Taking dolls to school or college?

I would have no second thoughts about doing it if i could again ^ ^ but i go to a lower school (as in im not in high school yet) and we aren't allowed to have bags during the day and we aren't allowed to go to are lockers until last bell rings, I did bring my girl last year before they changed the rules a bunch, and soooo many immature kids > < last year we had an elementary school in with our school too, so that didn't help either. But i stayed after and took lots of wonderful pictures and the kids on the after school bus loved her, i was really surprised. and i also got a friend interested in the hobby, so it was a win/win situation

 

And I'm sitting right beside her (dolless)

 

I read about a third of these and I like Mittebam's the best. IF, you are going to take them to school, you could try to control the environment a bit with a circle of friends. Certain classes, like art , drama, etc. would attract open minded, artistic people. Taking them out just anywhere is risking your BJD. Some limited editions or custom dolls are irreplaceable. It has been 40 years since I have been a teenager. The people that didn't like my hobbies, music and other interests back then, still don't. Things haven't changed that much.

 

Emka put it perfectly, I think:

I got my first dolls while I was still at university, and whether I was studying in Japan or England they always stayed in my dorm room and never came to class. I was at university to study and to learn, and to do that it's necessary to concentrate - and likewise, not to distract other people in the class either, all of whom are paying ridiculous amounts of university fees good money to have a proper education and learn the information that they're going to be tested on in their Final Exams, not play dollies.

Mitanai said that her Japanese tutor ignored her dolls, but my lecturers - not only the older English gentlemen but also every one of our fairly hyperactive Japanese ladies - would have told an undergraduate to take anything like that out of the class and pay attention or else, frankly. I'm planning to start on a teaching course fairly soon myself, and I quite agree with my lecturers on that one: dolls and other toys or distractions stay at home, please.

 

I certainly wouldnt bring my large ones to school. I did plan on it a couple times for my art class, but I always chickened out. I dontwant anything happening to them.

But....I am getting a tiny (PFK Ante) and she's small enough to carry her in something secure/ lock her in my locker when I don't want/ cant have her out. So when she comes, I do plan to bring her to school here and there. I pay attention in class, and I'm not looking to distract anyone. So if I had her out at all in a regular core-class, she'd only be hidden in my sweater or something. Otherwise, a larger doll, even MSD, I don't really like the idea of sitting one on my desk. People would get distracted. They'd want to know who/what/where/why/when/how on and on. And I like talking about BJDs, telling people about them, but too many of the kids in my school ask questions without listening to the answers. I dont want to run in circles trying to answer a bajillion Qs. . .

One thing though, is only I, and a couple friends are allowed to so much as touch my dolls. Especially in an enviornment where there are many people, being able to control what they do while holding a precious is slim. So I really don't like the idea of the "Can I hold her!?" "Can I pose her!?"
I'd have to be straight up, "Nope. Sorry"

As for why I'd do it...I guess, I miss my dolls when I'm at school. Sounds silly, but being a BJD community, I'm sure some others could relate, but I feel alone at school a lot. I do have friends, but none of them know me inside and out. The dolls, they're a part of me, they make me happy and smile no matter what. So I like the idea of being able to take my little girl out at lunch, sitting outside and just having her sit with me while I work on something, or sit and think. It's just comforting. Especially when she's brand knew, if not with me, I'd be more distracted with wanting to go home and play with her than I would be if she was right by me! lol

Anyone can do what they want. What you find comfortable isnt what he/she over there does, doesnt make someone right/wrong. Just consider others around you when making desicions, and most certainly consider the safty of your doll, and your reasons. If it's just to show off (no problem lol, lots of us want to!), then really think about it. You could bring some pictures of the dollies instead. No risk of doll-injuries there.

 

For the record he was only a small one- who would have been put away if he was a distraction. When class was underway he was ignored by everyone and buried under paperwork and props (mobile phones, watches, pens etc to help with vocab)
Any bigger than 27cm wouldn't stay on a desk let alone out of my bag for long durations at all.
Heck my 55cm when he arrives will only be brought out to meets, show people, photo shoots, and out and about- some friends would love to play along-

I do understand distinctions between distraction and paperweights. Anything that helps me study to be frank will be employed, even if it means having something with me like a doll or a keyring plush as emotional support.
As soon as other people devote their attention i will keep them hidden. It is that simple to me.

I do understand that school is school... but sometimes people have difficulties and need security blankets.

 

The only doll right now is a tiny and I bring her to school all the time. But I don't show her off, flaunt her, or play with her during my class time. If it's time to work, then I'll work and maybe put her in my desk or behind my purse so no one sees her, and continue what I'm doing. If we have a free moment then I might take her out, snap a picture of two, not allowed really but I never get caught, it's weird, then put her away where she can't be seen when I'm finished. It also depends on the class I'm in.

When it comes to English, Programming, Math, and other core classes, well Programming isn't really a core class but it might as well be, I don't really have her out. But in my German class, yeah, she's there 24/7. I get most of my pictures for her taken in that class. But that's because we don't do anything, which is kinda sad, because it's German III. But there's a girl in there who loves my girl as much as I do. She's probably one of the people who I actually trust to hold/touch her. Not to mention the fact that she asks nicely instead of just taking her. It's kinda awesome actually.

But I'm in high school right now, when I get to college that may change. By that point I'll be there to learn, and study the craft in which I plan to use outside of those walls and make a living off of. If I have time to have her out in class and do those things, which I doubt unless it's an art class, which I'm probably not taking unless its photography or something, then I might. But if I'm studying then no, I'm there to learn and she needs to be put away some where. No need for distractions after all.

