Why do some collectors choose to not go to meetups?

I would LOVE to go to a meet-up, but the doll-people that I would most like to meet don't live anywhere close to me. I don't know anyone in my immediate area who is a doll person.

 

Do you feel you're too old or too young
I am 28. I usually stick around that age group, or older. I've always been like that though.
I do feel a bit awkward when everyone is a lot younger then me. :I

I am also a highly introverted person. Not shy, not anti-social. I'm very friendly, but I just keep to myself. That and I don't know anyone, and don't have the gas money to travel hours away.

Do you think you or your doll won't be liked?
I don't really care that people will like me or not. If they don't, I won't come back anymore. Simple.


Do you think your outfits aren't worthy of showing off?
I like to show off what I made, and I am always open for criticism and help or tips to do things better. Now, if it was a petty thing of status, I'd pack up and leave. I don't deal with that sort of mentality, unless I am being paid.


Do you think you're not worthy of showing off, or afraid of what others will think of you personally?
Nope. Though I am quite an interesting person. It's other peoples' loss if they don't want to get to know me.


Did you or someone else have a bad experience?
Only what I have read on DOA.

Are you afraid it will be silly because you have no doll?
All my friends in highschool had a doll, I didn't know much about them then. Though my friends did try to get me into the hobby, and would let me handle their dolls. So it was welcome. I don't understand those cliques where you "have to have a doll" to enjoy the hobby. Makes no sense at all.


Are you nervous it would make you want to purchase new dolls?
Nope. If I want something, I'll get it. If I don't, I won't.


Are you expecting, with all the youth on DoA, a group of immature, loud, sex-crazed teenagers who'll grab your doll without asking and strip it naked? (Heh.)

Unfortunately, yes I do. Though there are always bad apples in every bunch. I keep a weary eye on the 'questionable' bunches, and I wouldn't let my doll out of sight, or out of my hands. Of course, if I felt like that was going to happen, I wouldn't be with the group.

 

Do you feel you're too old or too young?
- If anything, I guess I feel too old. I'm almost 49.

Do you think you or your doll won't be liked?
- I have ADHD, so I'm self-conscious about being too 'dominant' in a group.
- I seem to be able to either fade into the woodwork or dominate the group, and neither is comfortable.
- I have no problem bringing my dolls, even though they're not the expensive/impressive type.

Do you think your outfits aren't worthy of showing off?
- I've seen better, but I've seen a lot worse that people were 'showing off', so no... I don't think so.

Do you think you're not worthy of showing off, or afraid of what others will think of you personally?
Are you afraid to bring your doll out, for fear of damage or theft?
Did you or someone else have a bad experience?
- No to all of these.

Are you afraid it will be silly because you have no doll?
- I have more dolls than I can carry, so no.

Are you nervous it would make you want to purchase new dolls?
- I don't think a meet could be worse than DoA. Or a visit to Think Pink. LOL!!

Are you expecting, with all the youth on DoA, a group of immature, loud, sex-crazed teenagers who'll grab your doll without asking and strip it naked? (Heh.)
- I never thought about it... So I guess 'no'...

 

This may be an idiot question but has anyone thought to have a online meetup? I haven't been on DoA long enough to know if it's been tried.
Tonner hosts a weekly chat where we all share pictures and talk about dolls. It's not face to face but it is a way to meet and share your dolls. Someone with the right tech savvy could host a DoA BJD chat night, day, etc.

 

I'm just too darn shy! ><
I would really love to go, I just have no friends that live close. I wouldn't know how to react all alone to a bunch of strangers

 

I went to one before, where I didn't know anyone and I didn't have a doll but I was about to get one so I went to check them out in person. The girls I met were all nice and it was an alright time....just not for me. I don't really see them as something to take out with 6473782 others just to socialize. They're really expensive and people are stupid and I'm socially retarded as it is so thanks but no thanks c:

If I knew the people and there weren't a bajillion of us I would probably reconsider...but still.

 

I am also lucky to live in a place where everyone is polite and helpful with each other. I feel as though I was welcomed with open arms and I love spending time with all of the local doll people doing everything from eating at a restaurant while getting started at by non-doll people, to shopping at a local fabric warehouse. I am looking forward now to a meet at a local Renaissance Festival which will be awesome! It is too bad that some people feel that the other doll people in their area are rude or insensitive because it has become one of my favorite parts of this hobby meeting with those people and learning what their current projects are.

 

I'm usually too lazy to drive south into Denver traffic, and most of the Colorado meetups ar at a minimum an hour south of me. I was all excited earlier this summer because there was actually going to be one in northern CO .... But it was on a Tuesday afternoon! Oh well.

As to being too old, fortunately there are all age groups in the Colorado group, many young enough to be my granddaughters bot many my age or older. The few times I have gone to meets I was delighted by the people. I just hate the driving.

 

i wish i could get into allot of meet ups TT__TT

im a really open person - different ? yes
and very much younger ~ and new to dolls >.<

but i do like exploring and getting to know new people ^_^

but if there were any reasons of being scared it would be about
them accepting me and liking me >...<""

i kinda hate being hated ? T.T​

 

Here are my two cents on the subject: I'm a lurker. I don't engaged much or at all with others, either online or in person. The idea of going to a meet-up where I don't know anyone sounds like a horrible idea for me. However, despite some concerns I have about meeting new people, I would consider going to a meet-up if I had a friend with me.

