So what should we call ourselves? (Opinions Wanted)

Whoa Nelly! Why do you jump into a thread, the topic of which appears to annoy you, just to criticize, then blow a gasket when someone calls you on it? I'm sure "Opinions Wanted" means opinions on doll hobbyist terminology, not opinions on the "neuroticism" of those who are enjoying the thread.

I see many thread topics that I think are boring, annoying, or inane and--you know what?--I simply pass them by rather than waste my time making pretentious, superior comments.

And you're right, I don't appreciate reborns, Himstedts, etc., and I don't particularly want to be associated with them. I really think that it is a normal, not neurotic, reaction to not want to be associated with things and ideas we don't like.

 

You're right - my post is kind of negative, because the original post is kind of negative. My point was that to give ourselves an esoteric name is somewhat redundant and maybe even elitist, complicating something that isn't that complicated. It certainly wasn't a personal post against the OP or anything like that.

I apologise if that hit a nerve, but I'm not annoyed and my gasket is intact. The point of discussion threads is to criticize. If people always agreed with everyone in discussion threads there would be no discussion, so I think criticism of ideas given is pretty useful, actually. And my opinion was on the doll terminology, not the neuroticism. Though frankly I DO think it's neurotic to be so nervous about what other people think of you that you'll make up an entirely new word to sound cooler. That's not being judgemental though - we all have our neuroses. I have plenty. What is judgemental is to call someone pretentious and superior.

To be honest, what really provoked the critical response was the attitude towards other types of dolls and the need to distance yourself from their collectors. I don't collect other dolls, but I really believe that doll collectors get enough flak that we should stick together and not look down our noses at one another!

 

Ok, please don't take this as combative, because it's certainly not meant to be.

Here's the thing about the whole Reborn/Himstedt/whatever issue.

No matter what we do, no matter what we say, no matter what we like or dislike, we are going to be associated with them to some extent even if it's on a purely peripheral basis. They're dolls. We collect dolls too. All dolls are by necessity related, purely because they're dolls. It's like -- it's like a collector of Mustangs not wanting to be associated with a collector of 300Cs because they don't like Chryslers. That's fine and all, everyone's got their own tastes and that's cool, but the fact remains that both collections are comprised of cars, and thereby necessarily related. It's one of those things that just kind of is. As it happens, I don't particularly like those dolls either -- but they're still dolls. That's one of those things that can't be denied.

If you encounter another doll collector and you start talking about BJDs, the second you say the word "doll" the reaction is going to be "Oh cool, I collect dolls too." Instant association, whether you favor their type of doll or not. This is a big part of why I just refer to myself as a doll collector. I'm part of a larger collective, and I'm ok with that.

I know this isn't everyone's opinion, but I've never seen a huge need for exclusivity in anything. I'd rather be inclusive; you get to talk to more people that way.

 

The first word that popped into my mind was Deeps! (Doll-peeps) or if your not fond of the peeps abbreviation, you could go with Deoples (Doll-people) I automatically go for fun sounding things, but if that's too silly sounding I do like Resinist as a more formal sounding name, Resinista is fun too! Doll collector just sounds too bland and really doesnt capture the difference between a BJD and a barbie or a baby doll, which I have had that conversation more than once mind you...

Me: Hobby? Oh I collect dolls. (n_n)
Friend: Ah, like the holiday barbies? (o_o)
Me: No, they are customizable Resin Dolls, see! ::shows pic:: (n_n)
Friend: ::silence:: So... they are like barbies right? (O_o)
Me: (...) (-_-)

Now I'm not saying that this is a typical situation, my friend didn't quite grasp the difference with out hard proof. But having something a little more inclusive and definitive to the hobby to be called other then a creepy-doll person would be nice! Yeah I can thank my guy friends for that one Hehehe!

 

I would say I was a doll collector. I don't see a need to elaborate unless they ask what kind of dolls I collect. Then I am more than happy to explain I collect BJD and what they are if they do not know.

 

Hear Hear! This is exactly what I do also.

 

Oh... Drop it already. If you want to keep snarking at each other, take it to Tumblr.

True. On the other hand, if you didn't specify BJD, you could have met someone that would have been interested if they thought you were talking about something they'd never heard of. e.g. a Barbie or a Reborn might be mainstream and not interesting to that person, but a doll you can take the head apart and pop the eyes out? Yeah, that's kinda cool. (generalizing for the sake of the point.)

 

I usually say bjd hobbyist or bjd collector.

 

I generally just consider myself to be a doll collector but I'd call myself a BJD collector if I'm talking with other doll collectors.

 

I just tell people that I collect resin dolls and if they are interested I will tell them more. I'm not really concerned what people think or if they will judge me for this because if they do it's their problem not mine. Everyone has different interests/hobbies etc and I find it interesting to hear what people are into and I'm sure many find our love of BJDs interesting too.

