Taking dolls to school or college?

I bring my doll to sch (^_^) She's a SD size and my teachers do enjoy asking me, " so where's our other student today? " If i don't bring her (^_^)

 

I have my one lone BJD with me at school.... granted I live in a dorm on campus so it's no biggie to have her in my room

 

I think there is a big difference between college/university and high school when it comes to this topic. At university it's quite common to have something valuable and delicate (laptop) on your person for extended periods throughout the day. Also, if you are doing a project involving it, there are usually ways to keep it safe and hidden when not in use in media labs or whatnot. There are usually extensive art/film programs at universities where people have all kinds of amazing, valuable and delicate equipment or pieces that they take very good care of.

That being said, I would have hated someone bringing something so distracting to the class room for no reason other than to show it off. I paid a lot of money for my university, and just like people who chat on cellphones or play music I do not appreciate ANYONE detracting from it. For example: some girl brought an iguana to journalism class once. It was "acting" up and she kept talking to it, then interrupted the class by saying he "needed some air" and stormed out. Valuable class time --literally valuable class time!-- wasted by someone and their pet. You take twenty minutes out of class time I paid a few grand to be in....no thanks.

It's not that I don't respect people and their hobbies...but my thousand dollar journalism course is worth a whole lot more to me than their doll/kid/iguana/whatever. I think if you want people to respect your dollies you should start by respecting their environment for what it is first

 

Anneke, I apologize for being blunt but not all of us own BJDs just for the sake of "showing off", which you seem to imply. I'm very attached to my girls and I bring them around with me as much as possible.

As for the topic at hand, well, for one thing, a BJD is not a pet, so she* can hardly move around and disrupt class. As long as the owner isn't doing anything drastic like talking to the BJD while lecture is in progress I don't see anything wrong with bringing a BJD to school. If other students choose to be distracted by the presence of a doll that's pretty much their problem, imo. My girls take turns coming to class with me; usually they just sit next to my laptop while I listen to my prof. I don't do anything to draw attention to myself, so if other students lack the self-discipline to pay attention in class, it's their fault, not mine.

*I refer to BJDs thus because all my dolls are girls!

 

I'm sorry--you're right I did sound like I was making it out to be a show-offie kind of thing! I didn't mean that at all, I was only trying to respond to the other posts about the dangers/pitfalls of bringing dollies to a place like a school. The posts I read of folks pointing out that "forcing" dollfies on others isn't the best way to introduce them to the hobby made me want to respond--so all of my post wound up sounding way too, well "forcey!"

Of course, reason above all being that the doll itself would be in terrible danger (!) which I think everyone else has pointed out so far-- but my personal take on it is that something wonderful and hobby-oriented basically doesn't have much of a place amongst students who are there to work. I would never dream of bringing any hobby to school (or the office for that matter) simply for those main reasons. Not to mention how unprofessional it is. I definitely didn't mean that people own, work with, or share dolls just for show off Though I also feel there's no harm in having tons of pride for your girls and wanting to share them with the world!

 

I take my doll to college every day (and if I get too much guff I can just tell them he's for photography and they leave me alone). I also take him shopping, to the movies, out to dinner, EVERYWHERE! So yes, I will aid in your movement.

 

I live at school. So my dolls are already there. Yay college, ahurr. :B

As for taking them to class? Heck no. If I could smack you overexcited young'ins with a rolled up newspaper, I would. Treat school seriously, you guys! You are there to study and to learn, not play and goof off. I don't care if I sound dull and mean, it's true. There's a reason my high school wouldn't let people bring mp3 players and stuff out to play with during lunch or anything; because if you're playing with it at lunch, the vast majority of you will be playing with it during class, too. Be better to yourself than that, guys. :\ If you're that bored in your off-time at school, read a book or something. Do /something/ educational in your educational environment.


And as for the rest of the concept, like bringing dolls to the mall or whatnot with the sole intention of showing them off.....I'm still against it. Too many small, losable, breakable parts are at risk for that.

