Leaving the Hobby...SAY WHAT!?

I considered leaving because, quite simply, I didn't need dolls anymore. At one point in my life, they played a role that was worth me spending that kind of money on, but now they don't. So I stick to cheaper dolls and just play around. I think people who are always on the fringes of the hobby aren't really in the hobby the way others are, emotionally and such. So I always thought that people who left for good, were the people who just changed and grew out of it. -shrugs-

 

I've always collected dolls. My collection started with porcelain dolls given to me by friends and family. I honestly didn't care much for them but man oh man did I have a passion for barbies. They gave me this happy euphoric feeling that I stopped feeling when the dolls disappeared. When I got my first BJD, I rediscovered that feeling. BJDs simply fit too well with my interests,I honestly can't see myself leaving the hobby any time soon. if I were in a financial bind, I might sell a more expensive doll but aside from that i'd always recuperate and come back. They're just too fascinating and varied for me to leave entirely. It makes me sad when people leave the hobby because I like to think that maybe they lost sight of the happy feeling of being a kid again that BJDs sometimes give people.

 

Have you ever known someone who left the hobby and what did you think?
So far, No. I have not known someone who was leaving hobby. However, I have known someone who was selling almost all of their dolls for personal reasons.

Have you ever thought of leaving the hobby and why?
Yes, I have thought about it, I went through a phobic stage a while back when I was sort of just into BJDs (about 6 dolls in) but I got over it eventually. Also, I am thinking about it right now.. I am in this awkward stage I think.. I'm between being an adult and a child at the moment... I have this sort of pathetic feeling right now.. a vulnerable.. lonely.. pathetic feeling.. that I will not become anything and not do anything with my life.. not BECAUSE of BJDs... just because I am already a year graduated and not on to different things... no university or college yet... just a lot of unanswered questions in my head... and I keep thinking I need other things more than BJDs.. a car (a license at that), a tuition fee.. a plan on what to do with that tuition fee... to see the world, to see many things and become well traveled and wise... ect.. I dunno.. it's an odd feeling

Have you ever sold all your dolls, left the hobby, then eventually made your way back into it and bought another doll?
No, I explained above, this is inapplicable to me.

 

Have you ever known someone who left the hobby and what did you think?
No..but I have seen the posts and briefly wondered why someone would give up all their dolls.


Have you ever thought of leaving the hobby and why?

Not really. I have always loved dolls and even if I became less active I wouldn't sell them, I enjoy them too much.
If something catastrophic happened and I needed the money I would though.

Have you ever sold all your dolls, left the hobby, then eventually made your way back into it and bought another doll?
No.

 

I sort of left the hobby and am just now getting back in. I didn't exactly sell all of my dolls but I completely stopped doing anything doll related. No meet ups, clothing purchases, or photos. Now that I'm slowly making my way back in I'm working on simplifying so I will be selling all but two of my dolls.

 

I feel kind of "lonely" when I hear someone's quitting the hobby, because I can't understand why you would do that. I've developed characters for so many dolls that I'm getting.. And the characters are already dear to me even though I don't even have the dolls yet. It would feel kind of like deleting pieces of my imagination to sell them. (Even though I don't have even one of them in my hands yet.)
I quess people can get tired of them. I have times when I don't want to write at all, sometimes for months. Maybe you can just give up, like that.

 

I've actually seen a number of people leaving the hobby~
Well, I reckon that's understandable, since this hobby is quite time consuming. It's not just buy a doll and put it somewhere but also give characters to it does take a lot of time and effort. Sometime people can be tired of it and just give up.
If my job drives me somewhere that I can't spend time on my dolls anymore, then I reckon I'll leave the hobby, but still, I don't think I'll sell my doll, I think I might just taken them apart and keep them in good boxes. One day I might put them together again,

 

I've seen people who leaved the hobby and sold their dolls, but they do came back later. I think they just need a rest. I agree that this hobby take an afford, even you love it but you can get tired. Well..some might leave for personal reason. I also feel the same way now. If I really have to leave the hobby, I'll try to keep the favorite doll.

 

Have you ever known someone who left the hobby and what did you think?

My best friend quit the hobby cold turkey in the summer of last year. For me it hurt bad, she has a lot of horrible opinions of dolls and people who collect them as she was leaving, and kinda left me behind as she felt I was choosing dolls over her
I haven't spoken to her since that day.


Have you ever thought of leaving the hobby and why?
Every once and awhile I feel like leaving. I put so much energy and time into my dolls and they're such a money vacuum that sometimes I just wish I could purge them all and have that peace of mind? My mind is a constant whir of creativity over doll things - it never rests. Not to mention that I could buy a car with what I've invested into this hobby

Have you ever sold all your dolls, left the hobby, then eventually made your way back into it and bought another doll?
Nope. Ever since I got my first doll in late 2008 I've always had one

 

I've never known anyone personally that gave up the hobby. Nor have I ever given it up and come back. However, ihave thought about quitting one too many times. It's usually just a fleeting thought, like, " This is stupid. What's a 17 year old doing with dolls." But that's only because I suffer from dangerously low self-esteem. But I really love this hobby much too much right now! Maybe when I'm older I won't have the same passion, but I don't think I could ever really sell my dolls. When I do give up the hobby, I'll probably just keep them as display.

 

Call me a sentimental fool, but even if I just up and decided one day that I was done with the hobby, after all that emotional energy put into my little art pieces, I don't think I'd have the heart to just sell them like hunks of expensive scrap. In fact, don't. Other calling me a sentimental fool, I long ago accepted that in some cases, it can't be helped, and I just am one.

 

Don't know if I've contributed, but I don't think I'd ever voluntarily leave the hobby. I usually see leaving the hobby as making a conscious decision to leave DoA (or any BJD forum you prefer using) and removing every trace of ever having a doll (selling everything).

