What to do if any of your friends/roommates/significant-others hate BJDs?

Well it sounds like you at least have some strong support available to you from your aunt. It's always rough when someone close to you can't be supportive.
My bf has come to accept that my dolls are here to stay. Especially since my first one arrived recently.
He seems to at least really dislike them, but this could be from a hidden phobia, given his strong-ish reaction.
I respect his dislike by keeping her in her box (it also protects her from uneven yellowing, anyway), and whenever he teases me I tease him back about his headcrabs. They're some creepy little monster from a video game called Half Life. I bought him a headcrab zombie statue for Christmas. They don't bother me at all, but they are creepy, so he doesn't get to say much about my dolls creeping him out.
Since we're on separate incomes he doesn't get to say anything about how expensive they are, either.
I think your family should view your aunt's dolls (and your dolls) the same way. It's not their money, so as long as she's not putting herself in financial danger to the point of borrowing money then it's none of their concern how expensive it is.

 

Ah, it's usually an off-handed remark by my brother which is to be expected (considering he's a boy and finds these things girly and uninteresting XD). Sometimes when a rude comment is made, though, the rest of the family jumps in, too, to remind the offender to be respectful.

Your bf isn't the only one with a doll phobia, apparently. I don't see how they're creepy... unless you specifically buy a doll that's meant to be creepy like the sculpts at Doll Chateau. What was your first?

 

I cave a friend who is afraid of dolls. So I accept her feelings and just don't show her pictures of dolls and never discuss. I just don't want people around feeling discomfort in that case. We all are different, so I think it's ok.

 

What I'm wondering is why people are afraid of dolls? Specifically, what about the doll disturbs them so much that they come to hate them? O_o

 

My brother has just seen my first BJD, an YoSD size Only-Doll YouNan and all kept saying is why do you have a [doll from a horror movie]? I kept saying no he isn't etc and he was for photography...

Robyn is tiny, about 26cm tall, he wouldn't be able to open the stairs door let alone reach the knife draw. If he was actually real.

There is/was a series of horror movies about an evil doll(s) who murdered people. I believe that is where most of the public perception comes from.

i can understand someones phobia of dolls which may make them act irrationally or say something negative but those who just dislike them (who don't have a phobia) should be respectful, just as we should to them.

 

My first was somehow Minifee Juri 08. I ordered Minifee Chloe and Celine first, but they're still being made.

I have to agree that for most it'd be the doll horror movies. For him they would have been around during his childhood.
I think it's a lot like a clown phobia. It's something that develops during early childhood.
He got especially creeped out when he saw the face-up-less and eye-less faces in the a-la-carte menu in Fairyland's Minifee page. I don't blame him

 

Look up the Uncanny Valley effect Basically if something looks almost human but not quite, some people react with revulsion to that aesthetic. The more human a doll looks the more we empathize with it up to a certain point, too much and some people react negatively. It's pretty interesting stuff

 

After reading more about the Uncanny Valley effect, I have to agree. I believe it is mostly to do with this phenomena and the horror movies. Leaving aside a phobia, some will always find it "creepy". Sadly you cannot always change a person's opinion.

As I am writing this, my doll is sat on the desk. Due to a trick of the light, it looks his eyes are looking at me (out of the corner of my eye) as I type this but they are not. Its just an optical illusion. It is quite a remarkable effect. I can fully understand a person being creeped out the first few times they are around a doll. But in time, they'll get used to it.

 

Ah, you know? I hadn't even considered the horror movies but that's a good point. I suppose it's the same reason people have been terrified of sharks ever since 'Jaws' was released...

 

I think you should probably talk to her and maybe see why she doesn't like them, as others have said. Maybe you can work it out.

If not though, be careful. Carry your dolls everywhere!!

... And Chucky... Chucky has be terrified to own any doll that looks anything like him at all. Like height and face wise. BJD's don't bother me because most of them are tiny (or at least the ones I'll have won't be any bigger than MiniFee for now.) But just yeah.. o-o;; I know those feels.

