Portraying Dollie Drug Use?

That is a very sad blanket-statement to make. I've known many beautiful brilliant people who were addicted to drugs too. They're not monsters, or ugly; they're people. Whether or not they ever recovered, and whether or not they stayed beautiful & brilliant for very long, of course, varies greatly from case to case... some did and some didn't. But there's no reason that a BJD-character can't be made to follow either path. If you make your BJD-character in the image of flawed humanity, instead of idealized humanity (that being a matter of preference), then drugs would be a natural obstacle and/or seduction for them to deal with at some point.

And yet, even pumped full of poison every day, ol' Burroughs lived to be HOW long? Eighty-what? Makes you wonder.

I would be interested to read your Cornelius's diaries. The lifelong dope fiend who doesn't see dope as a novelty any more... often that's where writing gets really interesting (like Burroughs, or Thompson), because the writer has moved on beyond mere party-stories; he's gone there, and stayed there. That's the kind of mindset I like to read about in a story, since I don't feel like, uhh, going there myself. (I like having a job, house, & money. ^^) So I don't think it's always necessary to end a drug story with the usual self-flagellating rehab redemptions... some people actually maintain a state of functional addiction without imploding. What makes these people thrive, in a condition that kills others? How does their work stay so brilliant when their brains should be jelly by now? Are they physiologically or psychologically special? Or are they just stubborn? I find such people fascinating, & want to know what makes them tick.

 

Well seeing as how I never said that they were monsters in any sort of way, I'm not sure you understood what I ment.You can be ugly in different terms. If you are addicted to drugs (not getting high whenever, that's not addiction) that is THE ONLY thing you can think about. The next high, the next up. Your addiction comes first. Your children, your family. They are all way behind on your priority list. If you are addicted to something you can't live a day without it, your body will shut down. My mom almost died because she quit cold. You can't do that. Every single person I've ever seen that did drugs have always looked rough. Period.

If you compare drugs and celebrities that easy. Celebrities aren't like the rest of us. They can have make-up and surgery. They have to look their best, it's their job.

 

Yes, your mom had the rougher road of it (I have known a few who walked the same road, and it sure ain't pretty)... But my point was that not EVERYBODY ends up that way. So it's bad to lump all drug users-and-abusers together into one category. And it's prejudicial to claim they're all the same. And it's incorrect to categorically say that none of them are beautiful.

 

I've actually seen some pretty awesome ones depicting drug use in a psycheadelic manner, and I have to say to them well done. I've even seen sexually explicit dollies being portrayed amongst japanese snackies.

 

Wouldn't bother me. I Roleplay with someone who's character is a big druggy, and I feel rather bad for him that's he's addicted to it. So i think seeing someone's doll like that would fascinate me.

 

How would you feel if you saw a photo story of a doll who had some kind of drug addiction? Would you read it, or skip over it and move on, or even be offended?

My reasons for skipping over anything would just boil down to my moods and general interest. I wouldn't discriminate over anyone's creative influences, no matter how outside of my box they may be as long as I, personally, was interested in one form or another. So no, even if I were to be offended, I would likely check it out. I'd rather be offended and educated, than ignorant to all except my tastes. ^^

Would it make a difference if the character in question was addicted to alcohol or if they were addicted to heroin? How about a made-up drug?

If asking if there is a difference in the gravity of addiction - an addiction is an addiction, and if chemical is likely to be detrimental in one form or another. It doesn't matter if it's meth, crushed antihistamines, or dried fairy ankles - if it's presented as a drug...it's a drug. So it shouldn't make a difference in that sense. However, from a character development perspective, sure. The behavior or personality of a character would definitely be different if they were on endorphin boosting drugs versus something that's more of a "downer".

Is drug use/addiction too "gritty" for the BJD world?

There are some amazingly creative people here and one of the things that drew me to the hobby is the ability and flexibility to adjust your BJDs to the whims and fancies of your limitless imagination.

With that said, I don't believe it's too gritty at all. It would be ignorant to assume that because something is so outwardly beautiful that it would not also be flawed in some way. Beautiful BJDs can have the same problems people can have if they want to. This is not to begrudge anyone keeping their doll families with an aura of perfection, of course, but it shouldn't be limited to that. People are inspired by tragic, flawed and "ugly" aspects of life all the time as much as beauty.

As for whether it's appropriate or not. I don't think it's quite fair to apply that to a creative community where such things are relative. As someone mentioned, no one here is responsible to educate anyone or censor anyone (as long as they are following the forum rules, of course). Just as with the outside world, if an individual is smart enough, was raised and taught properly and able to think for themselves - then this is a non-issue.

As far as I'm concerned a doll can be drug-addled, bi-polar, a foot-fetishist...whatever their owner wants. (And I'd probably be curious enough to check it out. Heh.)

