Is your doll habit a dirty little secret?

I've told my mom that I'm eventually going to buy one, and one of my friends know it too since she loves dolls too, but I haven't told my boyfriend. I don't actively try and keep others from knowing but I still don't talk about it since I'm a bit scared that they'll think I'm weird. (which I am but that's a whole different thing.)

 

My parents knew about the dolls right from the beginning. Most of my friends by now either know or will know if/when mentioning the dolls becomes relevant in a conversation (e.g. if we're specifically talking about hobbies or if I'm doing something specifically doll-related that I'm telling them about...like that one time I went to Akihabara just to hunt for doll clothes). Beyond that, I wouldn't say that I go out of my way to keep dolls a secret, but I don't generally mention them unless it's completely relevant to the conversation and there are some situations, like professional environments, where I try not to mention the dolls (or any other part of my personal life) at all.

 

I tend to keep my hobby to myself, as I know most would not understand it. My family doesn't need to know, and wouldn't understand. Only my very close friends know about my obsession.

My house mate supports me, but doesn't understand it. She wonders how I can justify spending so much money on a "doll". I am actually afraid of the day when I pay off my layaways and the dolls start flooding into the house. I know I am going to have to hide a few. The way I look at it is, if I pay my bills and my rent is covered who cares what I spend my money on. I find that it is just easier to avoid it all rather than trying to explain myself to anyone.

 

My family as well as close friends know about my dolls and I display them for people to see, I don't try to hide them. My family isn't exactly supportive of the hobby, but they know it's my own money so I can do what I want with it. My friends on the other hand love my dolls. I'm glad I don't have to hide my them. ^^

 

I don't hide my doll or lie about her, but I don't take her many places either. I don't do it out of 'shame', I just don't have the desire to take her places. If my doll does come up in conversation though, I have no problem talking about my hobby because if someone is going to be mean or judge me, well they aren't worth my time to talk about it anyway. This is just one of my many hobbies and any true friend won't care ^-^

And to the people who are openly mean about it, I don't back off, I usually call them out for being a jerk and that usually makes them back off, hahaha.

 

I used to be so afraid to tell people! It's kind of a long story as to why, but not anymore, I just don't care. I LOVE MY DOLLIES! I post pictures of them all the time on Facebook now. I also have friends who like them as well, so that really helped a lot. Seeing how much they don't care what people think/say really helped me get over it. ^^ I'm glad I did, SO many of my friends who I had no idea how they would react seem to really enjoy seeing pictures of my girls all the time. Makes me happy. I feel like it was silly being afraid to tell people now! :3 (MirbyCakes is one of my friends irl). I plan on taking my girls plenty of places! Just my little ones, though, Luna and Vivi. I may take Rin or Lavender sometimes, but I that would depend on where I am going. x)

 

We could take our dolls somewhere together sometime for a photoshoot, and glare down anyone who gives us funny looks! >:] Hahahaha

I really do think having IRL friends that are into dolls is super helpful in being able to shake off peoples judgmentalness. I hate knowing many people are in it alone.

 

We should! >:] RAWR.

I feel the same, I hate it for them. I just wanna be like, "let's be friends!"

 

Ahaha no one knows about my doll, only people on the internet. I'm surrounded by closed-minded people, so I keep my personal Sephiroth to myself.

That is EXACTLY what my best friend says to me. "He's just a doll! You're 22 grow up!" Now that is for playing with the Sephiroth action figures. No one knows about my personal BJD Sephiroth. I hate being told that all the time. People should be more opened minded.

 

A part of me wanted them to be kept a secret, but bringing home a large box one day kind of ruined that. I have brought my doll places, like out to dinner with other BJD lovers, to the movies and even to class with me. I love her and think she's too pretty to keep hidden away. That's not to say I don't sometimes feel a little uncomfortable, but I'm working to overcome some of that. I'm not someone who like a lot of attention. Even in groups of close friends I tend to get extremely red in the face when talking. But bringing her out is sort of pushing me out of my comfort zone and helping teach others about how wonderful these dolls are. I have my fair share of negative Nancy's in my live. My parents being the biggest ones! They tell me she's creepy and don't understand. But I haven't let that stop me from bringing her to their house. Mainly because they had supplies I needed to restring her. Both my parents actually helped my husband and I fix her! I don't go out of my way to tell people I collect dolls, but if something comes up and leads to talks of hobbies, then I share about BJD and how awesome they are!

 

No but their true price probably will be. I used to party a lot in my teens and early 20s and now I'm ready to settle down into some nice nerdy hobbies and I don't care who knows it.

 

My dolls aren't really kept a secret. I normally take them out to put on my desktop every morning. My family and close friends know about them but I won't talk about them with people unless they ask or are interested. I'm generally pretty open to speaking about BJDs but won't start up a conversation unless others are in the hobby with me. If there's a lot of family over for a party or something, my dolls will be hidden for safety reasons. The people around me are very open-minded so I'm very lucky.