 

No matter what I say, the people in my daily life wouldn't understand the concept anyways. They don't know what BJD's are, nor do they understand the concept of owning such expensive dolls. So, BJD owner is fine with me, no need to go into the effort of something that wouldn't come up in a conversation anyways...

 

What should we call ourselves?

Fortunate

 

I think this is a good point - my next-door neighbour collects porcelain dolls, and I don't believe for a second that people who look into her living room and see her giant doll cabinet and think "crazy doll lady" are going see those as being very different from my BJDs. They're all dolls, after all. And while my neighbour's collection isn't to my taste, I think having some new term to distinguish my dolls from hers would be a little insulting to her - especially if the primary reason for using it is specifically to distance myself from her. I'm comfortable with being a subset of the doll collecting community even if most of the other dolls aren't something that interest me in the slightest.

But then I'm a person who refers to my action figures as dolls as well, so I may be an outlier in the terminology discussions.

 

I usually consider myself a doll/bjd collector, but a sculptor/past teacher told me it's more apt to describe my bjds as figurines, as that's what they would be considered as in the sculpting world.

So I suppose it really depends on who you're talking to. If the purpose of finding a label is for ease of understanding or communication, then just pick the one that's most understandable to whomever you're talking to at the time.

 

Well, my mistake. I thought this thread was more about playing with words than about a practical solution because if you use any term other than doll collector to the uninitiated, they won't know what you're referring to and you'll have to explain anyway.

Perhaps I just don't get out much because when someone does ask about my hobby it's with genuine interest and if I just say, "Oh, I collect dolls", it's the equivalent of blowing them off. And that's what I'm talking about. I would want to explain how these dolls are different from the ones they may be familiar with (reborns, etc.), and what I do with them beyond just putting them on display.
That is what I'm trying to get at, not labeling or elitism, simply sharing my hobby with an inquisitive acquaintance.

 

Personally, I don't see how labeling yourself a "BJD-hobbyist" or a "Resinist" or something like that comes across as any more elitist than labeling yourself a cyclist or a hobby-seamstress or whatever you're doing for a hobby. It's also got nothing to do with neuroticism, imho, to want to put yourself in a certain "category" (i.e. be part of a certain group). I think that's reading too much into it, really.

As for me, it's pretty easy for me to distinguish BJDs from other dolls when talking about them. See, I'm German and thus, when I'm talking about BJDs, I'll refer to them as "dolls" while when I'm talking about other dolls, I'll use the German word "Puppe". Also, I'll refer to myself and other BJD-owners as "doll-owners" (again, in English). Kinda like technical terms.

 

I personally just say "I collect BJDs" or call myself a BJD collector.

Although my friend and I call the act of collecting BJDs resin-itis, because it spreads. "Sorry, I have resin-itis, it's highly contagious. The only known cure is to collect BJDs, so if you feel like you're coming down with it I can send you some helpful sites."

 

Well, if they want information then describing what bjds are, how to find pictures, how to buy things, etc... Would be a conversation rather than a label. If someone asks you "do you have any hobbies?" And you say you collect dolls it's not blowing them off. I don't see how saying "I'm a resinite" would be more informative. Also if someone is specifically asking about bjds I would avoid trash talking other dolls, you never know if that person likes porcelain dolls or reborns or whatever. Simply describing what they ARE is more helpful.

 

I think it's fairly context dependent. In a very general conversation about hobbies, it makes more sense to say "I'm a doll-collector" or "I'm a runner" (or whatever other hobby you care to mention) before saying "I'm a BJD hobbyist and customizer" or "I'm a middle distance barefoot runner". Too much information too early in a conversation tends to turn people off - it's just too detailed for what may be a very casual inquiry. It certainly makes sense to break it down further if your conversation partner is curious or shares your interest or if they specifically ask "what kind of doll?" or "what's your distance specialty?" but starting with the specific strikes me as something that would turn off as many people as it would draw in just by virtue of excluding them because of the more specialized vocabulary.

I don't see why you wouldn't want to start with a term that that everyone understands (doll, running, etc) before digging down into the specifics if/when they show interest in it. I agree with phanuel that brushing off a secondary inquiry would be impolite, but I think Nefla makes a good point about that being the time to describe the actual hobby rather than introducing a new/more specific term (although certainly that could be part of the conversation).

 

See, I got that problem anyways, since I'm also a LARPer (my favourite hobby). So when people ask me about my hobbies, they're bound to go all "ok, wtf is THAT?" anyways, since not all that many people are familiar with the term LARP (or Live Action Roleplay). So why not drop all the odd terminology on them right away and see who inquires further (those people are probably really interested in me and my hobby) and who doesn't (those people probably aren't interested in me and my hobby and just asked for the sake of saying something).
(Other than that, doll-collecting isn't probably what I'd mention first when asked about my hobbies. Writing and reading - yes. LARP - definitely. Doll-collecting's just not - all that important a hobby to me.)