 

I realise that this is slightly off topic, but I was reading through this thread and wondering - Exactly *which* drugs do people portray their dolls as using? Is it purely the famous/glamorous options (Heroin, cocaine, LSD, skunk, any number of alkaloid opiates) or does it run the whole gamut down to the weird and downright niche (MDMA, oxycodone, cystal meth, ket, speedballs, salvia, peyote, ephedra)?

 

I can understand how people that might have had people close to them suffer from a drug addiction get a little miffed at a doll drug addiction because they might feel it belittles addiction or it doesn't show "how it really is" (movies totally do that ). However, if the pictures are properly labeled so that those who don't want to look at it can skip over it if they want, I have no problem with it. Actually, I think I might like to see some addiction-related storylines. Something a little darker that shows that dolls aren't all about fun and smiles and blah blah blah. They can have a dark side too.

 

Well I have personal experience with it. I wouldn't want to read about it which is why I would just skip over it and move on. No point in throwing a fit it's not like someone is making you read it.

 

I'd probably read it, but I'd roll my eyes on them I mean, why would that major misbehaviour have to be driven into doll world, too? Well, personally it doesn't appeal to me, yet it wouldn't offend either.

 

This is something we have to deal with in every city in every state in every country (etc etc) every day. To see photostories about characters with the same problems and being offended over it is the same as someone being offended over a character on their favorite television show with a drug problem. It's the writer's choice to have a character that way, because they saw it most fit. If it offends someone, that someone should move on and not dwell. They hurt themselves more that way.

It may. Alcoholism can be as deadly as heroin, and is usually a plot-furthering characteristic. A made-up drug is only made up to help the character or plot along.

If there are photostories about same-sex romances, divas with multiple lovers, death, undead and vampiric transitions, 'underage' nude, what makes drug use/addiction more gritty?
It's a matter of upbringing of the collector to find such a thing as offensive or a fact of life.

(Please, don't try to say I have problems with same-sex romances, death, undead and vampiric transitions. I enjoy these stories as much as everyone else, and see nothing wrong with...well, most of them. )

 

It wouldn't bother me but I mostly likely wouldn't read it. The most I could tolerate would be a cigarette or alcohol. Anything harder and I'd have to press the back button. I just think that I get enough of the harder stuff on TV and in real life, i don't really care for it in the doll world.

As for made up drug use, I have yet to come across it so I don't have an opinion of it.

 

Honestly the only thing that would bother me is shota or lolicon in abjd photo story. Your dolls can be addicted to what ever you want. As long as it's not child porn.

 

AGREED! anything but child porn

as for potraying drug addiction, even if some people are really that unmature to really get into drug just because of pictures of dolls doing so, to be frank, what they do only hurt themselves the most.

maybe influence is an excuse. but still you make your choice.

 

well, cigarettes are very common with dolls, and they're pretty much drugs arn't they? they're addictive enough anyways, i think as long as it isnt too 'gory' to DOA standards such as with heroin, it's fine

 

It wouldn't bother me personally, after all, when you get right down to it, it's a work of fiction. All sorts of things are in books that I love; that doesn't mean I approve of all of those things in real life. I do think that you would have to be careful how you handled it if you intended to post the story here on DoA. While not to "gritty" for the BJD world in general, some aspects may not be appropriate for a 13+ forum.

As to whether I'd actually read it - it really just depends on my mood. Some days I'd rather pick up a Stephen King book than Anne McCaffery, some days I'd rather listen to country than rock, and some days I'd rather see a fluffy cute photo story than a serious one.

 

itd be sad to see them in that kind of "state" but id read the stories and as long as they got help afterwards itd be ok

 

If I saw a story about drug using dollies, I would skip over it. I just don't find most drug stories to be "interesting". I don't think I would be offended by this, but I wouldn't read it.

Side note (I know it isn't exactlly on topic)
I've always found it interesting to see dollies holding cigerettes. Attributing to your own yellowing huh? [/off-topicness]

 

I think certain stories belong in an 18+ forum, or one that is clearly marked "adult content". Maybe 18 is too old, maybe 16+ would be better, because certainly teenagers these days are faced with situations involving drugs.

I don't want to see a doll graphically shooting up (don't care to see graphic dolly sex either). My initial thought is that I would not be interested in a story about dolls and drugs, but then on second thought it seems like that could really present a lot of opportunities for plot lines, character development, etc. So I had to rethink my opinion in the interest of freedom and speech and creative freedom. Especially if the drug use is more implied than shown.

A lot of young people seem to work out their issues in their doll stories, and it might in fact be therapeutic for some teenagers (and adults) to be able to kind of act out certain situations.

However, I personally really hate seeing anything that glamorizes drug use or makes it look attractive or cool.