convention staff dosent have the time to check everyone's ID for ONE *or two...three sometimes* panel the whole weekend

 

Couldnt this be seen as somewhat hyprocritical?

First off, isnt that giving a bit too much to your daughters when they are at an age when they should be working or learning the value of work and money? Espically with a 19 year old.

Am I telling you how to parent? Never in a million years...I'm only 17!

But also, if you add up the price of a medium size coach bag, a...hmm...motorola razar/krzr, a pair of ugg boots, and a used 2nd gen ipod nano, you have easily the price of a Super Dollfie, if not two!

I guess I'm just saying that you're saying you dont want your kids to want to save for abjd's and then you're saying that you'd have to buy them in addition to stuff they could live without *coach purses...*

And it's an expensive hobby to anyone of any age, unless you're Bill Gates, 500 bucks is a lot of money *shrugs*

I guess I see your words differently because I grew up on the poor side of the fence

 

I totally agree with you. Despite my facitious mention of unleashing 18+ forums to children, I agree with the parent's responsibly to make sure that they don't view inappriate things. I just don't want a parent to take it on themselve to make sure that I and other adult members of the community don't view inappropriate things for their child's age level at the same time.

 

I think then, one could agree, that it's reasons like that that have DoA be a bit strict on what can be posted here, so that younger members dont end up seeing just how anatomically correct a doll can be, even though they should know that the dolls are anatomically correct if they're wanting to purchase one someday

And hold on...you said before about nudity and everything...and now you're ok with it? what?

 

Osatta Natto: Why are you writing everything in huge, bold letters? Tbh I think it just makes people roll eyes even more while reading your... opinions. But it is nice to know, that since I live in Europe, I can collect anatomically correct dolls no matter what age I am.