Does becoming a "crazy doll lady/person" concern you?

I'm already known among my friends as an eccentric that loves strange things, so being thought of as a "crazy doll lady" doesn't bother me in the slightest. If anything having a reputation like that helps me narrow down the people in my life. If they can't handle me being something of an oddball then I don't need them in my life.

 

Nah, it doesn't bother me at all! I definitely try to curb my enthusiasm around most of my friends, though. And finding another doll person out in the wild is a fun and hilarious experience! As it stands, I don't have that many dolls (I have a ton of "bait" monster high dolls for customizing, but they're all put away and not displayed). Right now, I've got my tiny BJD, Allura, and two custom monster high dolls that are both works in progress. So I don't have too many dolls! However, it's not as though I don't want more. For me, as long as the dolls are unique and beautiful, I don't feel an ounce of guilt towards having a lot of saying I collect them.

Even if I decided to start collecting non-customized dolls, that would just be my prerogative though! I'm a firm believer in "do what you love" and if it's not hurting your finances and what you love is dolls, go for it!

 

I've been collecting since March of this year, and I have 8 dolls haha~ so I think I'm already a crazy dolly lady, and have not a single crap to give~
I say do your own thing and if it makes people think you're odd or creepy, that's their problem.

 

If you have a stable life with shelter and food, if your not hurting yourself or anyone around you, if your enjoying it, if it makes you happy, then nothing else matters. The only things that truly matter in life is that you and the people you love are happy and safe.

 

haha worry? Nah I embrace it!
people come into my house, which is full of all sorts of dolls and they always ask "are these YOURS?" and I grin and tell them "mostly. Those are husbands, the rest are mine all mine whahahahahah" and they look a little scared. <_<
But then I don't really have much shame when it comes to my interests. Dolls make me happy, so screw what anyone else thinks. There's worse hobbies to have, at least it's not self destructive like gambling or smoking or drinking or something right? Worst health issue we have is the sealant we breath in hah.

But yeah.

I collect a lot of dolls. It started with Bratz Boyz and then My Scene and Sindy, then vintage dolls in general, Monster High happened... Bratz relaunched... Makies, Hujoo, Pullip... now BJDs. I'm a "if I like it, I like it" kinda collector.
Thing is, when people do actually come in and get over the initial "oh god they're looking at me" shock, they're often quite interested to see the various different dolls. Particularly the ones i've customised myself, they're my little art pieces heh. Kids also love coming here, because it's like a freaking toy shop! hahaha.
They aren't allowed to play with the expensive dollies of course, but the barbies? heck go for it kids. Whatever.

I dunno, I enjoy it and it's an outlet for my creativity and a distraction from the crappiness of real life. So why not?
I've only had a few unpleasant negative experiences, most people are actually really accepting of it, even if they think it's weird they can't deny my passion and it makes them smile.

 

I think a great part of this will be how well socialized a person is. People who are all caught up in any sort of thing (dolls, cats, games, cars, whatever), in a super-obsessive way so that it's all they do and all they talk about and they really don't care about anything else-- so that all those around them can no longer relate to them and visa-versa... That's what causes people to start dropping them as friends (and visa-versa), and for things to become uncomfortable for everyone.

If a person has a healthy way of pursuing their interests, they aren't going to be viewed as crazy by others (well, this isn't a guarantee, since some people will have biases against many interests--but those people you can't avoid upsetting and you'll need to try and ignore them and live your own life). If you really love something and love spending a lot of time and money doing it, as long as you're happy and as long as you don't ignore everything and everyone else in that pursuit, it should be OK. Others shouldn't be worried about your dolls. They are your business. If you keep going on and on about your dolls to someone who isn't into dolls--well, that's just not acting properly in a social way. So people will think that's annoying and strange.

Negative aspects like that might mean it's more of an unhealthy obsession... We need to watch for that, just for our own good.

 

I told myself I would only have one doll..Now I am up to four, I keep wanting to buy more lol,They simply make me happy. I constantly hear "Those are creepy!" "Ew! You are like in that one evil doll movie!", But when I look at my dolls my troubles melt and I can relax a little,I never thought a hobby would hit me so hard like this,but I don't plan on stopping my collection,I just got to start dressing the ones I have before I get ahead of myself with too many.

 

No, I've got to the point in life where I just don't care. I'm an avid collector of 80's/early 90's toys and dolls (from my own childhood) and lurve dolls in general. I've been collecting since my late teens and i'm 33 years old now. I actually can't explain why I have such a fascination with toys and dolls in particular but I don't see my ball jointed dolls as child substitutes as they don't look anything like "real" children, proportion wise at least. You do need a thick skin in this hobby as you're bound to get some negative comments at some point. Personally I just view them as narrow-minded, boring farts lol I know it's not typical but i'm happy to be a single, independent, mature woman. I've personally found that folks (both grown up men and women) generally regard my hobby as strange and childish. However you only live this life once and i'm not living it for anyone else but me. People tend to be very arrogant and if they say it's odd then it must be so. I don't appreciate people telling me what I should and shouldn't be doing. There's no rule saying you can't collect dolls after a certain age, it's not like I play with them like I did as a little girl by giving them voices (using my own hee hee) or role playing. As an adult collector I see them as works of art and enjoying displaying them. I'm also interested in their history and development especially with regard to my older dolls/toys. Unfortunately many adult men & women tend to think it's immature so the dating scene for some people can be very tricky, if you're fortunate enough to find someone like-minded, perhaps they are a collector as well but not necessarily dolls, then that's great. I love my pets, they don't give me aggro, hee hee. I enjoy being able to do as I please (within reason of course) without someone making petty remarks or basically giving me the ultimatum that I need to give up my hobby, which isn't going to happen. If people call me a crazy doll woman so be it, it's only their opinion....not fact.