 

I haven't met such situation before but I guess some of my friends who knows I own dolls and always display them in my room, may not like them, but they just keep quiet because they understand that my preference is a bit difference from what they like. Many horror movies like to use doll for their scary concept, so I can understand that somebody will feel uncomfortable to see or even are afraid of them. I don't push others to like my dolls or so. It's their freedom to like or dislike and my freedom to show my dolls. To against or make fun of others' hobby because just they don't like or feel different, maybe a bit impolite... Must respect each other!

 

She may not like dolls but there's no reason for someone to be rude or hateful about it. If she's so offended by you doing something like mentioning it accidentally in a chat, you should stay away.

Also, a phobia is no excuse. She can ask politely that you keep them boxed or out of sight when she's around.

 

The closest I've come to people who hate or fear dolls are people who think realistic-looking dolls are a bit creepy. One of them would often say "I feel like she's looking at me." But she was often kind of laughing when she said it; she wasn't truly scared.
People with a genuine hatred or fear of dolls are hung up on something deeper and more serious, and whatever that is just projects itself onto dolls.

 

If your friend is being cruel to you and making you uncomfortable you should reconsider moving in her. The fact this person is comfortable belittling you and your interests is cause for alarm. I am very no-nonsense when it comes to how people treat me. So if a 'friend' started to talk smack about my interests I would end the relationship in a heartbeat. The same goes for romantic relations. If my significant other was rude or cruel about some aspect of my life I wouldn't pursue anything further with that person.

My significant other is a real sweet heart and is generally accepting of anything I do. He is really kind and understanding and even though he doesn't like the price tag he can appreciate how the dolls look. I'm SO happy I can share my cute dolls with him.

 

None of my friends like BJD. At first they tried to show me that it is very stupid to buy dolls, that it is expensive etc. But I never listened and they stopped trying.
My boyfriend hates the dolls. Mostly because he is jealous of how much time I play with them. He also would like if we use the dolly-money on his car for exapmle. But I always tell him that he is free to find money for his car himself. I'm a cruel one, he-he))

The point is - no one has the right to humiliate or offend you, whatever you do. No one! Just tell her that. She has no right to say bad things about your hobby, that's it.

 

I guess my response is why are you trying to gain approval from others when it comes to your doll hobby? Are you passionate about your dolls? Then who cares what others think? Don't give them the power to make you feel guilty. Seriously, I have no patience for this sort of thing. Do you question your friends every time they spend money on something? I have spent thousands of dollars on dolls over the years and I make no apologies for it. As far as I'm concerned, it's my money and I'll spend it as I please.

 

I didn't face that situation, but I guess as friends I could just ask her to react in a better way towards my hobby and try to open a cool conversation with her about why she hates it that bad, maybe something I can fix, also I did a trick with one of my friends that works as magic, he didn't hate BJDz that bad, he was just seeing it boring useless things, so as I know he likes wood carving, I asked for his help to create a wooden throne for my BJD King, since then he started to deal with my BJDz and think it's fun to do things for them, I will be after him till he gets into the hobby eventually

 

I used to have friends who are scared of them and keep telling me to stop posting pictures, but I found out they are not scared when u take a picture from the side, Maybe u should have a talk or ask why

 

Hello, and I'm so sorry if this has been done before >-<

I've just recently gotten my first doll (he came two weeks ago ^^) and I was really excited and sent a picture to my friends and a link explaining what bjd's are. I was so excited to finally have someone to talk to about him-but then they responded. Everyone thinks he's creepy. I've tried sending them some really cute yosd pictures and they still think it's weird. I'm finding myself quite alone and it is making it harder for me to bond with my doll. Does anyone have any ideas? Thank you so much~

 

Firstly, congratulations on your first boy! Secondly, sorry that your friends didn't respond how you were hoping they would

Are there any meetups in your area? If not, I've seen a skype group hovering in the Meetups forum. Maybe that would be a good way to find some excited folks