What makes someone a "good" dolly owner?

xDDDDDDDDDDDD

 

Well, by about half that criteria I'm a bad dolly owner, but it doesn't bother me. I can't even restring, and I've been buying these dolls for four years. None of mine have characters (half don't even have names), and I rarely take a picture of one of them unless it's for the MP. I do have an emotional attachment to them, but it's nothing compared to a lot of the people on DoA.

I think all it takes to be a good dolly owner is that you don't force people/animals to eat the dolls, since resin is toxic. Also, you shouldn't misbehave on the MP by stealing people's money and not sending the doll/item/commission, intentionally lying about the doll's condition, or filing false claims on Paypal. Otherwise, anything should be fine. I'll admit that I'd be annoyed if someone bought a rare doll I wanted just so they could watch it burn (or completely destroy it in some other way), though.

I've seen all the stuff you've listed implied by people on forums. My guess is that a lot of people feel so strongly about their dolls that they have trouble imagining how others don't feel the same way. Or, they think that people who spend a lot of money on the dolls should do everything possible to make them worth the cost. As a gamer, I'll admit that I find it odd when video game collectors buy games but never play them. I don't think of them as "bad", but I can't imagine doing that. For me, video games are meant to be played. This may be how some doll owners feel about people who don't play with their dolls.

As for having sufficient funds, I think people who have a problem with people buying more dolls than they can afford probably have a problem with people overspending in general. I doubt it's related specifically to the dolls.

If anyone is seriously upset by how people in this hobby may view them to the extent that if affects their enjoyment, it might be best to stay off the forums and just enjoy your dolls in whatever way you prefer. Especially if you're at the stage where you're no longer learning new things from the forum.

 

"provide them with the best "brand" clothing, accessories and other items" Nah, it doesn't always have to be *branded* in order to be good enough for a doll. To me, it matters how comfortable, beautiful they are and I handmade them at home, I don't buy, not never, but rarely.

To be a good owner, I think first, treat it with care, respect and love. To my perspective in defining these e.g. I had built a large bed with covers, pillows for them (heard that someone would put it in a box for years...that is just not enough love I guess, even if it is for the reason to preserve the quality, humans grow old too, so these worries are just..well.., and pay attention to details to prevent damage are the things to add. Treat them as individuals, with special treatments, treat them like they are real life humans who deserve as much as you...and create names, personalities. I did all of that, and feel better at heart.

FrigidDamsel - What drives you to buy them at first? But I see you had brought a lot of dolls, and spent quite a lot of money, you must have been loving them so much in order to have such a strong desire, and by any means, waiting for dolls cost a lot of time, waiting for them needs months...I really don't understand why you don't give them charaters and names and take photos. If it is me, I would have taken them in my spare time, because you want to cherish the memories of their beauty and the experiences/relationships between the owner and the doll itself. Also, I don't understand why people/animals eat dolls, never heard of that...are you kidding or...? Also if resin is toxic, then why people still sell them?

 

No problem, I'm so glad that I could help you. Amazing how simple the answer is, huh? Just enjoying everything you do with dolls -- the shopping, the photography, just looking at them... it's so easy to get lost in the process of doing this and that, and forget about the simple enjoyment of just being around your dollies!

About "good dolly owner criteria"... everyone in the thread has already said it. Enjoy the hobby the way YOU want to enjoy it, and don't worry about what other people think you should do to enjoy it. After all, who is the best person to know how to make you happy and fulfilled? YOU.


(And thinking out loud now...)
I wonder whether all these criteria is actually an illusion. Frankly, I don't think anyone in the hobby actually imposes them on anyone else. (Just like that elusive elitism that no one can ever point directly to.) Maybe this illusion arises because there's just so much good talent out there in face-ups, modding, photography, making clothes/props/etcbecause dolls are just so beautiful and idealized.
Maybe the "good doll owner criteria" arises when one perceives that one must be exactly like those best of the best photographers/storytellers/well-known doll owners, in order to be counted amongst the ranks of the famous and beautiful and therefore achieve dolly nirvana bliss?

 

If I wanted something with that much responsibility, I'd get a pet. But as I don't, I have dolls. These toys are just that. Toys. They deserve nothing. They need nothing. Some people buy these dolls just because they like the way they look. That's it. There doesn't have to be a deeper meaning to people's purchases. I have a doll I honestly have not looked at in uhhh probably going on 5 months now. He's been in his box that entire time, and I am perfectly happy with him staying in that box until I do feel like taking him out of said box and looking at him.

The only thing I would say an owner needs to do is to not scam people when taking place in any sort of transaction and to generally not be an asshat when interacting with other owners, and that really has nothing specific to do with being a doll owner and entirely to do with just being a decent human being in general.

 

I buy them because they're pretty and looking at them makes me happy. I'm not really the most creative person, so doing things like naming and making characters isn't as natural for me as it is for a lot of people. Many people here already write stories or have some artistic abilities they can express through their dolls - I don't. However, I can still appreciate other people's art, and to me these dolls are more fun to look at than some of my favorite artists' paintings.

About the eating part - I didn't mean that to be serious really, but ingesting resin could be toxic for a small animal if they ate a lot of it (maybe even a small child?). I don't think I've heard of anything dying from it, but some people's animals or children have eaten part of their doll, which made the doll owner worried. Another bad thing about resin is that inhaling resin dust (such as during modifications) isn't healthy. But for normal play, it's nothing for you to worry about.

 

"Good" is too subjective and individual. I wouldn't want to buy a doll that someone treated in poor condition and lies about it's state, but that's as far as my concern for what other people do with their dolls go. Sure, there are some things I don't care to see, but at the end of the day it doesn't matter to me.

 

Wow you described me nurie, honored to make your list.

Well I try not to judge others in terms of 'good ownership', everyone is different and treats the dolls in different ways. I love my dolls with my whole heart so if anyone does that, I think they are a good owner. Looking after the dolls, taking care of them, loving them. I feel I'm a good owner, for many of the reasons you've mentioned.

•have a doll family where most or some of them stay for many years to come.
My oldest doll is 6 years old next month.
•have some sort of connection to them. (playing, making stories, little bios, infos, having characters, etc.)
They have bios, webpages and I write stories for them. (they are also all in the databases here)
•having sufficient funds to keep the hobby going.
I work over time for new clothing and when I save for a new doll I don't get takeaways and dvds and cinema trips.
•actively taking photos
I have tons of photos and gallery threads here.
•provide them with the best "brand" clothing, accessories and other items
I don't know about "brand", but I like them to have nice clothes and for the clothes to look real, like human clothes, very detailed and good quality.

Soooo, I must say I'm much more concerned whether I'm being a good owner. I don't really concern myself with what other people do with their kids.

 

Back when I first started I marveled at all of the people on here with intricate characters and histories and bios and relationships for their dolls. All of the photostories and talk of bonding, it was (and still is I must confess) terribly strange to me, who just likes them because they are neat. Most of the time mine are naked and bald, they have names but that's pretty much it :P Sometimes I go a year without even getting them out to play with. I have a small amount of dolls that I've had for quite a while, and I'm not in a hurry to add more. For me, the pleasure is just in having them, the fun of finding the perfect accessory and making clothes for them.

so, I could be a bad dolly owner, but I don't care :P

 

I believe a good doll owner is the one who gets deep satisfaction from his/her dolls and cares about his/her dollplay more than the fads and whims imposed by the outside world.