 

I feel the same way. To me, my dolls are Art. I have grown children. They live far away from me. Dolls are my joy, my therapy, my fun! When I had ten BJDs, my OCD-ish boyfriend was calling me a hoarder. However, to me, a hoarder is when they are wall to wall, knee deep on the floor unopened and moldy, etc. I have about twenty bids of various sizes now, and I have at least ten that I strive to get, haha.

To the original poster: Don't worry about what people think. Worry about allowing yourself to enjoy something that gives you pleasure and peace.

 

Yeah, I'll admit, it IS something I've thought about...the only good thing about a lack of money is there is no feasible WAY for me to go crazy with my collection.

 

What's really a bit strange (on my part), I think, is that I sometimes feel like I'm betraying a friend when I sell one, which is usually only so that I can fund a different doll. Trouble is, I hate selling mine. I talk to them when I pack them up ... ask them to forgive me, lol. Alrighty then!

 

I've been a crazy collector of things my whole life. So Im not at all concerned lol

 

I would be upset if I was called a "crazy doll lady"--I aspire to own enough cats when I'm finally living somewhere more permanent that it would be insulting if they commented on the dolls first.

I am, first and foremost, a "crazy cat lady."

 

This - so much. I'm disabled, too, with multiple hobbies. And hell, everyone in my house collects something - whether it's my mom and her trinkets, dad and his sports memorabilia, my younger brother and his computer keyboards, or me and my otaku merch/art supplies/books/cute things.

The dolls are more recent, I'll admit, but since I was that kid who had a ton of well-loved Barbies, it was only a matter of time before I moved up to BJDs. I've loved dolls all my life, and I don't think that will change anytime soon. As for my becoming a crazy doll lady, it's not going to happen. I don't have the space or money for more than maybe 3 max.

 

I am 65 years old and I don't give a hoot what people think about my dolls. Some have the nerve to tell me they're creepy and some tell me they're beautiful. I don't like it when people ask how much they cost. None of their business, do I ask them how much their newest handbag cost? I don't travel, I don't smoke, I live in a modest house. I have one addiction...dolls. Loved them all my life and I'm not about to stop now.

 

I sort of enjoy the idea of being a crazy doll lady. My last birthday party I invited all my "regular" friends, and all my "doll" friends and decorated with all my dolls. A good time was had by all.

 

I honestly never gave it a thought. It's my life, my money, my business. I just don't care what anyone thinks about it.

 

Hey, Em. I am so bad. I am just seeing this now, two years later. I agree with your philosophy and hope you keep collecting dolls! At my age, I don't care either, lmao!

EXCELLENT.

Sounds like great fun to me, lol.

 

I'm already a weird person, becoming a crazy doll lady would just be the next step in my life at this point. I sorta enjoy being a crazy doll person though because it's a unique thing and most people's reaction to it is hilarious.

 

I am already a single woman over 30 in an area where that makes me an "Old Maid" (we're expected to marry between 20-24, by 25 you start getting meaningful looks and jokes, by 30 people have given up on jokes and carefully point out that "You'll find someone one day")

And I live in a house in a neighborhood, instead of in an apartment like a proper un-wed person.

(In this area I live in people won't let you rent a house if you're not married, you are expected to live in Student Housing because Homes are for Families. Read: married people, not you, you statistical outlier. No they really don't know what to do with Single Adults here.The Rockies are... unusual.)

So let's tally this up: I am an Unwed Spinster, I occupy a home where I "do not fit into the zoning plan", I dress funny, I have a little black dog I talk to and spoil, I do Martial Arts and Medieval Reenactment for my hobbies. My gardening hat is black and pointy.

I really, really don't think adding dolls to this mix is what makes me the Neighborhood Crazy Lady. I am THERE, guys.

 

Given my age, interests (I'm a geek/nerd with your average geeky interests) and the fact that most of the people in my area are sort of rednecks, and most women my age are married and raising kids (which I have no interest in)
...I've pretty much known I was going to end up a Crazy something or other Lady for a long time. ...It's just a matter of what the blank after crazy gets filled in with.

 

I am a crazy cat person? I guess cats are my gateway addiction to doll collecting...

 

Meh, I've been a nutty doll person since third grade or so. It's probably as much a part of my fundamental identity as anything I do, the dolls just look a lot nicer now. No more sloppy crochet with oversized yarn or unhemmed quilting cotton dresses for my dolls! Their crochet will be to scale and their quilting cotton dresses will be fray-checked and hemmed within an inch of their little flowery lives thankyouverymuch!

