Your opinions about hypersexualized dolls or items in DP or other Doll Exhibitions

While for the most part I tend to agree with Mivera in that it is primarily an adult (or at least mature) hobby and adults can be responsible for what they choose to view and take interest in, it all must be considered with each occasion. I've seen a few BJD exhibits at several pop culture conventions and many of the attendees there are children. I've never seen anything truly inappropriate on these displays and the children there are almost always accompanied by adults who could steer them away from such displays. I'd think it common sense for the people running displays at conventions like that to cover up their more sexualized dolls to some extent. So while there are occasions where sexualized dolls shouldn't be permitted, I find in such situations the people running the displays have enough common sense to cover up their dolls for the wandering kids. For a more specifically adult BJD audience I really don't see the need.

 

Agreeing with Volucris20, I've gone to anime cons that were all ages with plenty of teens and kids as well as adults. As to be expected, there are several vendors who attend who sell hentai, "love pillows", and yaoi, as well as bondage and leather accessories. They know enough to keep the super explicit stuff wrapped up and displays censored for nudity and such. They do a good business due to the number of adults that attend and I suppose anyone who is offended by their wares avoid their booths.

Thinking back to being a child, alot of sexual stuff goes right over their heads. Go back and watch some movies or cartoons you saw as a kid and you'll see what I mean. I don't think kids should be exposed to explicit sexual material but sexy dolls can't be worse then anything they have already seen on tv. A BJD convention would probably be really boring to most kids unless they're old/mature enough to enjoy the hobby, so the percentage of kids attending who wouldn't be able to handle seeing some leather or lingerie would be pretty low. For us adults, we're responsible for being mature enough to calmly avoid things we know may bother us and voice our opinions with our wallets.

 

While an 18+ area isn't necessarily a terrible idea, I'm wondering how it would work in practical application. For example, Volks would be forced to have two booths, one for the 18+ area and one for the standard area, since they carry both types of items. This would require up to twice as much staff to work both booths at just this one event. I don't know that the vendors themselves would appreciate this approach as it would cost them more money (paying more employees).

 

I'm nor bothered by porny things but I agree they would be better kept away in a special adult area as I understand it could make some people uncomfortable.

 

I think an 18+ area would be effective
In some countries offering sale of 'sex toys' and the like to minors is an offence, the law doesn't give a rats ass about whether or not a minor likes seeing stuff like that

With high street sex shops you can avoid going inside and seeing all the sex toys, all you see from the outside is lingerie, sometimes not even that but just 'banners' saying they are a sex shop.
Why should it be different for doll sex toys. a notice that they sell stuff and adults may ask to see stuff is reasonable. the seller can still sell their stuff, but it's not there in your face screaming, right next to the cupcakes and nintendo consoles

the same could apply for gore (as a lot of people actually get physically sick from seeing that), bondage (as it generally is a sexual fetish) and 'offensive gear' (like nazi uniforms or kkk suits. Things that purposefully emulate a group or statement meant to harm others)

lingerie is a different beast
a lacy set of panties can be 'just cute' or can be 'pornific', where do you draw the line

 

I was quoting half the posters and try to give my opinion, but the answer was reaaaally too long.

Summing it up: in a doll convention, it's the organization to decide. I too believe that if it's open to everyone (I know a DD owner with child that follows her in doll conventions) a 18+ area could be a nice touch (but please, no black curtain, no color badge. some "18+" or "16+" signs would be enough). Simple nudes stuff (not only photos but statues/comics too) would be illegal under 14-16 years old here in Italy.

I think the name-calling (perverts and the "moral stand" stuff) is really a bad idea. Everyone have its own standard, its own religion and it's own sexuality.

And I believe the DD owners/collectors are a little too used to "get flak" from people about the perversion of their dolls (Volks didn't help about that: some of their first dolls were clearly targeted to people who likes eroge-hentai stuff... Maid evangelion characters? Escalayer?) while I believe they are not seen anymore as that (I believe most of the DD collector I know from internet are female). So, if you start to talk about that, I presume the instant answer is a defensive mechanism of shutting you down.

Lastly, my opinion in merit of nudity and sexual stuff. I love photography and something I seen is that if you shoot a full naked woman (I've done it just a couple of times) you are cool and if you shoot a naked doll (as you can see in the gallery) you are a pervert.

 

I don't think nude dolls should be separated, but anything sexually explicit should be. But then again, you're right. A lot of people consider nude dolls and lingerie to be sexually explicit. To me, its things like bondage, any other actual sexual acts, etc that should be hidden.

 

I'm just uncomfortable around sexually explicit things, but I just believe that's MY problem, not the conventions problem. If the convention feels it's okay to display those things, it's my job to avoid them. I do feel that sexually explicit things should be hidden because I know I can't be the only person uncomfortable around those things, but I won't argue with a conventions decision.

 

I am a DD collector and a person who is not uncomfortable around sexual things in anyway. I don't really mind it and I don't really care what people think of me if I were to purchase those kinds of things at a convention doll/non-doll. My local comic conventions routinely sell 18+ merchandise with no warning whatsoever.

