Participating in the online doll community?

Personally I feel like the online community greatly contributes to my enjoyment of my dolls and has also been an extremely supportive and accepting community that is eager to help fellow hobbyists. I do not think that is necesarily true for everyone but it has certianly been true for me.

 

I don't think you HAVE to join a community, nor is it essential, but it can be important. Without it, I would feel completely alone. I don't know a soul who collects BJDs - friends and family might think they're cool or creepy, but that's as far as it goes. I can't call anyone up and say "Hey, come on over, and we'll take pictures with our dolls!" or "Let's split the cost and buy a $100 dress." I would not be able to get help when I'm confused on how to order something, or don't know what clothes would fit my dolls, or whathaveyou. I can get support or advice anytime I want. This keeps me going - seeing people having fun helps ME have fun.

On the other hand, there is also pressure to do certain things with your dolls. You "need" to have a website. You "need" to have the newest model that everybody is oogling, or nobody will care about you. If your doll is not the kind everybody likes, you might not get comments when you post pictures, or if you do, VERY little. I know this very well It makes you feel like your little "baby" is not good enough, and so neither are you. Every now and then I make it a point to comment on threads with too few of them, and avoid the big ones.

It's kind of a lose-win situation.

 

I think being part of an online community can enhance the hobby, but it should not control it. I wouldn't collect anything if I felt it wasn't worth it if I weren't able to go online with it.
I sure am glad that I can share my joy with people here, it gives me inspiration to do even more with my dolls.

 

I joined online communities to share experiences and share the hobby with. I like to discuss things and see how other people go about it.

Esp. since in my city I am probably the only one who seems to likes them.

 

Hmm I know some people have had bad experiances but you can't let the minority ruin making friends with people like yourself.
I remember when I first joined a BJD forum and I asked a question about taking the dolls apart to clean them (Coz I was a newb) And some people answered the question very nicely and we're really great and helpfull, someone else started being sarcastic and saying I should seach and find the answer myself. Everyone else of on the forum basically told the person to not answer if you can't be helpful- kinda thing, which was really nice like they were looking after the 'baby'.
My point is you can't let snarky people drive you away, they use the net as a shield because they are pathetic in real life, and wouldn't dare say things like that to your face.

 

I too think being part of online communitys can enhance the hobby..
But it should never be allowed to control it.
I am happy that I can share my hobby with others..
It gives me inspiration to be more creative
with my dolls and costuming.

 

Joining forums can have it's ups and downs. From my experience in other communities, it's good for chatting with other people with a similar hobby, especially if friends/family do not understand. Not to mention the sharing of tutorials, doll care, sewing, creativity and other ways to enjoy a doll other than it just being a doll.

The only downside I find to any community is the drama, jealousy and other stuff that goes with any hobby. It's sort of hard to stay out of, at times. (Not to mention scammers)

 

I think it´s important to participate in forums, that way you can share experiences, learn tips and tricks, and find people with your same hobbies, which is very good for your social life. If you don´t pay attention to the trends of the moment and respect other´s opinions, it can be a very pleasant experience and an excellent way to learn a lot.

 

I don't think it's vitally important to join an on-line community for any hobby, but I can say that it really helps in terms of creativity, communication, and learning. I knew next to nothing when I bought my first doll this past Sunday, but by hanging around on these forums, signing up to share pictures...
It's so much fun! If the community weren't here or if I hadn't signed up, Roland's wig wouldn't be cut because I wouldn't have learned how to do it, or I wouldn't have discovered the fun of photostories. Already I'm getting ideas and figuring out how I'm going to go about his medieval costuming. I would even like to attend a meet-up and look for advice on sueding, which I would have never heard of if not for this forum.
So to get full enjoyment you probably don't need to be part of the community, but I'm enjoying Roland's company a lot more since I found this place. ^_^
As for trends, I've never paid any attention to them in any aspect of my life, so they're a non-issue with me. I don't like how peer pressure can impact people in a negative way at times. Although if someone finds a trend and it appeals to them, I think there's no harm in playing along. I know photostories are popular and I made my first one today, but it was a lot of fun to do. ^_^ Will I make more? Probably, but I won't go looking at a ton of other photostories to try and make mine look as good as so-and-so's, or go insane with a set like this person over there did. Following trends too closely can kill the fun in anything, but they can inspire people to try new things, so as long as they don't turn into "competitions" they're fine.

