Participating in the online doll community?

No, it's not necessary of course, but as many have said, it can be fun and can be extremely helpful, especially to those who are quite new to the hobby (I'm still very much a newbie.) I find that DoA is the one place I can go for news, as well as other helpful information concerning these dolls. Perhaps if there was an actual BJD magazine other than HauteDoll, I'd find that helpful too. But I have the internet to thank for getting me into such a enjoyable and creative hobby. You also don't have to worry about too much drama and such here, so I'm also grateful for that. ^^

However, I would say that it's not good to get too into the internet part of it. When I say that, I mean, it's not good to be concerned about the thoughts of others when it comes to sharing photos. It's great to have a website to display them or maybe even a blog or an LJ of some sort for that purpose. But sometimes it's a bit discouraging to post photos of your doll and have almost no one comment on it. I don't like to think of this forum as one big popularity contest like "Who has the best doll" etc. Yeah, we all have dolls we prefer more than others, but at the same time, I have to wonder. Some photos are artistic, some are more casual and not so artistic. For me, that doesn't matter too much. As long as I can see the doll clearly and the photo doesn't distract from the beauty of the doll, it's fine however you decide to photograph the dolls. But it makes me think a bit when I post a photo of my doll and get only one comment and someone else posts just one photo of their doll and gets lots. Even when they are from the same company, I just have to stop and think on that. ^^; I guess it goes with what Lethanon said:

I agree with her that it shouldn't interrupt an owner's enjoyment of their doll and I don't feel that way at all. But at time it does make me feel like I don't want to post any of my photos here. I don't think I take bad photos, but I know they aren't the best. Maybe my doll is too generic and boring for others, but that doesn't matter because that will not stop me from loving and enjoying my doll.

Perhaps you could call me bitter and I am a little bit, mostly because I get so few comments, but I've learned not to worry about that now. I have an LJ set aside for doll stuff and I can always post photos there, for people who are actually interested. And even if I don't have a lot of people who want to see, just having a place that people are able to come and look at them makes me happy enough. ^___^ I love DoA and I visit everyday and try to participate a little, but it's up to the owner to find some comfort where they will whether it's here on the forum or offline. However, I would seriously recommend this place to anyone who needed information and help with their developing interest in this hobby. I should know. I always come here for help. Most questions have already been answered, so I rarely have to create a thread or separate matters. And that's what I love about DoA. :3

DoA is

 

Interesting thread

I am totally with the person on the first page (so sorry I can't find your post atm) who said its not essential but it enhances the hobby to be part of the online community.

I had only seen these dolls in Barbie Bazaar before, which was a magazine not easily available in the UK (one place in london only sold them - and I can't get to london every month) I loved them at first look but had no idea where to get more info as the site I found was in Japanese. I didnt know they were called Asian Ball Joint Dolls, so I didn't know to search for that,

Having found DOA I found a whole new world opening up, where people were doing the kind of things I wanted to do with a doll, (sorry but endless ballgowns drive me nuts LOL - no offence meant here folks and they had CHARACTER, and you can change them!! WOW, everything I have learnt about these dolls I know through DOA. Including how and where to buy them, and their accessories and customise them. so from my point of veiw the site is essential.

Regarding the rest of the non networking type part of the forums, well I can and do enjoy playing with my one doll, she is the girl who demanded I brought her home to live here, and I would not love her any less if I didnt share her and her story with a community, but this is an enhancement of what is already present.

Having said that its an enhancement I wouldnt want to be without, I just love reading the threads on each forum, I get sad if people are feeling that they are being victimised or picked on over something, but luckily enough I have not come across this yet. The type of doll I have is one that has a fantastic following in her dedicated thread on her size section, and that community is lovely, we support each other and help each other and as far as I'm concerned that is fantastic. Dolls are fun, and I think you should be able to put as much into them as you want without fear of being picked on due to not 'following trends' but since I probably wouldnt actually recognise a trend unless it bit me I can't be said to do this - heck I've never been either particularly popular or fashionable - I'm just me and quite happy like that. I do what I want with my doll, share some pictures of her with friends on the thread, put some pictures up in Gallery and just play. If I liked the way others were doing things I might do something similar, but I wouldnt trend follow (assuming I recognised it ) deliberately. There is enough stress in my life without adding 'oh have I got the correct accessory/doll/make/clothing...