Losing interest I might do someday, but I don't know when that will be - or if that will happen. When I first got on DoA, I wasn't religiously on it until I began saving for my first doll, about a year ago. Even when I first knew about - and wanted - a doll, my interest waned at times. There might be a time where I don't feel like being involved in the hobby for a while, but come back after some time.

That being said, even if that happened, I'm not going to sell everything. Maybe it's because I know how I am, and I know that I can suddenly take a passionate interest in something I wasn't interested in for years.

 

I have an aunt who would get obsessive about a certain thing and go overboard collecting it, then get into another and sell of the first, being completely finished with it. So perhaps this is what some who are leaving the hobby are doing? They got really excited about the collecting, then found something else they enjoyed and moved on.

I think I will be in this hobby for some years down the road, but who knows what fantastic thing is on the horizon? I would love to have a BJD that had a 'skin' covering all of the joints so they looked even more real! I wonder.... would I sell off my older dolls to get these new ones? Humm....

 

Have you ever known someone who left the hobby and what did you think?
Nop, not yet

Have you ever thought of leaving the hobby and why?
I had doubts before I started the hobby. Like what would happen if I got too many or If I got obsessed. But I realised they made me happy and thats all that matters

Have you ever sold all your dolls, left the hobby, then eventually made your way back into it and bought another doll?
No, but i have done for action figures... -___- They are kinda like my BJD's. Once I get them, I must have an even amount of each character. I collect Joker and Harley Quinn ones. I had too many Jokers compared to Harleys so I sold them then I got em again...I missed them ttoooooo much

 

Hmmm. I've seen people come and go, and it makes me a little curious, but hey, their dolls, their money, their lives, their business, not mine. Besides, because a member claimed she was leaving the hobby and thus posted her collection on the marketplace, I managed to snag one of my grail dolls for an unbelievable price. So frankly, I have the complete opposite view of some people about using the leaving-the-hobby excuse to boost sales. I say, if they're going to sell their collection at such good prices, by all means, go for it. It only helps the rest of us who might not have a good shot at certain dolls, otherwise.

Of course, if they're using that excuse to sell certain dolls at ridiculously jacked-up prices, that's another story. Shame on them, I say. But that goes for anyone, really.

Anyway, as for me leaving, I admit I've considered it, especially during stressful times. I've even sold off a few of my dolls for funds, but in the end, the hobby still has me completely hooked, so I doubt I'll be going anywhere for awhile yet. Maybe in the future I'll decide enough is enough, but that's not happening for awhile. I'm still having way too much fun with it.

 

I can relate to this, as I was a serial crafter. That is, I would learn a new craft, get really good at it, get bored and move on. Knitting, crocheting, spinning, weaving, silk painting, quilting, sashiko, sewing, tatting, to name a few (and the list goes on-- anything textile related, really). But for me, the thing that makes dolls a last-stop kind of hobby is that it combines so many of the art forms and crafts that I love. If I get bored sewing for my dolls, I can work on face ups or building props, etc. My husband, who has been ever so patient with all of my hobbies has even remarked that he sees BJDs as the ultimate hobby for me, as it combines so many of my interests.

I don't see myself leaving this hobby any time soon!

 

Have you ever known someone who left the hobby and what did you think?
I have found people who have left the hobby while browsing the gallerys... however I've never come across anyone trying to actively leave...

Have you ever thought of leaving the hobby and why?
Yes. I almost did this year. I had a moment of financial difficulty and really considered just giving up the hobby all together. Though I'm glad I didn't. I did take a hiatus though (about 6 months), where I didn't post anything, or take any photos, or buy anything... I was feeling terribly non creative.

Have you ever sold all your dolls, left the hobby, then eventually made your way back into it and bought another doll?
Nope

 

Personally, I don't know anyone that has left the hobby. As for it happening, it's understandable. Be it whether because they found another hobby they enjoy more, or the hobby just stopped being fun for them. Or perhaps they just no longer have the time, or means to maintain it as they would like to, and feel their time can be better spent and more enjoyed doing something else. Then there's always the possibility of a sudden finacial emergency.

I love my dolls to bits, but I know there are certain things that COULD make me want to take time off the hobby and even sell my dolls if I had to. like, moving for example, to get myself a better life. The dolls are replaceable to me, even if the characters they represent are not.

I think it's important for a lot of us to remember that people will always have their reasons for doing what they do. If you (Generic you.) don't feel their 'good enough' reasons, that's your (again, generic) problem.

 

Have you ever known someone who left the hobby and what did you think?
No, but I'm seen "leaving the hobby" sales threads -- I bought two gorgeous dolls a few months ago from someone leaving the hobby.

Have you ever thought of leaving the hobby and why?
I've taken a 2 year break from the hobby, but I didn't sell any dolls--I just quit checking DoA or buying anything doll related. I'm currently trying to take another break from buying and reading non-news threads on DoA, but I usually end up browsing threads when I stop by to bump threads and check the news. I still like planning purchases for the distant future, but I feel like I don't need anymore anytime soon (unless it's some impossible to resist limited). I don't think I'll ever sell all my dolls at once like some people do, though. For instance, I don't collect Pullips anymore, but I've never considered selling all my old ones.

 

Have you ever known someone who left the hobby and what did you think? Me personally no. Seen members on DOA but not to many.
Have you ever thought of leaving the hobby and why? Have and it was due to the costs. I have collected many things outside of BJD and never had it consume my bank account like these dolls have.
Have you ever sold all your dolls, left the hobby, then eventually made your way back into it and bought another doll? Not yet, have come close to selling all the dolls to start over with a different idea. But it was a disaster. Now I just try and think more and sell less.