Participating in the online doll community?

I think it depends on your own personality, truthfully. For someone like me, who's not all-together used to being sociable, the community aspect isn't the most important part. I'd be just as happy dressing the dolls up and taking pictures for my own enjoyment as I would be to show them off and discuss the dolls with everyone else.

I guess it all depends on why you got your doll too. Someone who got one to be a personal companion might be less inclined to be part of the community, compared to someone who got one for the more glamorous aspects the dolls bring.

 

To get FULL enjoyment, yes. For me it was beneficial, because it educated me to BJD's when I knew NOTHING about them. The information/education is awesome to someone who is new to the BJD world. I didn't have ANY dolls when I first joined this forum. But just reading, looking, learning, encouraged me to take the plunge and now I have one BJD and a second one on layaway. I don't think I would have gone that far if I wasn't part of an online community. The price alone is enough to make someone question their decision. But when you get to see and read about others and their dolls, the investment isn't such a large looming issue anymore.

Maybe I'm too new to the hobby, but I don't think I could even tell you a current trend right now, so I'm going to have to say they have no influence on me. I wouldn't go so far as to say they are entirely superfluous, either. But I never was one to do something just because someone else is doing it. (When my mom asked me if I would jump off a building if my friends did it, I was the kid who said, "no way") so it has to be a trend/influence that would directly benefit me, or that I would enjoy. I guess it goes to personality. There are a lot of people who do trendy things because everyone else is (hence, it's called a trend/fad) and there are a lot of people who pick and choose what is right just for them. It takes all kinds.......that's what makes it so much fun.

postnote: as with just about anything... it's always more enjoyable when you're doing it with other like-minded people!

 

AH! From someone who has like 3 good friends, I find it vital to any hobby to have people to enjoy it with. My mother goes to Quilt Guilds and beading classes, and I spend time here on DoA. Neither of us would get much enjoyment out of our hobbies if we had to go it alone.

If I had friends in the area that also have dolls, say at my same school, then that could be the community aspect. But I don't (that I know of >>)

So for me, the online community is a NEED.

I don't however feel the need to keep up with any trends But it's fun to watch them.

 

I do both i enjoy my dolls myself and enjoy having people see them in real life, i do feel the camera doesnt show them well enough some of the time.

 

I dont really get to talk to people about dolls in Real life. Even with my friends its all online xD; and they get sick of me going on and on.

I dont see it as a must need thing, but it makes the whole experience a lot more enjoyable for me.

some place to meet other people with the same hobby. though, id rather be up for more Real life hanging out times lol xD

 

I have to say, being a member of DoA has been a big help to me. Before I became a member of DoA, the only BJD company I knew of was Volks. And now the only friend who knows about BJDs isn't talking to me for some reason, so it's good to know that there are people on a reputable site who I can discuss such things with. It helps people like me get a better hold on the hobby

 

It's not something, that would make enjoying dolls impossible, but it definitely adds much fun to the hobby. I don't follow the trends, I'm not even interested in them very much, but I do like to chat with other people about dolls. I learned a lot here about very various aspects of BJD hobby, which would be nearly impossible without place like DOA. I live in a small town and around there is no one interested in dolls, so it is important to me to be able to share my joys and troubles with people, who actually understand them.

 

Personally, both the online and offline community are a big part of dolls for me. I would enjoy them still if there were no online community (I didn't stop drawing when I had no artist friends and no access online as a child, did I? Noooope~!), but still, I think it adds to the fun. What's better than surrounding yourself with like minded folk... I mean, let's look at it this way. This is a place where we can come talk about dolls, and nothing but dolls. Nobody is going to say mean stuff to me because I'm this or that, or I look this way and dress that way, or like this actor/politician/etc- we all come here for one thing, dolls! we all can find some kind of comradery in that!

I don't think the online community needs to exist for dolls to be as much a hobby as they are, nor do I feel it needs to influence the hobby. However, I do think it needs to exist for the hobby to exist at all. These dolls are very strictly East Asian. If it were not for the internet and the communication technology we have today, they would not be known of as widely in other parts of the world- I mean, we have people here in Russia (privyet!), Germany, England, America, Canada, Australia... ALL OVER. If it weren't for an online community like this one, lots of people STILL wouldn't know about dolls. :3 Trends happen simply because well, when many people come together, trends do happen. Whether it's in economy or fashion, trends exist. :3

 

I do not feel the community is really important as I can enjoy any hobby without knowing other people who like it.
Though I do feel it gives a little something more to the hobby when you can talk about it and just enjoy what others have done ^___^

I like to let everyone else know whats going on with my dolls *when I can or want* so that if someone as a question or needs help I can maybe help them with what I did =3

Its also really great to make new friends and I have made plenty thanks to this place and others =D
Though it is sad that some people come and go and others never try to go out of their little groups of friends... :/

 

1. No. I would enjoy my dolls fully with or without being part of the online community. I have internet access, so I could always look up faceup tutorials, doll companies, etc. if I wanted to. The main reason I joined DoA was so that I wouldn't necessarily have to search far and wide for something and get frustrated; the information I seek is generally all here.