 

Kind of. My family doesn't know. They're sort of odd folks that wouldn't approve of any hobby I had though. It's not because they're dolls.
People I have worked with and gone to school with know. I actually mentioned them during my grad school interview. The shop manager said, "That's awesome." So that was cool. I got waved tuition and a huge stipend from that grad school so it must have not been a bad thing!
So really, I am not embarrassed... I just don't like sharing details of my personal life with my family.

 

Being an adult male in the hobby makes it a little harder for me to be so open about it.

I don't choose to share with my family because they wouldn't understand, and I would be hesitant to meet in public WITH my dolls as I don't care to hear the commits or worry about what other people are thinking. I share my hobby with a couple of my close friends, including my house mate. They don't understand the hobby, but they don't judge me for it either.

I am open about it on instagram because there is some anonymity that goes along with it. It has taken me till now to attempt to go to my first meet up and actually share my hobby with others. Even though I know they are into the same thing I am, I am extremely nervous (but excited) about going. I know they will be accepting, but there is always a part of you that wonders "are they going to like me or think I am really weird...".

I wish I could be open about it and show people just how amazing this hobby can be. Maybe someday I will get there, but I don't think that time is now.

 

My Angel of Dream 1/4 bjd's, eyes, wigs, shoes, clothes, furniture, foods, props, my sewing machine, fabrics, etc. are in an old TV cabinet in my/my husbands bedroom.
My husband is supportive of my hobby; but lovingly dubbed it "doll crap" because he has little interest in them, or their things.
He helps me when I ask for help, and of course helps me buy bjd's and their things.

I have to say, in a way, my Angel of Dream 1/4 bjd collection is my "little secret" hobby.
My husband, and his Grandma are the only ones who have seen all of my doll's, and their things.
(I currently own 2 muscular males, 2 non-muscular males, one old female, one new female body, and two floating heads)
My sisters and my dad have only seen two, one male and one female. (Melfina and Gene)

I do take Melfina with me every once in a while; usually to see "what fits" my dolls.
I am OK with strangers seeing me with them, and asking questions.
I'm OK with them being posted on photobucket, flickr, deviantART, Gaia Online, and DOA... I'm just not Facebook ready.
It's having someone who knows me from work, or church, or something like that, finding me with them, that bothers me a little.
It only bothers me because by dolls "aren't ready yet".
I have told a few people about them, mostly family, friends, and a few co-workers.

I do plan on having a kind of "coming out" about them eventually.
I feel like I should have all the dolls I plan on having, looking how I want them to, and then I think I'll be OK with it.
I will tell "everyone" when I think my doll are "complete" at least "good enough" (not bald, eyeless, shoeless etc).
It's because I've shown some eyeless, bald, naked dolls to some people, and it is kind of weird.
Headless and body-less are just as weird.

If I'm going to say "Hey, this is my hobby, here it is" and lay it out on the table, I want to at least let them look their best first.
Some people will think it's weird/crazy/stupid or whatever, but this is who I am, I enjoy it; and my family supports me.
I've wanted to do this since I was 12 years old.
I got the courage, from my loving husband, to follow a dream at 26 years old, and I'm still loving it!
The few people who know about my hobby have told me "Your so animated when you talk about them"!
I enjoy this hobby, and I love DOA!
At least here it feels "safe" to show off your hard work, your doll, a wig, or even a failed project!


Sorry for rambling, but that's my story!

 

OK, never mind the "little secret" thing... after posting this I gathered the courage to post about my dolls on Facebook!
I did it, and I'm happy about it!

 

Umm...where would one purchase these so-called dead-baby replicas?....hypothetically of course....

 

My siblings and a close friend along with her connections know about my doll, I believe. My parents do not know, but I do not plan to keep my dolls hidden from them for long. However I will not go to them with my doll one day and introduce them, more like I will play with them more visibly. The price of my dolls, however, might have to stay a secret. I just do not want them to worry over that (because they can and will).
I guess my doll hobby will be like how I treat my art/drawing hobby. I do not entirely want to show it to others, but if they end up seeing, well, they have seen it and life goes on. It is definitely not something I am ashamed about, though!

 

I don't hide my dolls, but I don't tell people about them unless they specifically ask about my hobbies. I just don't assume people are interested -- and it does take a bit of explaining (actually, pretty much all my hobbies take explaining), and I'm not always up for the effort. I do take them to doll meetups and occasionally to some other kind of event (lolita or steampunk), but mostly just doll meetups. When it comes to sun exposure, my normal skin dolls go to the outdoor meetups (I've had very little trouble with yellowing over the years) and I take my beauty white and colored resin to indoor meetups just to be on the safe side. I have no trouble taking BW/colored resin outside for a quick photoshoot, however.

I don't do a lot of photography. I always intend to, and I have lots of ideas, but it rarely seems to happen. How comfortable I am taking pics of them out in public depends on where I am and who I'm with. Some places are more doll friendly than others.

 

I wouldn't say I am embarrassed about them. If family comes to visit and see's my dolls in my craft room I don't mind. My sister in law asked about them and I gave her a brief BJD run down. She nows jokes around with me about them but it is because we always make fun of each other.

I don't take my dolls out in public though unless I am a vendor at a doll and bear show. First off I don't want to take them out if I don't have to as I am scared of sunlight, and possibly damaging one..