Plus, like some have said...yes, a lot of people think dolls are creepy and weird, but I see absolutely no reason to try and "fix" that. You're stepping into invasive territory when you do that, since you don't know everyone's personal stories behind why they think so. A very dear friend of mine has a phobia of dolls, and after learning that, I've been very careful with my two girls around others because I'd hate to step on anyone's toes.

If I were a smoker, I'd take care not to smoke around people that hate the smell. If I liked profanity-laden rap music, I wouldn't play it around people who don't like how it sounds. If I liked fur coats and alligator skin boots, I wouldn't wear them around people who really care about animals. I shouldn't stop being courteous to others just because "it's my hobby and I love it and EVERYONE should too!"

 

Hah, kind of naive to think that students should only think educationally in an educational environment. I was an average student, so people shouldn't follow my example, but I hardly stood at full alert all class period. I don't need a doll for that, I just need a pad and pencil to doodle all day, or write non-educational notes in, or occasionally a cap to help me take a nap. XD We spend HOW many hours each day in school, for HOW many years? I've goofed off for plenty of that time in school, especially lunch or break times. Not allowing MP3 players or anything like that during lunch seems dumb to me (and I don't even use those things) . Still came out of it all with a GPA above 3.5. I have plenty of smarter friends who took harder courses than me or got a bunch of AP credits, and I'm sure they would snort at the idea of never letting their hobbie or goofing off enter the classroom/school.

I've brought Dawn to college once, to show my friend and a couple other reasons, and since I feel icky about leaving her in my backpack to be smushed too long, I set her to sit down in the two earlier classes I had. She was MSD-size, so pretty handleable, but either way, she was no big deal, nobody even spared her a second glance ^^ . Which I found I preferred (I don't mind if she's noticed, but I think I prefer less hassle, 'cuz I'm lazy) .

The one thing I'd be worried about is having someone have some phobia of dolls. I don't intend to bring her to school often though, so all should be good. Having her stolen or broken... no bigger chance than with the netbook I bring to school daily =P .

ali

 

At my school I had to dress business-casual or business-formal on presentation days, so I guess I'm at the other end of extremes when it comes to the educational institution experience. I work as a marketing professional now so, same deal as in school (and the purpose of the dress code becomes clear) I have to dress business casual and so it's more obvious to me that bringing hobbies to work would be a huge no-no. Though funny story, an office mate got an "American girls" doll catalog in the office mail the other day and gets teased regularly for it I guess that's the quick and dirty way to rate how the other office folks would take a BJD popping up at the workplace.

At least I haven't run into anyone yet with a doll phobia Not sure what I'd think about that.

 

In my opinion, because school is a institution created to learn, it's not a very appropriate environment for bringing dolls, or any sort of distraction. Maybe if you school still did show and tell... or had a lesson on something related, it's ok. But I think it's a little weird for people to just randomly bring a collectors items to school. I thin things like that are a lot of reason why people think BJD collectors are weirdos. ^^;

 

If I had a doll when I was in high school I'm sure I would have brought him in on an activity day.
Maybe even on a half day or the last day of school.
I also would have packed him up in a study case so I could have used him for my art and photography classes.

I was always the odd one in high school,
so I'm sure that me bringing out a strange large doll wouldn't be surprising to anyone!

 

My high school didn't have an anime club until after I left.
That would have been fun to take a doll to!

I actually tried to convince my mother to buy me a doll back in 04' when I discovered this hobby.
I still wonder what it would have been like to have a doll during those years.

 

Nope. I'm highly over protective of my belongings, and I'm not even ALLOWED to bring things like dolls to school. I'd immediately get it confiscated and have to wait for my parentd to get it. I just don't trust a lot of people at my school. Safety purposes.

 

I actually have mine here with me. *Adrik waves* He's folded all up in a box for anime club later today. Maybe coming out at lunch, but not in classes today.

 

Hmmm... I do apreciate and admire those that are solid with their views on not bringing BJD's because they are a disruption to learning... But at university when your degree is your own effort i find there is only so much studying one can do.

