Is your doll habit a dirty little secret?

For me, my doll hobby is probably the one thing I keep the most secret.
I've kind of drifted in and out of the hobby the last few years, and up to now I really haven't considered it a serious enough part of my life that I would need to tell people about.

I am a really really reallllllly private person about what I value the most.
My opinions, plans for the future, and most hobbies I keep to myself. It's not that I don't want to share, it just takes me awhile to trust people enough to share it with them. I like people to value the things I appreciate, so keeping the dolls a "secret" until I know if they'll appreciate them is my way of keeping my dolls safe, and my reputation intact lol. If it turns out they seem like they wouldn't like dolls, then I won't be telling them about mine.

That being said, my family does know about my dolls because I know I can trust them - and smuggling/hiding dolls in my house would be impossible lol!

 

My interest in dolls has mostly been a secret for the last two or so years. When I first got into the hobby, my boyfriend reacted poorly to my interest so I've kind of been iffy about telling other people about it. My mom knows about and and a few of my friends do. I've recently been a little more open about it with some of my closer, open minded friends. I haven't had any negative reactions from other people. Maybe it was just him. I'd probably never bring any of the around in public unless if was for a meetup, though. Carrying around a doll at 26 would seem a bit odd to most. ^^'

 

I will guiltily admit that yes, my dolls are a bit of a secret. From good friends, nah! I met them through the doll hobby anyway! But acquaintances and co-workers and the like, I do tend to keep it private. It is, when everything is said and done, by the standards society has set for 'normal' adults, weird. That doesn't keep me from doing it or enjoying it, and sure I'd love to share these things I find beautiful with people, but when all is said and done it isn't any of their business and I'd rather enjoy it by myself than present it to others and get flak for it that I know I'd get, from some.

My family is also on the more disappointing end of the dolly-acceptance scale -- the last time I brought up my dolls around my sister, her first sentence was "You're still into those weird dolls?" My mother views it as a money sink and was mostly happy they got me into sewing, but didn't like them that much past that.

 

Since my orginial post, I have shown my mom and my sister 2 of my dolls. Apparently my mom had found my MoC invoice for my DZ annie. out of the blue one day she asked me if I'd bought anymore $300 dolls lol. So I'm like fine you wanna see Jack? Here she is. My mom took it decently. She asked if I talk to them or play with them like a little kid would ie make them talk or w/e. And she asked if I was like Howard from the Big Bang Theory and got arroused by them lol.

My sister on the otherhand wasnt as accepting. Her reaction was "How long has this been going on?" and "Please tell me its going to stop" Oh well I tried lol. Cant win em all. My dad however will never know as long as I can help it.

 

I wouldn't say my dolls are a dirty little secret. Anyone who knows me knows that I collect BJD's and other dolls. Most have seen them and I have them all over fb and wherever else. I get both positive and negative comments but it doesn't really bother me at all what others think I'm not embarrassed in that way but I also have never taken them out in public for photo's or anything like that. I tend to take photo's at home and would probably feel a little uncomfortable being out with my dolls for the world to see

 

^ ^;;; on the contrary actually... everyone knows I collect BJDs... and those that don't upon meeting me are sure to find out pretty soon after that~

 

I don't keep my hobby a secret but I also don't go out of my way to let everybody know. If the opportunity comes up to tell people then I do because I am proud of them but I don't want to be overbearing about it either

 

Ooooh yes, my hobby is a dirty little secret. My family is aware of them and so are a few of my friends, but one BIG reason I usually don't divulge about BJDs is because of the cost. The majority of the people in my social circle are not well off and I do not want to advertise to them that, while they are struggling to feed their family, here I am off buying dolls that cost a small fortune. To me, it would be no different than someone parading around their new uber-expensive phone or gadget to someone who can't financially afford anything but the basics.

Also yeah, to a lesser degree, I really do not want to be known as "the creepy doll lady."

 

My hobby is no secret, I regularly post pictures of my dolls on my facebook and I have quite a number of non-doll friends and family there. I am iffy about taking them out in public and trying to take pictures of them though, partly because it seems embarassing, but mostly because I'm super shy and afraid of people in general.

That said, I've been really surprised by my coworkers' reactions to my owning dolls...they love it! They like seeing pictures, and they listen to me blather on and on about what I'm doing with them, and even on occasion pester me to bring them in to work so they can see in person. It's pretty awesome.

 

I keep my dolls as my private hobby, very few people know. I go to meets but I'm shy, so when non-dolly people approach me,
I let my friends speak and chat on and on while take photos to avoid conversations.
Besides all my friends are better at describing these dolls and introducing them to new people.

 

My dolls aren't a secret,but their not shared with every random person who becomes an acquaintance.

 

So far I treat my new doll obsession no differently than anything else in life. I don't go out of my way shoving dolls in anyone's faces but I'm also not going to just whisper to them quietly under a blanket in my closet at night with no one around :-p

 

The first time I moved house after getting Clara I put her in her box and made sure she was more hidden, the second time I moved I took her with me in a taxi in the open and she sat on my lap like a child. The taxi driver didn't say a thing.

I also have pictures of her on facebook and got some really nice comments from people I thought wouldn't be interested.