 

The issues I've run into mostly seem to have to do, not so much with aesthetics, as with (1) people who admire or want a particular doll and someone else has it, and (2) cliques. I can understand differences in aesthetic taste as long as it's understood that no one forces their taste on anyone else. I'm not one of these people who would boohoo if someone didn't care for my doll; the odds are I probably don't like how they've made their dolls look either and just haven't said so.

A couple of the negative experiences I have had have included winning dolls at auction and then having other people carp about the price or be openly upset that they lost. I understand people have feelings that run deep about dolls and it isn't fun to lose something you really wanted, but having to read that an adult cried all night because they lost a doll auction does not motivate me to ever share a picture of that doll where that person and all their friends might see. I wouldn't get any enjoyment out of that. Even though the person presumably moves on and finds other dolls to enjoy and love, I'd feel like I snatched candy away from a child and then stood there eating it in front of them.

Another negative experience came from people criticizing some mods I wanted to do to a limited doll. These mods were not irreversible either - I wasn't going to change the sculpt or even take off the original face-up. But there was someone else who wanted the doll in its pristine state and said "Oh what a terrible thing to do to a doll". Again, there's another doll whose pictures I won't be sharing for a good long time. It's true that DoA has rules against some of these types of posts, but the "online doll community" goes well beyond DoA and it doesn't take too much work to learn where the forums and livejournals are that permit or even encourage such comments to be made. It doesn't ruin my enjoyment of the doll for myself, but it decreases my enjoyment in sharing with others.

As some others have pointed out, there also do tend to be the usual online cliques and groups of real-life friends and so forth who all comment on each others' dolls and generally support each other. If you're just someone who wants to pop in and post about a doll every once in a while, you're not going to get the kind of interaction that someone who is on every day chatting with the same ten doll owners is going to get.

The flip side of the coin is that a lot of doll owners really are friendly and helpful for specific issues, like where to buy something, how to ship it, how to string or wire your doll, and so forth. But that to me isn't really "sharing your dolls", it's like someone said about getting advice from the person who has owned a lot of hamsters. It's just information being shared, not the enjoyment of the hobby. Fortunately, I've never needed public affirmation to enjoy something so I am very happy keeping my dolls largely to myself and just choosing what I want to share.

 

There's two ways to see this. One way is that there's no reason to belong to any community relating to whatever it is you collect. The other is that simply collecting the thing makes you a part of that community, whether you realize it or not.

Personally, I don't think that being part of this community increases my joy in my dolls any. It enables me to meet people with the same interests as me, but then, so does a gym for others.

As for trends in the hobby, I'm sure they influence people without them realizing it, but no, I don't think they should move with the trends on purpose.

 

Really if it didn't make the hobby more enjoyable, people wouldn't be members of the online community.

 

bunnydots - Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences! It was sad to read some of it, but I know jealousy, rivalry and other negative feelings are very common in all kinds of collecting communities. It comes with the territory. People have very strong feelings about their hobbies, that's one thing we can agree on.

My approach is to always assume that I am right, actually. I know, it sounds a little superior... What I mean is, that if I like what I do I don't care if someone else reproaches me or if some "clique" has objections. I do it for my own pleasure. Sometimes I'm lucky enough to find another like-minded person, sometimes not. It's not such a big deal in the end.

 

I actually completely disagree with that statement, but only because I feel that some people find it necessary to be part of an online community because they need to learn about the hobby for their own personal enjoyment. If they need someone for faceups, or if they need someone to help them find a certain mold they saw at a meetup, or something along those lines.