 

Well I started liking BJDs long before I joined DoA, so it was very much a solitary hobby for me at first. Its nice to have a community to witter on about doll plans to ^^

 

I wasn't part of the doll community when I first started collecting. I just recently joined DOA but I was enjoying my Dollfies way before then. I collected what appealed to me. I feel by joining Doa that it allows me a different aspect or venue of collecting but it isn't the end all or be all of the dollfie experience.

 

The online community is a tool, not an end in itself. That is, yes of course one can enjoy one's beautiful resinfriend without it, but the community might help "unlock" ideas and perspectives that one would not have found without it.

 

The online community is helpful for me because I am primarily a reader. I have the Orbyarium book, and read the (one or two per month!) BJD articles in the doll magazines, but as far as I can tell that's all that's out there--no full print magazines and no other books, at least not in English. If I didn't read the forums, I'd lose focus pretty quickly, especially since I'm still waiting for my doll and don't have anything else to do! This also seems a great place to pick up ideas and get advice from more experienced modders/costumers/whatever. I'd say the utility of the online community depends entirely on your learning style and your needs--a visual/verbal newbie like myself probably needs it a lot more than a kinesthetic learner with an artistic background.

 

Depends. If your a loner BJD owner who enjoys being around your own dolls and only your own dolls, then I guess it's okay.
But if you're part of an online doll community, you get share your beloved doll with others and you get to enjoy their dolls too. You can also meet up with others for meet-ups and hang out.

 

I think it would be kind of boring to have all these pretty dolls, and no one to talk to about them. Especially if you live in an area where no one else has any.

Even if I don't really post a lot, it entertains me just reading other people's posts. I couldn't imagine not talking to/reading about other collectors.

 

i think that participating in the online community and enjoying your dolls by yourself are unrelated to one another... rather, you can do one but not the other and still be okay. sometimes when i see threads on the forum i feel like if i don't have huge elaborate photoshoots etc that i'm not really participating. also sometimes attitudes in the online community(not necessarily on this board) make me want to stay away. so i don't think that participating on the online community really makes one enjoy their doll any more.

i don't think trends should have anything to do with how an owner enjoys their dolls. they're trends, they come and go. i think if someone really wants to participate in trends they have every right to and good for them but i don't think that it should affect how much they love their doll. not everyone can afford to order outfits for their doll off expensive websites

 

Do you feel it is important for one to be a part of the online doll community to get full enjoyment out of one's doll?

I get a lot from DoA, such as information and news, but I hardly ever participate in forums. They're not for me - not necessarily because I have had bad experiences (I've had good ones too C, but I'm a shy person even on the net, and I like keeping to myself; it's just who I am and I don't consider my non-participation a bad thing. Also, frankly I can't be bothered I participate in discussions outside of the net and that is enough for me. I have a personal LJ and I talk about dolls on there. Do I participate in the LJ doll community? No. Do I still get the most out of my Fash? Hell yeah Love is really an internal thing, no?

 

I agree whole heartedly with always_sakura. I am also a shy person and tend not to participate as much in discussions on or off the net. I tend to post rarely and I don't that that is bad because that is me.

 

This is only a few of online communities I participate. First I felt too old(I have 2 grown 20-something kids) second I was always afraid of harshness of internet.
But I joined here, learned my age doesn't matter as much as I thought, learned loads of cool stuff that I can share with my kids.

My thinking is as long as you don't get obsessed, or let argument goes beyond telling your opinion, any community should be fun and worth participate.

 

I'm still waiting for my first BJD to arrive but I really agree with this post! I've really been enjoying seeing other people's creativity in photography and outfits for their dolls. I can't wait to be able to contribute