Should She Worry What Her Friends Think About Her Having Dolls?

I chose my dolls because I think they're beautiful and that's all there is too it. :3
Just as Renearla mentioned, some people find them creepy, but that's ok with me, as long as they don't come up and say something nasty, then I'd have a problem >_>

 

I really don't care if people don't like my dolls, I think the fact that I love my dolls is the only thing that matters to me. I don't think people should be hating on each other's dolls anyway, I think it's pretty immature and stupid. Think of them like a human, learn to accept to be accepted.

EDIT: forgot to mention, there are a lot of doll sculpts I don't really like but I'm not going to hate the doll or the person who owns it. I will accept them and their doll because they accept me and my dolls.

 

I don't care whether people like my dolls - they are how I like them and that's the important thing. I'm not precious about them. It's not an insult to me if someone doesn't like my dolls and it's not an insult to the dolls - much as I love them and invest them with an imagined personality, they aren't aware so they're don't have feelings to hurt. That would be like saying a vase or a sofa is insulted if somebody doesn't like them....

But do I like having dolly-friends to share my interest with.

I'll happily play with my dolls alone at home, but I do like meets, dolly-days with friends, and sharing my dolls with others on the forums.

I frequently take my dolls places with me, often to non-doll events, or to work, or wherever. I like having them on my desk while I work, or just there with me whether or not there's anybody else there to appreciate (or not) them.

On another forum I often post "on my desk today" pictures of which ever doll(s) I happen to have at work with me that day.

I do have friends who can't stand dolls. One refuses to visit any more. It doesn't bother me that they don't like them, although the one who is so creeped out by them she won't visit is upsetting because I don't get to see her as often. I'm not upset or insulted that she doesn't like my dolls.


Teddy

 

I suppose I'll be the rebel here; Of course I care! It is not a matter of needing "emotional validation" or that my enjoyment of dolls is contingent upon whether another person likes or dislikes my dolls. But if someone within the hobby expresses a dislike I always ask why. Do they think the faceup was executed poorly? That the outfit looks frumpy and ill-done? It might just be that our aesthetics don't align. I would rather care than not, so that I can strive to improve these things and make my dolls beautiful. The moment I stop caring is when I'll likely leave the hobby. A lot of my enjoyment from this hobby is simply from others enjoying in it with me.

I wouldn't show my dolls to strangers outside the hobby, nor do I lug around my doll randomly in public. My friends are not the type to so easily toss aside someone due to them thinking dolls are creepy or ugly (though my mother teases me terribly in good humor) and I have never had a stranger approach me at meets, so I cannot comment on these.

 

I don't care whether my close friends or family like my doll collection, but I do care about their larger opinions of me, and my doll collection does seem to influence that.

I don't have to worry about my parents, I'm in my late 30's afterall, but since my husband and I are financial partners, I do have to consider his feelings on how I spend some of our money. He's not thrilled, and that can be painful.

None of my close friends collect anything (seriously, nothing) and they really don't get it. They keep their opinions to themselves (that's why they're my friends ..heh) but I don't enjoy the thought of them shaking their heads behind my back.

As far as the general public's opinion .. couldn't care less.

 

I dont really care ^^
It's a kind of personal hobby for me. I have two doll friends who I share things with, but I don't mention my dolls to my family or non-doll-friends. I just don't feel like explaining it to them, lol. They're pretty much experimental art projects.

I do like going to meetups though, since I get to see other people's art projects ^^ But I would be happy not having doll friends too. Though, I probably would not have discovered the hobby to begin with without them....I really hated dolls until they showed me the BJD-verse....

 

I do and I don't.

My closest friends are a pretty weird group as is so while they'd poke fun at me, I poke fun at them for their "odd" stuff, weird hobbies are usually a non-issue. I'm also a pretty reserved person and don't really enjoy going out in public without a specific reason. Meets aren't really my thing unless I know someone there.

I also tend not to bring up things like dolls with people unless I know them well enough. Like I said, reserved sort of person. I'm much more comfortable with a small group that I know well.

Scrutiny does bother me, but I tend to get over it pretty quickly.

 

Honestly? I care about some aspects more than others. It makes more sense to sort of list it.

Don't Care About:
Taking them out in public. Doesn't bother me, do it all the time, I like taking photos and I like taking them outside where the light is good. I ignore the world when I'm busy arting.

People liking/disliking my dolls. Doesn't matter to me, I don't know them, they don't impact my life in any meaningful way and I won't remember their face in ten minutes anyhow. My immediate family doesn't GET it, but they do appreciate that I have a hobby that interests me and that allows me to get my creative on instead of a self-destructive one like most of my family, who are generally in jail.

Do Care About:
Having companions that also enjoy dolls. I live in a very rural farming area, this is the biggest 'city' for miles until you hit the state capital north about two and a half hours, or the same amount of time south until you almost have to go into the next state. So it's pretty isolated and I don't really share any common interests with the people I grew up with. And I'm a very social person, I LIKE having friends around to spend time with, but because of the area I don't have any, except for very distant acquaintances at work whom I ONLY see there. There is one girl about 45 minutes away, and we don't see each other very often, but we talk back and forth with texts frequently, but it doesn't really satisfy the need I have for companionship.

 

I agree with u as well Couldn't care less what other people think! I already have too many hobbies that can be classified as weird and as long as I'm having a good time with friends (even though none of my friends share my bjd hobby) I feel fine. The BJD hobby in particular is amazing for me because I love being creative with my dollies and making them unique. I could say it's more of a personal hobby at the moment, as I'm kinda new at it. In the future I hope to share it with others that I meet that are into it but for the time being I'm enjoying it very much

 

I'm pretty much the same way. Though when employers put a hobby question on their online applications, I've gotten a few calls just to ask what BJDs were lol. Bored bosses maybe?