I don't find that DoA makes the hobby more enjoyable in any sense, yet I'm a member. I just find your statement to be a very broad, very vague statement, and maybe I'm not getting exactly what you're trying to say?

 

I think having a place to come together and sqee over the same thing is essential in any hobby. It provides a place where we aren't the outsiders, and where people can share in a comfortable environment.

That being said, it's not required to join an online community to get the full enjoyment out of any hobby! I just don't know how I would have gotten into this hobby if I hadn't joined DoA. It gives me a fun place to share, debate, sqee, explore, and discover and I really appreciate that.

The downside of joining an online community, especially one so large, is that you are going to run into trends, fads, and cliques. But you can find these everywhere, not just on online communities. I am a firm believer that treads and such online should not affect how you conduct your life offline. Period. This is a place to share YOUR enjoyment of the hobby.

 

Though for those who haven't had bad experiences, the negative aspects of the doll community are probably lost to them. The only ones that might actually come out publicly are bad transactions, as other things are discouraged and/or deleted from these boards.

I can assure people that horrible, nasty, mean spirited and just plain hateful things happen on DoA and other boards, just like they do in the real world. Those who have come out and say that their enjoyment can be hurt by the doll community have most likely either experienced it first hand, or had friends that did.

Personally, on more than one occasion I have been threatened, harassed, and semi-stalked. It could not have happened were I not part of the doll community and it definitely didn't enhance my fun. Quite the opposite as you might imagine.

I really doubt anyone is going to 'share' their experience with you because it will only add to those bad feelings. Not to mention they'd have to edit heavily for what is allowed and not allowed publicly here.

So, here's me sharing a tid-bit of what I think others who are posting negatively are referring.

 

I agree, TheSaint, that this forum, and every other forum I've ever been a part of, is not all happy people and/or experiences. Fortunately, I have not had too many bad experiences, but there are things that frustrate me horribly, even though I know it shouldn't (these are smaller things, not like some of the more major things that you've described). On the whole, I've had a good time being in an online community, but I can understand where other people are coming from.

When some many people group up together, you're going to get a whole array of the good and the bad. I realize that on the whole, most of the bad stuff feels like it's being supressed. For adult stuff, there other doll forums. For bad experiences, transactions, there's places here to post that. I think more people are starting to come around about posting the bad transactions with other members or doll companies. It's not quite as open as it could be, or even should be, but I believe it is a step in the right direction.

No place is perfect, but I think this forum makes a better effort to welcome everyone than most places do.

 

I don't think that belonging to, or participating in any online doll community is necessary to get the most enjoyment out of your doll but i do think it adds to the whole experience of owning a BJD, especially when you are a complete newcomer. You can find yourself quite isolated if you are the only person you know that has a BJD let alone heard of one!
Obviously - i am not a loner ^-^
I only ever buy dolls that appeal to me personally and generally don't go for the latest, most popular sculpts (which is just my taste, i'm not dissing anyone for loving a popular sculpt, they are popular for a reason) so to 'bump into' others who have the same tastes as you is kind of nice.
I don't think i get overly influenced by the latest trends, i just plod along buying the next BJD on my list whenever i can afford it. I also think that the zeitgeist thing is called into play sometimes...we get an idea for a character/name/costume whatever and you can guarantee that someone else will have pretty much the same idea at the same time so you see some similar stuff on forums like this.
Wish i could think of something completely original to say here but there you go...not only am i not a loner, i ain't an original thinker either!

P.S
I just read the posts above and to be honest i have had a nasty experience here on DoA but i don't 'tar everyone with the same brush' and i don't expect the name Den of Angels to actually describe its members angelic behaviour. I think you have to be reasonable with your expectations of belonging to any BJD forum.

 

I am very shy around people in real life and would probably not know anything about these dolls without this forum because I am too shy to ask. I don't feel that it's necessary to participate a lot; I've learned more from lurking than from anything else. I've also met some very nice people in my town with bjd's so it's been a great resource for me. I also appreciate the vast amount of information available on this community. It would take hours of searching to find out what I can find here in a few minutes. I admit that I am intimidated sometimes by some of the talented members here, but I post anyway.