Do you feel you're too old or too young?
Not at all. I'm twenty, and I'm fairly comfortable with this fact.
Do you think you or your doll won't be liked?
Absolutely. I'm a poor college student and therefore cheap. I have dolls who have been shunned for their manufacturers. On the internet, this criticism is easy to ignore, but I don't think I should have to deal with straight up alienation in real life. (I did my time in middle school, just like the rest of us.) Besides, I like to avoid conflict, and I like to keep my dolls and myself out of the way of people who might be antagonistic towards us. I feel like this plan could be derailed at a meet-up.
Do you think your outfits aren't worthy of showing off?
I'm not fancy. My dolls aren't fancy, either. All my clothes are home-made, and I'm still learning. Currently, the outfits my dolls wear aren't anything special.
Do you think you're not worthy of showing off, or afraid of what others will think of you personally?
I don't care much of what people think of me, but I do get frustrated if people treat me differently because they've pre-judged me as a person according to some minor aspect. In this case, my dolls. Also, I'm not a show-off. I don't feel a need to showcase my dolls or myself or anything like that. That's part of the reason why I don't have pictures of my dolls on hand. That, and the fact that I'm still playing about with wigs, eyes, and face-ups. I'd like to have defined looks before I go about posting their pictures about.
Are you afraid to bring your doll out, for fear of damage or theft?
Yes, indeed, I am. I worry more about damage than theft, though the latter is why my dolls aren't at college with me.
Did you or someone else have a bad experience?
Not that I heard about directly.
Are you afraid it will be silly because you have no doll?
I can see why people without dolls might be hesitant to go to meet-ups, but I think it would be a great opportunity for doll-less fans to familiarize themselves with different types of dolls, and gather more tangible information when it comes to buying their own. It's ultimately quite practical.
Are you nervous it would make you want to purchase new dolls?
Trust me, I already want to purchase new dolls. Going to a meet-up likely won't change that. Besides, the money it could take getting me to the meet-up would probably be better spent towards doll-related things. Or food. Shampoo. You know, the important things.
Are you expecting, with all the youth on DoA, a group of immature, loud, sex-crazed teenagers who'll grab your doll without asking and strip it naked? (Heh.)
This is a worry of mine. Not explicitly these things, but I've learned that in all communities, there's always those people who are inconsiderate and often stand out in ways that make the rest look bad. This isn't restricted to teens. I've also learned that adults can be just as bad. So, yeah, I'd like to avoid any possible madness associated with meet-ups, but even if the community was completely harmonious and everyone was mature and calm and whatever, I'd still be wary of attending. I prefer to be off on my own; connecting with other people was never one of my motives for getting dolls. By no means am I anti-people, I'm just very introverted and unfamiliar crowds of people make me highly uncomfortable.

 

I really want to go to the NYC doll meetups but I'm WAAAAAAAY too shy to attend one. I have no BJD friends and going to the meetup all alone is really risky. I wouldn't want to go and be ignored/shunned. It'd be a waste of an entire day...

 

I feel that because I don't already have BJD friends, I won't fit in at meet-ups
I'd probably give it another try though if one came up near me

 

I went to a doll meetup once. I was a bit uncomfortable even though the people were very nice. I saw some very talented people there as well. It's just not for me. I am self-conscious about my weight and age, and a bit anti-social. I'm a little more comfortable with people I know, but never completely comfortable. I like the feeling of safety being at home. Don't know why.

 

Well, for one I don't have a doll so I would feel like I didn't know as much as everyone else. I guess I would feel like an outcast. Plus if I did go to one I wouldn't want to go alone but I can't think of any of my friends that would want to go or take it seriously. Also I'm antisocial

 

meetings are one thing that iam not interested as adding or considering as part of the hobby. i just can't picture myself carrying my doll around for public display, i've never done anything like such with the rest of my other collectibles and it would feel kind of awkward. i am really not interested either in examining anyone else's doll or have myself examined either. iam very social, but iam not the type to enjoy being in places where i don't really know anyone. so i will probably never attend any of those meetings

 

I would go to one but I don't know anyone who owns a bjd and I've never heard of any taking place in Exeter lol however I think I would be kinda scared of any possible damage but I would like to show her off and it would be great to see other peoples dolls and other makes

 

I would feel a bit uneasy to meet these people who already know each other and already are good friends. If my friend (also BJD owner) was there, I would feel better. My mother fears that something might happen (mostly she fears that people will get drunk and do something for me >.>).

 

I would hate some dolly drama to happen while i was there.

 

I used to go to doll meets quite a bit but now I'm older, tireder, have a toddler and one on the way.

Basically, most of the meets occur in a place where its inconvenient to find parking or on the other end of the city. Quite frequently the amount of travel I'd have to do to get there would be longer than the actual meet itself. Its not that I don't want to meet fellow doll collectors, its just my free time is so much more limited now that I have to pick and choose. Most of my dolly days are with people I've known for years and generally held in someones place or my place.

I do actually love meeting new people and looking at their beautiful dolls, but until my children are a little bit older and easier for my hubby to look after I think I'll only go to about one a year. And being pregnant stops me from going aswell, I'm tired

And yes, I like my car, I like to drive and hate catching public transport lol. And as we only have one car at the moment, if I take the car to go gallivanting it leaves my hubby and son at home with no transport.

Oh and one more thing: people undress other people's dolls? LOL I must say that has never happened to me, unless someone is actually at my house and we are re-dressing the dolls. I've certainly never encountered anyone stripping my dollies butt nekkid at a public meet

 

Why do you need to take a BJD friend? If you have a friend who understands the dolls/meet ups, that should do.

I went to an NYC meet up, and my only advice is to go early (as in arriving about a half-hour before it's supposed to start up). That way, you can catch people as they come in, and work a smaller crowd.

At some point, a lot of owners started showing up, and things got a little too hectic for my liking. It was manageable to talk to two or three people at a table (when in doubt, ask them questions about their dolls). But when it became 20+ owners, I felt a little misplaced, and decided to leave. I still had a pretty decent time - no one was mean at all. I just felt a little crowded after a while.