Treat dolls like children, friend, or simply just as an inanimate object?

Usually I treat them more like inanimate objects, but I still call them by their names and he/she instead of it~ Other than that, I like viewing them more like figurines + pieces of artwork. It amazes me how much work you can put into these beautiful dolls.

 

I think it's a combination of friend and object for me. How I treat them is highly situational.

If I'm by myself, I'll occasionally talk to them. Normally it's only little things though--I'll tell them they look nice, apologize if I bump them/knock them over, sometimes ask them redundant little questions that I, of course, don't expect answers to. I suppose I'm thinking of them more as their characters than as dolls when I do this though. I'll talk about them as if they're actual people depending on who I'm talking to.

If I'm talking with people who aren't in the hobby, or anyone I feel guarded around, they're just objects that I've given names.

I might jokingly refer to them as my "kids" once in a blue moon, but I can't really say I treat them like children, mostly because I don't really like children. To be honest, if I treated them like kids, I'd be complaining that they're too loud and wishing they were anywhere but near me. I would say it's closer to treating them like I would a very beloved pet.

Soooo....all-in-all, I'd say I treat them like inanimate friends I like to spoil?

 

I do fuss over hair and clothes with dolls just like I did when my children were younger! But I don't talk to them like they are children!
I might say"sorry" if I banged it against something or keep still while taking photos!

 

I would say precious inanimate object? I don't treat them like living, breathing people, but then again I don't treat them like how I would a chair or a laptop. I really don't like hurting them and would apologise if I did (hit them by accident or something), would refer to them as he/she or by name and would show and feel affection towards them, but wouldn't have full blown conversations with them or feel that they have an array of 'self-given' emotions.

So yeah, precious inanimate object; I care about them greatly and treat them like how a child treats their favourite blanket or toy with all the affection that goes with it. But to say I don't view them as a friend is wrong, as I do, I just also know and feel that they are an inanimate object at the same time, one I cherish the company of and care about a lot.

 

I treat mine as an inanimate object, because that's what it is. It's art that sits on display in my room (out of the window's light of course). I don't have any stories or characters developed for my doll. As an artist, I view it as the beautiful work of another artist to be appreciated and admired.

It can definitely inspire art, just like an artist can be inspired by looking at another artist's work. So I completely understand why many people are inspired by their dolls to create stories and characters. I personally got my BJD because I just love art! My room's walls are just covered in art prints.

 

I treat mine as inanimate objects. Although more affectionately than I would a pen or a lamp or something. Basically the same way I treated my dolls when I was a kid, minus the making them talk to each other. They still have personalities and characters that are special to me.

 

Mine are inanimate objects for me only. I love to look at them, but I so not consider them "friends" or smth like this

 

Friend or Child would be exaggerated but I do treat them very affectionately.
That's not a BJD thing though, it's a me thing. I already had characters long before getting BJDs and they also had a personality of their own.
I'm sure many people know this, feeling as if their character has it's own mind and sometimes you as their creator can't even decide for them, but it's kinda them who decide!
That's what makes me treat them like a person. I imagine them having their own personality, liking and disliking things....
When I interact with them, I talk to them - nothing deep - just as much as I'd talk to my cat or dog... things like "aww you're so cute today!" or "I'm sorry, let me sit you down properly" lol! Hope nobody ever catches me doing that.
Thinking of them being only a lifeless object or doll wouldn't be enough for me - I don't think I'd pay as much money for them as I do in that case.

 

mostly object, but from time to time I'll talk to them a bit (apologizing for hitting them against the door frame, cussing them for being kicky and wobbly when I try to change their close or pose them, and a few "aww you're so cute" here and there) and kiss their heads.

 

I'll talk to them, make them things, pose them, and make decisions based on what they want... but at the end of the days, they are still inanimate objects to me. The characters are strong with them and they're a great way to express creativity, but then I have many characters, most of which are much more important than my dolls.

(Keep in mind I'm also the sort who apologies to doors and names every electronic with a screen in my immediate vicinity, so...)

 

I, more often than not, catch myself talking to my dolls and about my dolls as if they were living breathing human beings, haha. But I treat them as my children also as in something that can brake and son on.

 

I don't treat my dolls like people too much but when I drop them I'm like "AHHHHHHH I'm sorry!". I mostly put them on display. I'll brush their hair from time to time.

 

As a child, I treated my dolls with a lot of respect, like other living creatures and I've always been very careful to maintain my things in the best condition. But I played, gently, with them anyway. I treat BJDs more like works of art, objects with a soul and a message.

 

I can see myself treating them as friends when I was younger, but at the ripe old age of 25, I see them more as inanimate objects that I cherish very much. However, their expressive and anthropomorphic features make me feel as if I am handling something akin to a living being at times. hah.

 

I don't treat my doll as something that'd respond to me when I say something. I fully know that a doll's an inanimate object, and sometimes, I do tend to 'talk' to her, that is, only when I'm truly frustrated with how my day is going or something like that. Then again, I tend to just vent out my feelings sometimes by talking [shouting \shot] aloud, doll or no doll.
Anyway, at the end of the day, though I might sit her near me when I'm watching something, or fuss over her clothes/wig, in the end, I do know that she's not actually a living object that would be able to reciprocate one's feelings, or reply and stuff like that. xD

 

At the end of the day, these dolls-any doll for that matter-are just inanimate objects. However, holding this view doesn't mean that I'll treat my dolls carelessly. To me they're inanimate objects that should be played with and maintained carefully. I mean, they are quite the monetary investment, after all. I would feel awful, not to mention guilty, if I just carelessly handled them. That being said, what's interesting is that I do come up with back stories and personalities for these dolls. I have an active imagination, and I certainly like to use it. What I wouldn't do with them is treat them as a living thing. I wouldn't carry them around in the open, have conversations with them, sleep with them, or consider them a friend. I don't judge anyone who do these things with their dolls, though. To each their own.

 

To me they are very expensive works of art, I admire the artists who make them, I love to make clothes for them, change eyes and wigs. I don't keep them on display they are just wigged and dressed for photos. I handle them very carefully, sometimes they are in their boxes for a long time then they give me pleasure just like having a new doll again. I never talk to them or cuddle them I have my dog for that.

 

It depends on my current mood, I suppose. I like treating them like how one would treat a soft toy(albeit a very expensive one @_@) but with infinitely more care. Hugging it, absentmindedly petting his/her head. A little odd but hopefully not ~that~ weird.

 

I treat them half and half. I'm very busy during the day so I keep them on display. But when I leave the house I leave food and drinks and stuff they might need out, I guess cause I'm always paranoid they can move around when I'm not there. I also talk to them when I'm at home. I talk to all the things in my house that are even remotely personify-able.

 

To me, bjds is a hobbymate which makes me to enjoy my hobby. But I don't care if they treat it as a child, friends, or a treasure.... important thing is 'do not disrespecting their choice.'