 

Well bad things and negativity is all around us. Sometimes a little negativity can be a good thing (not everything is all nice and sugary). It makes you think a little more than you normally would I think.

I think online doll community is necessary. You learn so much from participating in threads and reading people's posts and have discussion. People give great tips and ideas!

I think without that we won't know as much as we would about BJDs now (even if you own many). Seeing more, helps you improve more and the more you know, the better you can provide for your family.

Online forums bring people from all walks of life together (easier than actually meeting people from diff countries face to face since some people don't travel).

 

That falls under "enjoying the community". We're not just talking about the discussion sections here, but about all levels of interaction online. Would you be as happy with your dolls if there was no one to show you their way of doing faceups, how to restring, where to buy, where to meet other owners, a second-hand market for all your dolly needs, etc? That's why I believe an online community IS vital to getting maximum satisfaction out of the dolls - because it provides you with opportunities not available otherwise.

 

It's VERY important to me.It's where I can buy items, exchange ideas, arrange meets, and basically see all the wonderful Artist dolls that are being made, that otherwise I wouldn't get a chance to see at all.
And I could chat for the UK in the Olympics!

 

I understand about the negative experiences, and of course I have felt very very frustrated before when I share a picture of my doll and only 3 people comment on it. But instead of letting that beat me down, I strived harder to create things that people would /have/ to comment on, and in the same vein, I go through the gallery thread a few times a week (its very daunting sometimes!!) and make a point to comment for people with low amount of replies.

Without this doll community online, I would be completely alone...completely isolated...uninformed and probably very miserable. I live in SC where there is like one doll store run by a mean old lady who called my doll 'ugly' when I went in there with it. Since the board, I have found others who, while not in my back yard, are at least within driving distance, and made a point to go to meets with those people and have found some really really wonderful friends.

In fact just writing this I am getting a little choked up, because for sooooo sooooo long, I just had no connection to anyone else in this hobby, and it made me feel very alone. Through DoA I have discovered dolls I would never have known existed, like my Latidoll Chaim. I also have become more price-saavy, so that I know when things on ebay are a bad deal, or a good deal, or here in the marketplace.

Without the people who take all the time to post links to doll sites and reviews, I would not feel confident to spend my money on new makers of dolls, and there are so many wonderful dolls out there.

In fact, without DoA, this is what would be missing from my collection: Touya, Akira, Zaries, Lucas, Chris, Alexander, David, CHaim, Saint, Sara, and El. These are dolls that I bought second-hand from owners here, some when it was still a yahoo group. (you could argue that NOT being a member of this community could have saved me money! )

Without a desire to improve and present, I would not work nearly as hard as I have. When I create things for myself a certain amount of cut corners is acceptable, becauseits just for me, but when I do costumes and things for an audience, then I better myself.

Despite some negative or disheartening factors now and then, it is absolutely /imperative/ for me to be an active member of this community in order for me to enjoy this hobby to its fullest degree.

As far as any other boards or groups though...if they exist I don't know it. I only reside here, and only ever intend to. We protect each other, and hopefully most of the time, support each other. Those who live in Japan, or California, or other places where there is support from the actual companies themselves, probably have less need or desire for a place like this.

 

For me the community isn't necessary but it does add another level of enjoyment. I love being able to share my beautiful dolls with other people and being able to see other people's lovely creations!

 

This can be very discouraging - there is a fashion doll forum I occasionally haunt where the same ten people get rave reviews of everything they do, because the community has learned that everybody thinks everything those folks do is awesome, and they go right along with that, but don't have much to say to newer people. I think this is kind of a normal motif for community development, it happens all the time in the real world where people tend to follow whomever the group designates as the leader and most others don't have a high profile.

