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

I treat them like an inanimate object but i feel very attached to them. But i still maintain my social habit outside.

 

The doll is not an inanimate object to me. He's alive in my imagination, just like a human. But I don't talk to them in life.

 

Since I get attach to even inanimate objects very easily, I do talk to them, but usually only about what clothes should I make, apologizing when I hit something with them, and such. They are precious to me, though, and the only humanoids, albeit lifeless, that I see all day, so I can say that their presence makes me feel a tad less lonely. I do not treat them as children, unless they are, and certainly not my own children anyway.
(Once in a while I get the need to cuddle with them or let them sleep with me, but I feel like they would not want to? I dunno, it's weird )

 

I feel the same way, I don't have a doll yet but I will be happily calling myself a parent.
Most of the 1/3 dolls, and the bigger of the BJD dolls do resemble children at least in height.

 

Inanimate, but I project my OCs into them, so I associate anything done by the doll with the character? If that makes sense? I guess I see them as "alive" in that respect, because I'm projecting so much into them... but I'm not crazy enough to think they're actually really alive! When people say they're scared of my dolls/find them creepy, I tend to scoff because, for real, they're lumps of plastic and glass etc.... There's nothing they can do to harm anyone, even if they cause an uncanny valley affect!

 

I treat my dolls like inanimate objects. Most of the time my dolls sit on the shelf and occasionally I'll fix them up for some photos.

 

Some movies say other wise, just imagine a horror movie of BJDs.
But yes that is true, they are simply dolls who can only stare with dead eyes, stuck in a position they can't change.
Oh how I love BJDs.

 

To elaborate on what has been said a few comments above, dolls are in general inanimatie objects but don't blame people who find themselves uncomfortable in their presence. They don't move on their own but I do believe there are things other than us, humans, that can animate them. To each their own but it's pretty normal that there are people who find them 'creepy' even if you dress them up all sugary sweet and cute.

In Japan I found out that they believe that each doll has a soul. Over there dolls are not only considered objects of decoration or entertainment but living beings as well. They hold actual doll funerals there too. When the doll's owner must reluctantly throw it away they take it to a temple where old and new dolls, both costly and ordinary ones, are piled together. After the owners say their last farewell and express their deep gratitude, the dolls are burnt to ashes. It's a beautiful custom although not so good for the environment.

 

I'm not sure I'd say I treat my dolls as children, but they are characters of mine, as it seems most people have that with their dolls. And like my characters who don't have a doll, they come alive in my head world, I think up stories and head canons for them, silly fun stuff like that.

The only difference is that they have a physical piece I can hold onto and dress up. So no, I don't treat them as inanimate, but they aren't my friends or children per se, but more like a little piece of me.

 

They are my friends!

 

Definitely a combination of all 3 at times. He will sit in his room box posed for a while, like a week or two without me touching him. But when I have the interest in messing with him, i might talk at him, and sometimes I’ll have him on my desk or end table so I’m not “alone.” But none of that is a consistent thing and is only periodically as I feel like it.

 

I treat my dolls as my decorations sometimes and they are also my friend when I am alone. Dolls help me to release myself when I feel pressured in the work life. And I think that whether other peoples treat their dolls will not bother me because i only care about my dolls.

 

I treat them as very fragile children basically. I only handle them when I am 100% clean,in a clean enviroment and very delicately.

 

I'm getting my first doll in a few days... I'm going to use him as a therapeutic friend, sort of like how some people use those Reborn Babies. I've wanted a BJD for years, and I finally was able to. My therapist says that using dolls as a friend could really help out my situation, so I'm excited! I'm sure that I'll talk to them, and maybe carry around my less expensive ones.

 

I live only with my cats so I talk to myself and them a lot. I only see them (my on topic and off topic ones, though they only make 2 so far) when I take them out of from their "rooms" to take pictures and try out clothes etc. So yeah I rarely but do talk to the dolls sometimes haha, but I'd say I treat them like a very prized (and pricey) object like my tamagotchis but they're all kind of my babies really xD (yes the tamas too) Like a part of the family like pets are. I don't know everything about them though. They are part of or become my ocs so I guess they're a part of me too, but I'm not the type of person who comes up with intricate backstories etc, so I figure they don't tell me that kind of thing about themselves yet ^^

 

Somewhere between inanimate object and friend. I don’t fuss over him all that much and to me, my doll is mostly just a character I created and a way to be creative with sewing and such. I even use him as an art model or let my sister do the same. But he’s also my comfort. Like, I’ll study for school by “Teaching” him because it helps me if I explain things. Or Is watch TV or read to him. Because he makes me happy, I like to treat him in a way that would make him happy if he wasn’t inanimate. He does, however, spend a lot of time on my shelf (or in his box if I’m busy).

 

I think of my dolls as my children. They are all little girls. I will say things like, "Mama wants to give you a hug." or "You are being such a nice girl for Mama." My doll friends are "aunties" to my girls and I am an auntie to their dolls.

 

I have friends. I have kids. Dolls just...aren't either one. But they do fill their own special niche, and I am fond of the space they fill.

 

If I have to choose between children, friends and inanimate objects, I will go for friends (more precisely family members). My boys are mostly too mature looking for me to call them my children....I simply reject that concept, haha. They are neither inanimate objects to me. I treat them as equal living beings.

 

It's a mix for me. While I see them overall as dolls, which are inanimate objects, they're still like my babies who I clean, dress, and sometimes talk to(albeit usually in frustration when a limb gets kicky, or to comment how nice a wig, eyes, or clothes look on them). They all have their own characters I've made for them, some of them being tributes based on my pets who have passed away, so it adds that sentimental value to them that makes them my babies.

Sometimes I don't give them much attention, I'll admit. There are times when I'm simply too busy or just not in the mood, so they sit on their shelves left alone. At other times, I'm fussing over them constantly.