The Pretentious Display of One's BJDs

I kind of like all the 'showing off' which goes on in this hobby - People have always boasted about their kids, dressed them up to impress other people, etc. and this is no different I think - and really much more healthy than using a small, vulnerable, live human being to boost your ego! I don't see anything wrong with it - except when other people get jealous and snippy over it, which rather ruins the fun for everyone. It may be attention seeking behaviour, but so what if it is? That doesn't break any laws or hurt anyone - we all like to get positive 'strokes' and attention

 

Are you a BJD Show Off?
I don't consider myself one, but I do worry at times that reeling off the sculpts in my collection (which are mostly LEs) will come across as a bit show-off-y. I'm sure it could seem like I have a hugely expensive collection, but in reality I've done a lot to keep costs low (like running splits to avoid having to buy parts at inflated second-hand prices, and buying just heads and/or fantasy parts to avoid paying the costs of whole dolls). I try not to let it bother me too much though, because the alternative is not talking about my collection, which would be a bit of a shame.

What do you consider showing off in the BJD world?
I honestly don't know that I would consider anything 'showing off' really. In this hobby, I love seeing photos of other people's dolls, and I love hearing about their characters, and I love seeing people's face-up and sewing and photography work so... how could I complain about someone posting any of those things?

Is it okay to show off?
As far as I can tell, there's nothing I'd consider negative about 'showing off' in this hobby. Maybe sincere elitism (of the "my doll is X, which is better than your doll because it's a Y" variety), but I've honestly never really seen that happening. As long as people are just sharing photos of or posts about their dolls, I'm happy to see/read them, because I'm only in this hobby because I love dolls!

 

Why the heck wouldn't I show off my dolls? They are a conglomerate of all my technical skills that I've spent years mastering. I've long learned that sometimes it's good to throw yourself and your work out there. Don't hide your light under a bushel!...or something like that...anyway yeah I don't do the feigned modesty thing. I'm loud and proud with my work lol.

 

The only ones who consider other people displaying their doll collection- whether it be limiteds or not- as "showing off" are the ones who are most insecure I think :P

I find that I constantly ask myself these questions in my head, and it's not just in the doll hobby, but also as an artist who posts her work online. I always ask myself why artists or people even share stuff on the internet? Is it just to show others what they did/accomplished? It's not like they'd get a job or make money off of it..

But then again, that's completely fine. It's okay to share what you did, and it's okay to anticipate good constructive comments about it too! It's the best kind of encouragement, and it's also a lot of fun lol! Sharing and uploading my work online is the part I like most actually. I love telling people about my creations and/or showing them what I made or did!

So no, I do not consider it as showing off as long as it's not rude/snobby/attacking other people.

 

Are you a BJD Show Off?
I don't think so. I do share photos occasionally in discussion threads, but I don't do gallery threads and don't really emphasize photography as the main part of the hobby for me. I tend more to enjoy them quietly.


What do you consider showing off in the BJD world?
I think it's a matter of context, honestly. If you're posting photos of your doll, well, that's great! I love seeing photos! And whether it's the most common ResinSoul* doll or the most expensive One-Off Volks*, if the photo's good, I'll love seeing it and won't consider it as "showing off." That said, if you're posting your One-Off Volks in the context of "HAHHAH YOU SUCKERS I BET YOU WISH YOU'D GOTTEN THIS DOLL!"--that is, gloating that your doll is "the best," "the most special," and so on because of some property of it (rarity, special outfit or faceup, for example), then yes. You're showing off that you got this "special thing" that not everyone could get.

But I've never honestly seen anyone do that!


Is it okay to show off?
If by "show off" you mean share photos, stories, and the like, then absolutely! I think if anyone did act like the example I gave above, they'd end up finding themselves largely ignored by the community, but sharing is not just fine but more than welcome, because there's no other way we can see everyone's unique take on their dolls.


* Nothing against either of these companies, they're just the first ones that came to mind when I was typing up the example!

 

I actually really like the fact that the bjd hobby is one of the few places where it's okay to be excited and proud of what you have and express that openly.

I guess to some degree what I do could be considered showing off? I run a blog where I talk about a lot of customizing and modding or just getting my dolls proper clothes and wigs. I've never looked at it that way before though. I just enjoy talking about what I'm working on and posting pictures of the results.

But I have to say that I think it's okay to show off in the way that most people do in this hobby. In so many areas of our lives, we're asked to be humble and not to talk about what we have and I think it's wonderful and very freeing for us to have this one area where we are allowed to love something we have helped create instead of putting it down in the name of not seeming arrogant.