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

Well I treat my own doll as if they are both my child, and my friend depending in the situation or who I'm talking to. If I talk about him to my friends or other people who are open minded about it I call my doll "my child". And I treat him as such. Whenever me and my doll is alone I treat him like a friend and I talk to him. (Totally not crazy. ) I do believe they are alive somehow, just like how plants are alive somehow as well.
For not so open minded people I just had to treat them as lifeless things. The last thing I want is people misunderstanding the hobby.

It irks me when people treat them as inanimate objects, but I don't hold it against them. What I mean is you do you, bud.

 

It helps me work through homework problems by talking them through, so I tend to discuss them at my doll. It makes me feel slightly less crazy than shouting about logic at a wall or a microwave or a lamp (my alternative options). So, I guess that's more like a friend or a roommate than anything else.

I mean, I've also been known to carry on conversations with my paintings--at least, the ones that are of people. Talking to a landscape or a still life is too weird, even for me.

 

Inanimate objects to me. I don't talk to them or staring at them for a long time. They are more like decorations for me. I also respect other people's opinion about dolls have souls. Everyone has his or her own feeling about it.

 

My dolls are more like inanimate objects, especially now since I have very little time for them! They do have original characters that have developed over time, I think about their story and backgrounds almost daily (especially when a new OC starts developing!)

 

Just like an inanimate objects to me.

 

Probably more like a child than anything else. I tend to talk to them, explain things, find things for them to do, and check to make sure they are okay and happy!

 

I treat my dolls like companions, they go to Drs appointments or on various errands with me. It can be a real comfort!

 

More like a prized possession. Although it sounds a little nutty, I do have affection for them. Like if I scratch one...I feel really bad, like I hurt a friend...so its a mixed feeling.

 

I think I treat them like people that deserve respect, care, admiration. I think it's due to the head canon built regarding their character, but I don't take them anywhere with me. So far, my Delf girls are in their boxes (as I currently lack a safer, better place to display them), but when they're out I offer gentleness in handling them, even so much as taking consideration of their modesty, if that's how I pictured their character to be concerned with.
It's an interesting psychology, worth further introspection!

 

I think of them as art. Not as friends or children. Looking at them does make me happy but they are just inanimate objects.

 

For the most part, I treat my dolls like the art pieces they are. That being said, though, I find my dolls to be very comforting when suffering attacks of anxiety. I tend to hold them or redress them, or just brush their hair and that seems to have a calming effect on me. I love looking at them; they make me smile. And I suppose in a way, they are 'alive' to me, in a way, in that they are representative of these characters that are so close to my heart.

I can't say that I really talk to my dolls, however I talk to myself all the time so I dunno. XD

 

I treat them as people. I fully acknowledge it's really just beautiful sculpture with no real soul and only the personality I project on to it based on my interactions with it. I would not treat it like a living person, but I think it's fun to pretend and tend to only affiliate myself (as real life doll friends) with others who do as well. Luckily my RL doll friends are all exactly like this too so they understand. But I don't shame anyone for having one stance or another. I think if you were to invest yourself solely in the doll at the expense of human interaction (if you formerly did have human interaction) that's a subject for discussion and intervention but otherwise, so long as we acknowledge it's just pretend, I find it to be the most enjoyable way to appreciate these dolls. I collect other dolls too that I do not treat in the same fashion as BJDs.
But yes, to summarize, I treat them as valued friends. I speak to them often just as I do my cat or my dog really.

 

I rarely talk to my dolls. We seem to have telepathy. I am more of their God who takes care of them and watched their relationships grow. I have 6 adults in pairs now and they adore each other; can barely keep their hands off each other. This was such a surprise to me. They all have different personalities. I try to be true to their styles and not let anyone not look fresh and energized, so I'm always trying new wigs and eyes and clothes. Often I pick a favorite and leave them in that for a while.I try not to favor one over another and they all shine. They all have careers and priorities. I also have 3 adopted children and it"s a blast to find miniature toys for them. If I don't attend to them for a week or two, it delights me even more to fool with them again. I love taking pictures of them together or in groups of two and always search for props. I'm definitely their Alpha doll but the grown ups are independent of me mostly.

 

I treat them as inanimate objects but I still think that each of them has a certain personality. It' s weird to describe. It' s kinda how paintings can have certain vibes, my dolls also show their personalities like that.
But I definitely don' t think of them as people, just as art.

 

This is a really great question. It really gave me some thought. I didn't realize how hard it is to define how I think of my dolls. I don't see them as have any emotion and fully see them as objects, but it doesn't feel the same with them as with other objects. I have an emotional bond with them on some small level that is certainly different than any other object. Almost like a child with a security blanket, or favorite stuff animal they have to sleep with every night (not that I sleep with my dolls).

I have several little dogs, and think of them as family, not as high up as children, but still family rather than pets. I think maybe the bjd are right below observational pet level for me, whereas my dogs are family level. I wouldn't ever put them above any living creature as that feels wrong, but I am more attached to them than I ever thought I could be towards an inanimate object. It's hard not get oddly attached when they need so much care, and you spend so much time with them. They kind of become part of your identity.

 

They are inanimate pieces of art to me. Dolls are aesthetically pleasing and nice to admire, but I could never see myself treating them as anything more than what they are.

 

I see the characters behind them as people but I know the doll's are just shells.

 

I treat them like valuable artwork, take pictures of them, and admire them. I don't talk to them, and I don't take them anywhere. Most of mine are limited and cost a decent chunk of change, so they are safer at home. They are very special and I do imagine how they would think and act if they were real for fun. To me, they are the same as the rare and custom plush I collect; I cuddle them gently from time to time, but I wouldn't take an $800 plush on a roadtrip or sleep with it every night. I'm a collector at heart and like everything to be as new as possible.

 

Definitely an inanimate object but a craft/art work to be enjoyed and admired. I love them and enjoy playing dress up with them, but they don't have any sentimental value to me. Perhaps when I was younger they were more sentimental because it connected me with my friends at the time, it was the thing that my friends and I really enjoyed and was a tool to bond. But now they're just things.

 

lol Never really thought about it. I don't see them as living things, but I don't really see them as art projects, either. Maybe more like well-loved toys? Very expensive well-loved toys.

I do find myself talking to them, though, when I'm handling any of them. When changing their clothes or wigs, I ask their opinion. "What do you think? This looks good?" Or if one of them gets knocked over or something, "Gah! I'm sorry! Are you okay?" and checking them over for potential injury. I guess perhaps this carries over from my childhood when I used to always talk to my dolls as if they were sentient beings.

I dunno, if it ever did come to one of them answering BACK, though ... I think that'd probably be a good time to call in a priest or something.