I think that the sellers should be able to sell their merchandise in peace (of course with con's permission) and people who don't want to see that kind of stuff should simply avoid it.
As long as the sellers are being mature and not harassing people who walk by their booth, everything should be fine.

There are still quite a few people in the DD hobby that portray their dolls in sexually explicit ways (off DoA of course!) so I still think DD owners get looked down upon even when not all DD owners are like that. I've been asked many times on my dA if they were sex dolls which they are clearly not.

 

I've never been to a doll convention outside the US, but isn't there a different cultural attitude about sexualized content that needs to be considered? While someone from a more conservative background that views sex or fetish kink as a bit taboo might be shocked or uncomfortable by hyper sexualized dolls at a con in a place where sex, even explicit sex, is fairly out in the open, the majority of the con attendees would hardly give that stuff a second glance unless they were interested in it. I think it is too much to ask event organizers to rope off a 18+ area because a few people are made uncomfortable by sexy stuff while the majority just don't care. Just pass it by if it makes you uncomfortable.

As for minors being exposed to such things, well the BJD and DD hobby is an adult hobby and it is reasonable to assume adult content might be shown at a DD or BJD con. It is up to the parent/ guardian of younger hobbyists to allow or disallow con attendance or to accompany their kid if they have concerns.

For me, at the end of the day they're all just dolls. We can objectify them and sex them up all day long and no one is hurt by it. So in this case I feel there isn't really any moral high ground to stand on. If you don't want to see it, avoid it. And if you do see something horrifying that you can't unsee, drink this: http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/unicorn-chaser.html

 

A couple of threads down,Vespa-ater started a 'what creeps you out' thread. And I have to admit that hyper-sexualized dolls creep me out. This is a hobby I hoped to share with my daughter. I brought up some box openings online to show her, then we found a mermaid scene she wanted to see. Imagine my horror when the animated doll started masturbating. I turned it off immediately. My daughter is 6. I guess if the conventions are aimed at 18+ I wouldn't ask for a seperate area! and peoples' comments about how that would require additional staff is a good objection. But yes I find it creepy to sexualize a doll.

 

Yeah, exactly what I meant. I believe a DD fan attacked to be a pervert because "most are" (apparently a diffused opinion) would just stop listening or answer in a bad mood.
I know I would.

I shoot my DD nudes sometimes (maybe you've seen them, we follow each-other of flickr) but I don't feel a pervert.

 

I think a separate forum for the hentai and sexually explicit photo would be good idea. I do not personally have a problem with it and don't look down on those who participate in it. When I look at doll photos though I am a little surprised when I randomly see one pop up. I do not think it is a moral issue either but a taste discrepancy. Their are also some young people in the hobby whose parents might not approve of them seeing something like those photos. I think just making a separate area or just a mandatory warning on those photos would help.

 

We are actually just discussing about events like Doll Party where you see dolls in person instead of forum^^;
Forum is not much of a problem, likely people are going to tag what is inside or warn others on the first post (we are not supposed to pose anything too explicit on DoA or most forums anyway)

 

And I should say, obviously since I have kids I'm not allergic to sex. I would I fact imagine there are lots of good role play advantages. I just want the warning when my kids might see something.

 

This will be an unpopular opinion. I don't think that they should be separated, most people going to doll events are mature adults. When you start the segregation based on a few people getting upset, soon it snowballs and you have even things like swimsuits being considered too mature. I think everyone should be allowed to express themselves with their dolls how they like. For the most part at doll events and online the mature dolls (or any for that matter) are being shoved at anyone's face. They are at their own tables or with their owners or in separate posts. It's so much easier to not look at something that bothers you than to ask other people to censor themselves and not do things they enjoy.

I really do not like reborns. But they are at a lot at doll cons I go to. Am I going to ask the reborn people to go into a corner where I can't see them? No. They have their own tables intermingled and I don't have to go look at them. Sure I might accidentally see one, but I can choose to not be bothered by it and ignore.

If you are bringing children to the event, well, you knew you were bringing them to an adult event. Also kids are way smarter and open minded than most give them credit for. I've been able to explain lots of BDSM stuff to my little brother and my friend's children without freaking them out or scarring them for life. A lot of times you'll just hear funny things like "she has big boobs" or "he looks like a super hero".

 

I am pretty moderate in that I really don't care. It's your doll and you can do what you want just don't expect everyone else (especially in public) to be as accepting of your choices (I get looks in public for bringing my regular dolls out, even at cons xD).

 

It really doesn't bother me. Although I grew up reading heavy metal and going to tattoo conventions with my parents....so that probably explains some things.

 

We do have under 18 year old kids on here so I'm thinking an adults only section might not be unwarranted. Most of the B&D stuff doesn't bother me. The dolls are mostly clothed and it kind of makes me laugh, but I agree that highly serialized situations and bondage clothing should probably in a restricted area, away from the kids. I don't particularly care for the Hentai and Anime stuff. Some of that stuff can be too misogynistic and overtly pedophilic for my taste. A little kid's face on a highly sexual body does bother me. I would appreciate warnings as to content of thread at least with stuff like that.