 

I worry sometimes about how people percieve my hobbies, but the point of a hobby isn't to please anybody else but yourself.

I cosplay, and I've had people make fun of me for "dressing up" and saying that just because I do it there's something wrong with me and I don't have a life of my own, or that my life isn't good enough and that's why I have to "pretend to be someone else" when that's not the case.
I watch anime, and I've had people make fun of me for "watching cartoons" and saying I'm childish and don't know anything about real life just because I'm watching cartoons with schoolgirls in it (lol, I must show them Higurashi. Really.)
I draw, and I've had people tell me I need to get out of the "dream world" I'm living in because art will only hold me back in life (my nana told me that I will never be taken seriously and get anywhere because I like to draw)
I'm into photography and people think I'm just a camwhore wanting attention and that it doesn't take any real talent and that I need to find something that does.

Notice that most of these opinions are very biased and not even 20% accurate, and the most important point - why should I care? They make me happy. They help me feel better when I'm sad, and express myself when words escape me.

So why should I care what people think about me "playing with expensive dolls"? I don't. It makes me happy and makes me calm, therefore their opinion doesn't matter.

As for people thinking they can judge someone's intelligence and maturity based on just a HOBBY, they are the ones that need lives. It reminds me of a picture of a middle-aged man who had a HUUUUGE collection of manga, anime, and figma figures and nendroids and the caption said "Look at this man. At first you think he's pathetic, but look closer. He has a hobby he loves with the finances to pay for it. He has his stuff together, why don't you?" if you have the RESPONSIBILITY to run your own life with the ability to invest in your hobbies, then there's no problem.

 

I don't really like being the center of attention...I tend to keep to myself and I have just a small circle of friends that I hang out with in real life, none of whom are into dolls like I am. They know about my hobby, and tolerate it, sometimes making jokey comments about my "weird hobby" as they like to call it. But I know it's in fun, and I talk about how one of my friend's "Precious Moments" figurines look like little child corpses, and another of my friend's obsessive zumba & yoga classes are making her tiny enough that a strong wind can blow her away.

I don't think I'd ever go to a doll meet even if there were some locally. It's just not my thing. The dolls are something that I can enjoy on my own...

 

I think she should be encouraged to be who she is! One cannot live one's life from expectations of others. I was shy and lonely as a child and teen into my young adulthood, didn't have many friends as a result. One thing I learned was if they don't like me now, they are not going to. I decided that I was not going to do things that I was not happy with just to be on the in crowd. It's not worth it! So in view of that, if she wants a doll, get her one. Even adults change their minds about things...

 

Couldn't have said it better myself Chrystal. I was bulllied a lot as a kid when I was her age for still liking dolls and stuff but I didn't let it bother me. I asked the people bullying me why they did it and what was it to them and they left me alone on that subject. Just be sure to support her and advise her when her friends are over to keep the doll under lock and keep.

Because honestly you really don't know what they might do and kids can get jealous. One of my ex-friends as a child held an expensive American Girl doll I had just gotten over the toilet and threatened to drop her in if I didn't give her to her. This girl was so jealous she was willing to destroy something she knew I loved just out of spite.

Luckily her mother was able to get my doll back unharmed but remembering that I think it's best you tell her just to keep it low key and don't mention the price or even bring out the doll right away when it comes and if it arrives when her friends are there tell her to wait until they're gone to open it.

She'll be glad you gave her the warning when she can enjoy this new hobby without worrying about her doll getting damaged or her friends trying to ruin it for her.

 

It really is hard for kids of this age because they are excepted to be maturing and dolls are considered childish. I've been told many times that my girls (11 & 12) are "too old" to be playing with dolls and I should help them "move on." >.<

That being said, my girls have massive self-confidence and stand up for what they like, want to do, and believe in. They have no problem taking their dolls in public (stores, parks, etc.) and are always happy to answer questions. If negative comments come up the girls are polite but quickly end the conversation.

I do agree that your sister needs to have confidence you're there to encourage her and help her deal with any issues that may arise with her friends.

 

I am now 53yrs old and have discovered that one is never too old to "play with dolls" - in fact, its quite relaxing. On one of the threads, someone mentioned it as "therapy" and I have to agree with them. It also creates an outlet for creatism and I love it. The kids of today are expected to grow up too quickly in my opinion, and if I had kids I would want them to keep that childlike quality as long as possible.

 

Chrystal, you are right, kids are expected to grow up to soon. All of my girls' friends gave up dolls years ago. It's really sad because not only are they fun but they offer such an open door for creativity.

 

If her friends are really her friends they should accept her with or without doll.

 

I agree, but in thet age, being accepted is very important. So I understad the little girl.
After all, when somebody sees a doll like this, the first thing they usually say is a positive reaction, like ''What a beautiful doll, where did you get it'' and stuff.
So if I were her, i wouldn't be worried at all, as long as she can handle the coll correctly.

 

I took dolls to school when I was in the 8th grade. XD They embarrassed the friends I showed them to more than I myself was embarrassed. (To the effect of, 'I don't care! Now put it back in your backpack before someone thinks it's mine!')

As long as she keeps it at home and doesn't take it to school, who's going to know or care? A lot of 'childish' things have become popular among high school and college students these days anyway. For example, Disney princesses or Hello Kitty. They're not just for children anymore.