If anyone is so distracted by a lump of plastic on my desk that they cant focus then i can only ponder how their minds are working. Unneccessary electrical items are banned from seminar rooms and lectures usually, but i personally don't see the harm in some classes having a doll sitting on a desk.
If someone starts messing with one endlessly then it is time for them to be talked to... but just to sit there and be silent council... Hell Lysander is sat poking out of my bag at the moment, hes not doing anything as i use some time during a two hour break to try and get my head in order for another seminar.

For someone that's on the edge of having a nervious breakdown... Id say bringing me with him is a good thing... Even if any dolls i have stay in their respective bags they are still with me... and if i choose to bring them out i chose to bring them out. If someone asks me not to bring them i will keep them bagged.

In my japanese class he was totally ignored by the tutor (she is japanese) and in other classes more Literature based i will by all means keep him in my bag if it will destract anyone.
Seminars might be big nonos since they are usually smaller and with more... closed minded tutors...
Lectures... provided I'm not damaging anyone elses concentration against their wills- they might leave the bags and sit on them or something, sitting on the desk would be perilous since the books we use alone take up all the bench space.

University is for learning... but its also not meant to drive us into the ground...

Other schools that are strict and can allow students to function well in harsher environments [no mp3 players during lunch for example]. When i was at School Phones were only just taking off.. and were confiscated if seen. Only during College were MP3 players popular. Tutors used to tell us to turn them off... but we were allowed them with us still.
But if you were used to not having them then thats the way you are conditioned to be. Maybe indeed for the better...

I cant judge really but all i can try and do is encourage people not to attack others.
It is subtle but it is there, and to be honest I'm getting increasingly offended by those that (quite rightly) say schools are for learning.
People that bring them all the time... if i was on the same course as you with an open minded tutor... To be honest i would bring them to art classes too. My perspectives and anatomy suck...

Its all about context, and please can people keep this in mind while commenting. I don't want to feel guilty about my actions when the only one influenced by anything is myself. ie today Ly hasnt even left my bag, yet i feel it is a crime even bringing him.

Some people need moral support and to be frank i think i crushed my feelings responding to this thread taking it all a little personally.

 

I bring my dolls to school all the time. People are fasinated by them and my friends get really excited to see which one of my current 4 will show up that week.

 

Ummm....If you don't have anything to add to the topic at hand, did you really need to post? This is a discussion thread, so it helps when you post with something to discuss...

almyki, I know what you mean XD I took all AP/IB in high school, goofed off plenty, and still coasted by with a GPA three people away from the top ten percent...but not everybody's smart enough to do that. And besides, teachers hate it when they find out you're napping in your class, don't they? Teachers get mad when they catch you passing notes or doodling instead of transcribing their babbling, right? A doll sitting on a table is a little more blatant than that, whether you're actively playing with it or not. It's still sending the message of "meh, I don't care about you, I prefer paying attention to this chunk of plastic in front of me." Which...might be true...but still.

And as for bringing them out at lunch...yeah, I can see why others would be fine with it. You aren't doing anything educational then. I'm just too paranoid after going to a public high school with several thousand people to do that. D8


But yeah, like some others have said....college is a whole 'nother beast. We pay out the nose to be here, so I damn well better be allowed to have some of my sanity-savers around me. I still wouldn't bring them to too many classes to stick on my desk, I don't think. Sure, I'll sneak a crossword puzzle under my notebook for when the lecture gets a little dry, but once again..a big doll sitting on my desk is a little too big of a slap in the face to my professor. Double plus, the doll phobia thing D: I felt like crap when I found out my friend was phobic. I don't want to do it again! :<

 

no i do not think it is a good idea nor would i do this. Like others have said, you never know what people might do to your doll on purpose or not. Maybe, if you wanted to get others interested in the hobby, have a CLOSE friend you want to share the hobby with come over and you can introduce them to it. School, or any public place though is too dangerous.

 

not any public place really, i take my dollies to the mall and out shopping with me all the time. School is only if you feel you wanna take a risk. But its not really dabgerous to bring them to a public place, you just gotta keep a close eye on them.

 

I'm sitting at school with my SoOm Bygg and LTF Rachel right now ;D