I think it's important not to let that get you down or make you feel excluded, because what you do that is outside the mainstream could just as easily be the fad two years from now (that happens to me all the time ). And sometimes you will find something that is wonderful to you that others won't see or appreciate because they are fixated on whatever their new fad is (right now I'm in love with my Chubby demon, but the local group is stampeding after the admittedly cute Bahas and are very focused on that, and that's ok, I will go play with Chubby on my own and he will be locally unique. haHA!).

That noted, when someone does notice what you are doing and comments on it when no one else did, you may have a bigger impact on that one person who cared enough to comment than another thing might have on the forty people who lolloped along in the flush of the crowd.

As far as the social value of online communities, I have mixed feelings. Sometimes I have a moment where I feel a real connection, and like what we're talking about means something, and often I feel like it's a bunch of cotton fluff that will be forgotten tomorrow. Eventually I find a person here and there who matter more to me than the main crowd - but this is also true in the live local community. It's a little easier to do that when you can see faces as well, I think, but I have found several folks whose posts I search for on occasion and whose comments I value highly.

As far as the informational value of online communities, it's astronomical for this hobby. I have been seduced by the dark side, er... introduced to beautiful new dollies... many times. And I know what to expect when I get a doll, what is normal and what is a problem, I can find information on modifications even if I don't have the nerve to do them, and find great ideas on so many things, as well as how to find wigs that fit, clothes, shoes, eyes, how to fix common difficulties. It's enormous and I deeply appreciate the work everyone puts in to share information!

Hugs to you Reiko and Buff too! I will look for your pictures.

Becca Alice

 

Actually there are books that tell you all of the restringing and faceup stuff; I imagine if there wasn't an online community there would be even more books. A book is fine with me, it's equal to an online tutorial, and in fact the book may be preferable to the info you get from a person because the book is generally more organized and has been reviewed/checked to make sure info is correct.

And the second-hand market would probably be someplace like ebay if this community didn't exist. I don't come to the second-hand market here because I "enjoy" it, I come because this is where it is, that's the only place where it is. I'd "enjoy" it just as much if it were on eBay or at Wal-mart. Basically DoA has a pretty big monopoly on BJD sales and trading - you can get stuff on eBay, Y!J or other sites, but there isn't nearly as much selection. This is THE major reason why i keep coming back, just because it's here. It doesn't have anything to do with "enjoying an online community", it just has to do with necessity. I guarantee if the marketplace were somewhere else, I wouldn't be around here as much.

 

Online community for me is just like ppl u hang out at cafe to enjoy the same type of atmosphere. u go there from time to time, and you'll find that the ppl u hang out with cafe most probably not into the same thing with ppl u hang out with at a club. means looking for like-minded individuals to talk and share passion abt the same interests: dolls.
i dont exactly find ppl who share the type of passion i have in real life, or something like that. i do not look at them as collection or mere play dolls but also something i like to tinker. though i make characters for my dolls and bg story, i have no intention making them alive alive[u/] like real people.
being part of online community is great discussing on how to fix what, how to get rid of certain stain, what outfit fits who, where to get some things at great price, talk abt resin quality, how to get to non-international doll company etc etc etc. not only you get to share about ur doll, doll pic, doll art, u get to make friends all over the world, u get to sell ur unwanted bjd item to people who want it, and its great that this community warns each other of scammers.
I know there are some considers doll brand as a status and doll snobs who thinks only they are real BJD lovers and everyone else is just jumping into a bandwagon, im not cool with people like that. and some could be quite jerks. (i mean, even if u dont like the person, who goes around telling ppl they dont good look carrying dolls? where is this secret special book that mean ppl seem to b able have hold on just to hurt others? is there certain color of ppl can carry dolls??)
fortunately for me, u can filter and sift all this stupid nonsense in the doll community. rarely would ppl be mean to ppl they have not seen, bcoz they could not judge ur looks, race and faith but straight into the thing that bond and connects us, what we have in common: BJD loving.