 

I kinda kept them away from people at first, but I really can't keep them a secret xD When a new doll comes in I'm so happy I have to tell people xD

 

Yes and no. It's not the first thing I throw at people when I meet them, but I've found a way to introduce the hobby to people in way that doesn't inspire hostile reactions even if they're the sort of person to do that. I generally "scope" a new person out, figure out what kind of a person they are, and then decide when and how I'll introduce them to the idea that I collect dolls (also by then they'd already know me well enough not to go omgcrazydollladywhothinksthedollsareherchildrenrunaway). I've had to "reveal" myself to my coworkers before I felt comfortable (meeting up with doll people outside of my workplace...), but they were all a bunch of weirdos anyways, so they took it just fine, in a "well, everybody's got hobbies" sort of way. :P

But my close friends, boyfriend, and family all know about it and are supportive of it purely because it makes me happy, not because they can understand it. Sometimes I take out my newest doll and show it to them, and they politely nod and smile and ask a few superficial questions and then the New Dolly Introduction is officially done and they go back into their boxes in my room. Once every six months my mother asks me how much the dolls are (she forgets). Boyfriend has to put up with a bit more doll chatter and helping me mail things off/pick things up/decide on what I want to buy, but he's a good sport about it.

 

When I first got into the doll hobby, I was a little uneasy about sharing this new found love with the people around me/close to me, but as I got more into it, and loved my dolls more and more, and as my family grew, I wanted to share them! I finally got to a point where I will openly talk about them, and heck, sometimes I even bring them up out of nowhere to people who may not know me as well. I figure it's a huge part of my life, and I want people to accept them.. they don't have to like them, or want to meet them, but it's important for me to have people in my life who accept me for who I am.

 

It is a secret from my family for the most part, but the rest of the world knows XD

 

At first I thought it would be my 'dirty secret'. The price was a major issue to start with. I kept thinking wanting 'dolls' as a 19/20yr old who outgrew barbies etc at an early age and always found some dolls creepy, was very odd. I thought it must relate to my feeling like I missed out on parts of my childhood or that it meant I was trying to replace real friends with toys, and wondered what kinds of people i'd meet in this hobby. I was afraid friends and family would think I was sick. So I stopped looking at websites and left it well alone for nearly a year.
I feel really bad looking back on that now.
I can't remember what made me start researching again initially, but i'm very glad I did!
Second time round I searched all the stereotypes I was afraid of relating to BJD collecting and found that the hobby wasn't just for sad old ladies that wanted children and couldn't have them or people that couldn't make real friends. I realised it was a huge community of creative, imaginative people of all ages and genders, with many artistic hobbys.
I've come to terms with the fact that part of the appeal in this hobby for me is that it's an activity that makes me feel better about being alone. I have friends (even if i can't see them as often as i'd like for various reasons), i have my loving boyfriend and my family, but I get lonely very easily and due to an experience during secondary school find being alone too much very distressing. Creative hobbys such as drawing, baking & crafts or others such as reading and having pets (I have a dog, a cat and a snake =]) make spending time alone easier.
What I wasn't prepared for was how large, welcoming and social the BJD community is! Thank You
When I found out people went to regular meets I realised it wasn't very different to the anime, gaming and cosplay scenes i allready enjoyed. I spoke to my boyfriend about wanting to start collecting and explained how creative the hobby could be. He will never find dolls appealing but he understands why I would and has been very supportive.
Once i chose a doll to be my first (which too ages lol) i started to worry about the money. xD I didn't have a job (was at Uni & struggling with depression) and although my finances were fine for everyday life such an expensive new hobby was worrying. I could go on holiday for the price of these dolls, i didn't want it to just be a fad. But I just couldn't stop thinking about it so i started cautiously seeking the opinions of friends; at fist those who i thought might be most understanding, and then the opposite extreme. It wasn't their opinion in the end that decided to, most were fairly neutral about it, it was realising how enthusiastic i got when explaining it and how much i wanted them to understand the appeal. The price was a secret from my parents initially (recently moved home again from Uni) as my dad thinks money is nearly everything and i thought both of them would think it wierd that i suddenly was interested in 'dollies'. My boyfriend saying he would pay about half the cost of the doll and extras i'd chosen as a Yule and Birthday present decided me and i ordered. My parents knew it was expensive but not how much untill later when i'd thought up a way of explaining their value that they would understand.
My dad isn't interested and i try not to talk about them too much around him but mum seems to be more positive about it now i've started going to meets and have explained my plans for sewing clothes and making hybrids. She has always been supportive of my creartive hobbys. I mentioned them to my granny too (not the cost because as a war child expensive hobbys were a NO for her) and she seemed to like the idea. My aunty is great with textiles and sewing so she's agreed to help me try making clothes for my doll.

When my girl gets here I fully intend to take her out for photoshoots and to meets ^_^ I used to go out taking photos a lot with my friends and it will be great to get back into it. Some of them will probably join me although one has a bit of a doll phobia so not her lol. I'm not sure about taking out out in public without my camera, although I would to gaming/comic/anime conventions or on holiday. I am wary of other people's reactions. I have trouble with my self-esteem so somewhat craive positive reinforcement from others. I'm trying to get other that. I won't hide any dolls I get from visitors to our house and anyone close to me now has trouble getting me to shut up about the hobby, but i don't think i'd mention it to employers etc unless there seemed a reason too, just incase.

 

Sorry that was really long lols

 

I do not talk much about my dolls with people outside the BJD forums or my closest family. I have full support from my sister and my parents - they paid part of my first BJD as my birthday present . They are sharing their opinions about the sewing I do for my dolls, giving hints. My sister (who is older then me) fell in love with BJDs too, so we have a big fun browsing through forums and galleries.

On the other hand my aunt and uncle think it's crazy that someone collects dolls (and someone my age - geez) - when I showed them my EID girl they looked at me as if I was some kind of lunatic - the BJDs are too expensive and I could have used my money on something more practical - for example saving for car etc. The same unfortunately is with my friends, they do not see the beauty in BJD. So I usually do not talk to them about BJD as it's waisting of time.