 

I agree with your viewpoint^^
My doll accompanies me at university, but just stayed in my personal room...
I never bring them to class…because I can’t guess what will happen next...
In addition, I don’t worry about other people would touch them without my agreement…= =||

 

I'm at uni studying art, and since I don't have alot of lectures so I do take mine in once in a while and only days I have anime soc meetings after; the only exception tends to be when I go to the radio studio to do my show.
If I do have her, she is in the carrier till I have somewhere secure I can put her. I would never bring her to a lecture and have her out of the carrier.

Even though I like having her there while I work, a 60cm is not exacticaly practical (or light) to carry around with me every day.

 

When mine are brought to class (Photoshop, for when I posted I had them with me), I only bring them because the teacher thinks they're quite pretty and interesting, and a few of my classmates find them curious. We don't mess with them until breaks or after class, when we talk about them or discuss them with a teacher who has expressed interest. We pay for our classes, we're adults (19+), and we know to do our work and study. Different teachers, different classes, different schools, so it all depends on where you go and how you go about having them with you.

In fact they've even been part of projects during class, either sketching practice or photo subjects or similar, so it's not like they're there to be distracting.

 

I brought my SD Dai to school one day in her carrying bag but I only took her out twice in fear of her getting damaged. But! When my brownie arrives, she will barely ever leave me. X3

 

If you allow other people's opinions to make you feel guilty, I think you have an underlying issue to address yourself. Don't take comments made over the internet by people who don't know you to heart. If you're strong enough to take a doll out without worrying about the comments you'll get from people who do know you, why get upset and crushed feelings from people who don't know you?

I'm unapologetic for taking my dolls anywhere usually, but at university and in the work place I want to be taken seriously and look professional. It doesn't look professional if your doll is sat on your desk or peeping out of your pocket. It looks cute, but it definitely isn't professional. I didn't want to be known as the 'creepy doll girl' at university, I wanted to be recognised for my academic work.

Some people do need moral support when they're having a hard day, but keeping your doll in a bag close-by is just as helpful as having your doll sit on your lap, and leaves you less open to public criticism or judgement.

 

Yeah... guess it does say more about me really- I did let this get to me too much.

At Uni Ly (27cm) does stay in my bag a hell of a lot, occasionally he does make an appearance but only when I'm showing people- so that means he's only been out three times really.
I don't mind people thinking whatever they want since I'm already seen as a little weird I think.
Poor thing if he is sat there gets used as a paper prop... that's happened every time so he isnt necessarily on display or for the cute factor.. he's just there.

Any bigger though... yeah not gonna happen unless I have reason to bring them out of the house. xD

I do thank those that have gone out of their way to try and buck me up and sort me out. It does help when I go overboard (which... actually happens less than I think).

 

I really, really agree with this. I will not take my dolls to university or work, because I know it is distracting and really not appropriate. I don't pay ridiculously high tuition to play with dolls--I pay it to further my education and improve my life, and I want to be taken seriously while doing so. Having a doll around might be fun, but sometimes not everything must be fun.

 

I personally wouldn't, although I see this from the teacher's point of view, not from the student's ^^; not because I am afraid of what others think of me (then I wouldn't have taken the dolls out to the city center with lots of people), but rather because I don't think an expensive toy has a place at a teaching facility, where not all kids' parents earn enough to even buy bread sometimes (and I know that there are girls who don't have parents to begin with).
So for me it's more of an ethical issue, like not telling them how much I actually earn at the translation agency compared to the school salary.

And I also agree about professionalism. Although we use all sorts of techniques in the classroom, bringing a doll to secondary school students... well, that would be one odd teacher (:

 

Agreed, and I wanted to expand on this. I don't want to be known as the "creepy doll girl" when I'm at the movies, out to dinner, etc. I go to work to work. I go to the movies to be with my friends and family. I go to dinner to enjoy a meal and the company. I don't drag dolls with me to any of these things because that's not what they're about. I got rid of my security blanket a long time ago.

Doll meets are the exception. It's the one time/outing where having dolls and geeking out over other's dolls is acceptable.

 

You said it so much better than I did. To be seen as one sort of person (creepy doll girl) is really quite sad, as people have multiple dimensions to their character and personality. Why stick to just 'creepy doll girl'?

Mitani: Personally, I feel that grown mature people don't need security blankets, and I know that potential employers prefer workers that can work under stressful conditions without said 'security blankets'.

 

Since 99.999% of students do not bring dolls to class, it's perfectly natural for other students to be surprised, intrigued, and yes, distracted. Speaking from the teaching side of the aisle, it can be difficult at the best of times to keep 30+ teenagers engaged for 55 straight minutes. Cell phones, iPods, and dolls sitting on desks only makes it that much worse--they are all distractions that take attention away from learning, and that doesn't benefit anyone.
That's why students generally aren't allowed to bring any sort of toy, game, or gadget into the classroom, regardless of how much they like it or how happy it makes them. It has nothing to do with dolls being "creepy" or the perception that the hobby is "weird," and everything to do with maintaining a good learning environment.

 

Dolls are not creepy!!!! I don't know how people could he so cruel to something they don't know? It makes me so mad!!!! ( RAWR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I've brought Lucien to school, once. I kept him in a case, except for every now and then, because i (shamefully) admit that sometimes i take peoples words harshly.

And it's not for no good reason, no. I mean, i dye my hair odd colors and wear strange clothes, but i'm also a boy. Sadly, not a biological boy, a transgendered boy. Not yet, for now i'm still stuck with the girl parts, but i like to be reconized as a boy, you know? And boys don't normally carry dolls around.

I brought Lucien to the theatre once, and had to have my female friend carry him because i didn't want people thinking i was a girl, because people are stereotypical.

Anyways, so i'm a bit "meh" about bringing him anywhere, though i wish i could. if i was comfortable enough with myself, i defenantly would! But i'm still all..eh.