When you have officially 'joined the hobby'?

I considered myself "in the hobby" when I made the decision to actually buy a doll and started shopping. But I don't think there's any one answer. If you think you're part of the hobby, then you are. Some people enjoy the hobby just by admiring other peoples' pretty dolls, and some people enjoy it through collecting dolls of their own. It just depends.

 

Even not having a doll, I felt like being part of the hobby, because the research, watching videos, blogs... counts as "having fun with dolls" for me ^_^ But after some time, I count it since I got my first doll, because it's easier to remember than the day I became interested.

 

I bought my first bjd from Luts when I was in junior high-ish (can't remember exact year sorry!)
And I stopped for a while and recently bought another bjd :3

 

I consider being "part of the hobby" when I ordered my first doll 3 months ago and started doing more research ^_^ But it depends! If I go waaay back to when I first wanted a BJD, that would be around when I was 13 probably and I wouldn't consider myself to have been part of the hobby back then xD

 

Personally I feel like I joined the hobby when I made the jump to buy my first doll...so the day I purchased her. This is after I had been lurking for years...I just didn't feel a part of anything until then.

 

I joined doa a couple of years ago, fully intending to buy a doll soon. That didn't happen. While I lurk, looked, planned in my head... things never went very far so I don't think I did anything "hobbyish" till now.

So, I think having a doll for me make me feel like I am in the hobby, as I feel less "responsible" to do anything without one.

 

Interesting post. Just offering a technical opinion: For people who are collectors of bjd within a year, I think the date of their first bjd purchase would be the time when they 'officially joined' (I think it was November last year for me). For people who are simply admirers (for 1+ years) I think the time when they first follow a bjd owner on social media and more afterwards or join a bjd forum would be the time when they 'officially joined'. Of course, some people were admirers before collecting bjds, but for the sake of simplicity, admirers-turned-collectors can just include the time when they became admirers.

 

My thoughts would be when you at least ordered your doll, if not having your 1st doll in your hands. It makes it real to me when you have him/her in your hand just like a new "baby" lol.

 

Honestly, I would say that someone is part of the hobby when they think of themselves as part of the hobby. That's kind of vague, though, so perhaps when you feel like you participate and have knowledge of the hobby and what it entails would be a better way to explain it.

 

I count the first day I brought my first doll home as the day I'm in the hobby. Didn't do research before then, only after when I got her. I'm less than 6 months into the hobby!

 

I considered myself officially in the hobby the day I bought Amir, which was April 2, 2008. Until then, I considered myself interested in the hobby, but not really a part of it yet.

I was not on DoA or any social media at the time, though I had bought my first 1/6 Obitsu as a sort of "trial doll" from JunkySpot in 2006. At the time, I kind of considered myself in the hobby, but looking back, I really don't because I wasn't that active on the JS forum and a 1/6 hinged/peg Obitsu is really not at all the same as a strung resin BJD. I feel like investing in buying a BJD and actually handling the doll is very very different from admiring from afar. It's kind of like the difference in being in a band or watching a concert. You can definitely be a fan without participating.

However, for someone without a doll who has been researching for years, a member of the forum, goes to meets or cons, that might be completely different to them. They could actually be more active in the hobby than someone who does own a doll.

 

I considered myself to be "in the hobby" when I bought my first doll. I had been looking for years but that was merely just interest.
When I bought him, I felt more "apart" of the Community because now I knew what all the rave was about.
I wasn't apart of this forum or anything until after I got both of my dolls. (Kinda behind the game, but oh well. Rather late then never.)
I think it just depends on how you did things. The sequencing and such. CloakedSchemer mentioned this in a good way!

 

when you have courage to buy one (and the "authentic" one)
I look for BJDs for a long time but didn't have the courage to buy it (money-wise, and I'm afraid of customs/post office lol)
But when I buy one, it's a nice feeling and I try to understand dolls more ^^ so yeah that's what hobbies are

 

Hmm, I saw my first BJD in the summer of 2007, and from the moment I saw that first doll, I was utterly determined to own one, though it took me a year to save up the money and decide on the doll, he was delivered almost a year later in May of 2008. I think I would consider myself in the hobby from the day I saw my first BJD, I was so immediately obsessed with them. I did not know how to use a computer then, I learned to use computers purely so I could hunt for BJDs and their accouterments.

 

I'd have to say I was "in the hobby" for several months before I joined DoA or bought my first resin pieces. I was already acquiring wigs and eyes and accessories while I was saving for my first doll, but doing it sort of in a vacuum or with what information I could glean off the fashion doll forums I belonged to.

But really, classifying oneself as being "in the hobby" is a pretty nebulous sort of thing. I think being "in" could be counted as when you decide to make the monetary and mental commitment to get a doll.

 

I liked bjd for a long time before I got my first, but I considered myself more 'following the hobby' than actually 'in the hobby' until I bought my first bjd. Ive been the admin for my local doll group but I've also taken breaks where I did not do anything with my dolls, attend meets or read and post for quite a while so even now I am not really that steadily active 'in the hobby'.

 

For myself... It wasn't until after I'd ordered my first doll. (Who turned out to be a set of twins because the Dreaming head's face-up looked nothing like the Standard's... but at the time, I thought I was only getting one. )

Prior to that, I'd have called myself "interested in the hobby", but not actually an active participant in it.