2. I'd say trends should influence only in terms of doll care. Otherwise, no. Just because X is the new popular way to play doesn't mean you ought to do that. If you like what you like, stick with it. Don't change how you play because of popular opinion. On the other hand, trends can influence how companies present their dolls and the accessories etc. they produce for them.

 

I really really like the online doll community, everyone I've spoken to has been kind and helpful.
And it's helped me with researching into my first doll.
So yeah, for the simple fact that most if not all of the community is helpful in pointing you towards your goal, I'd say it's a grand Idea to participate.

 

I'm not as active on DoA as much as I should / want to be, but I really do appreciate this site and everyone on it! I don't think I would have gotten into dolls as much or as fast without the doll community I found on Gaia, or here. It really does make the hobby that much more fun because it's super cool to talk to other people about them and not sound crazy. I love meeting people at the doll meets and seeing all of the different dolls, too. So yeah, I think it's a big part of the hobby, definitely. :33

 

I don't think it is at all necessary to be a part of the online community to get full enjoyment from one's collection, but that depends a great deal on what any given person enjoys. For someone not very social, it may be more pressure than fun, for instance.

As a resource, it's invaluable, and social or lurky, the information can make an enormous difference. I know I am a lot more comfortable handling my dolls knowing that if any one of a dozen common problems should happen to arise, I will likely find solutions to it here. That makes me a lot more comfortable handling my dolls. Seeing pictures of dolls from various companies is a great help, too -- especially in spaces like the database threads, where there are a lot of variations on the same sculpt. Those elements, even if they aren't actively social in the traditional way, are pretty big for me.

There are actually a surprising number of BJD collectors and fans in my area, considering that I live in a relatively suburban place that isn't known for being on the cutting edge of much -- beyond banking and creative chemistry -- but I never would have found those people if it wasn't for the online experience. Each feeds the other, IMHO.

 

I join online communities because they're a great resource if you have questions or trouble doing something. I can also help someone else out if I have experience with something that they are curious about.

I participate in the discusion areas because sometimes I like to argue...er debate and sometimes I just have something to say for no particular reason. Like now.

 

I don't need the community to enjoy my dolls, but it is a great resource, insipration, and the marketplace is very convenient indeed.

Right now I'm participating in a lot of discussions but I don't think this will last ;p Once I have my new doll I think my focus will be on the actual doll for a while.

 

I'd enjoy my dolls, forum or not, but even the anti-social person I am realizes that it's a great asset when you're just stumped on a problem, or need a little help. And also it's always interesting to see all the mods, face-ups and such that make each doll unique

 

DOA in particular is an invaluable resource not just because of the wealth of information that has been posted in the past, but because it's also reactive, you can post a question here and get a variety of informed answers almost straight away. I've met some great people on here who share my interests too, BUT, if there was no online community to be a part of I doubt it would bother me in the slightest. I've collected all sorts of dolls for years and never joined any online forums before this one and it never hindered my enjoyment of my hobby.

I don't post photos or stories here and just post on discussion/debate threads when something piques my interest so I'm not sure I'm even a part of this community in the way many people seem to be. I mess with my dolls and create stuff for them just for my own amusement same as I did when I was a kid. I was that kid who was always making stuff, drawing and writing stories and that became my career too, so I guess I've never changed. I was a loner as a kid and so I am as an adult (errr, except I have lots of friends!) because I don't actually need people to share my interests all the time.

 

The online doll community does make dolls more enjoyable. I really love looking at pictures of other dolls that are posted here. The wait room are also fun; I don't mind waiting a few months for a doll to arrive, but it certainly makes the wait a lot more fun and exciting. I've also made a few friends thanks to the online doll community. Some meet-ups are too fun, and I really look forward to going to them (most notably the meet-ups with a more close-knit group). Certainly I would enjoy my dolls without the internet just as I enjoy my other hobbies; the internet just enhances the enjoyment in different ways.

That is of course, completely aside from the wonderful wealth of information that exists on this forum. It's fantastic to be able to search for and find most of what I am looking for. Also, were it not for internet, I would probably have never found out that resin BJD's existed.

 

I don't think the online community is relevant to the hobby, but it definitely helps. I'm sure pretty much everyone here has had a doll problem they weren't able to solve alone, and has resorted to opening a "help me" thread. Or has wanted to buy a doll and looked at a box opening to see the body fresh out of the box, or looked for a faceup tutorial.

I remember when I finally decided to get my first doll, I spent a lot of time watching tutorials on faceup and restringing, and also looked at some sewing ones too when I was designing her clothes (right after I found my beloved sewing machine broken down. Ah, the joys of time and a very playful doggie. She doesn't touch my dolls, though).

So, while not exactly necessary, I think internet and the people at the other side of the line are quite helpful and welcome

 

Well I know I joined the online doll community to talk with more people about the hobby since I don't know anyone in real life that collects BJDs anyway. Also it is nice to talk to people from all over and see what other people dress and do with their dolls and with out the communities I don't think I'd would be able to see that.