 

I am already a crazy fish lady, so I am not worried about adding adding another thing to my list of crazies. all of those whose opinion matters to me know I am a huge nerd and am a bit...odd, so I am not worried about their judgement. The way I see it, hobbies are there to make you happy, and you should indulge all you want. As long as your bills are taken care of anyway.

 

I still haven't been able to buy a doll yet (I'm saving money for other things I need first and then I'll buy one) but I guess I am a bit worried about this? Not enough to keep me from joining the hobby, probably, but I'm sure I'll get some weird looks from family mostly. I was very very into dolls as a child, and I think they think I've grown past that, jokes on them!

 

I enjoy it too, but sometimes I overwhelm myself, lol. I think at this point I probably have 'enough' (what does THAT mean, lol?) but then along comes another that just screams at my soul ... oh, my ...

I wish you were my neighbor, lol. We'd get along very well!

 

Hehe thanks!

 

It doesn't necessarily concern me (I've already accepted my fate ) but I live in a rather...well-developed area where the people have "old-school" ways of thinking. So because of that I'm more anxious about people taking the hobby the wrong way.
...and then I remember that denver doll emporium is down the street and toy shops are pretty common around here so I have nothing to worry about

 

I don't mind what others call me - the important thing for me is that I am happy & feeling well in my everyday life. And bjd dolls contribute so much to my happiness

 

honestly i always have been a huge fan of dolls. when ever i talk about my dolls people just think i’m weird and find my dolls creepy. ;-; but they are beautiful so i don’t care about other peoples opinion

 

Doesn't really concern me. As long as I'm happy, it's fine.

 

Beware the stare of Mary Shaw
She had no children, only dolls

I kind of relish the image of an old spinster with a ton of dolls. (despite being 24 myself lol) I've spent far too much of my life so far deeply worrying about how others see me, and as I'm getting older I'm slowly realizing that the less I care, the happier I am. I feel like generally the expectation for adults (women in particular) is not to have any hobbies outside your career/household... which isn't realistic or fair.

However I can see the point in not wanting to have to explain the dolls to everyone that comes in your home... If I had a lot, I would definitely want to confine them to a bedroom or some other private space where I could control just how much of a "crazy doll lady" I look like to visitors.

 

I've accepted a future where I am living alone, surrounded by dolls and cats. However, I can't say for certain that is the path my life is taking. I'm only 27, after all...
I do intend to keep doll-ing as long as I can, though.

 

Yeah, I'm already crazy...dolls or no dolls!

 

I am doll crazy, society hates it, my dolls like it, so i don't care...

 

I'm all sorts of crazy already, just add the dolls to the list. It's one of the things that make me ME and an overall interesting human being. I'm privileged by being surrounded by the loveliest people with their own unique quirks so I feel safe and loved with mine. I guess there are people who find my stuff strange, but meh. I'm glad I don't have to invite these people into my life more than I have to.

 

I'm more likely to get teased over my cats than my dolls. I love both, and embrace my strangeness, so I'm not bothered.

 

I loooooooooove my dollies to bits and do plan on having more, but I try to have a little bit of everything in life X3.

 

Honestly I feel what really denotes someone as a "crazy doll lady" or something of the sort isn't the amount of dolls someone has or anything. It's how they react to situations involving their dolls.

A person can own a lot of cats for instance. If they're all in proper cages and well taken care of in a facility rather than a house people assume it's a shelter unless told otherwise. But if they're free roaming in a dirty house people just think "Omg a crazy cat person".

Basically it's just a matter of how the situation is perceived. Personally I'd just rather not care what anyone else says and enjoy life though.

 

I struggle with it. But take that with a grain of salt because I have social anxiety. I overthink how people perceive me and I worry unnecessarily.

However it's not completely irrational as I have one coworkers that as pegged as the crazy doll lady. I had told her when I had an issue with one of my dolls about them and now she'll tag me in creepy reborn mods and any scary doll things. She know what my dolls look like and that they aren't the same. But thinks that I enjoy the creepiness of them I guess?

I also worry about them seeming like child substitutes because I collect child like tinies.

In short, yes but it's not something I worry about very often. It just another thing that makes me keep them to myself.

 

Not particularly. I see this hobby as another art form with many aspects (face ups, mods, character creation, etc) so I don’t think it’s anything to be concerned or ashamed about, no matter how many you have. As others have said, everyone has their own opinion and, as you get older, you kind of stop caring about what others think.

Also, if someone is mean to me at all about the hobby in a malicious way, they’re probably a toxic person and I wouldn’t want to be around them anyway. Find people who love and respect you & your hobbies.

 

I'm already wayyyy too far gone - I've been a geek for years (Tolkien freak, Whovian, Trekkie, Browncoat, Scaper), in the SCA, a Pagan (witch) - started out as a Hippie in fact. So me being into dolls LOL nobody in my family nor among my acquaintance bats an eye. My very conservative cousins in fact love the dolls & think this is HEALTHY for me LOL LOL LOL I am already a crazy cat lady of course, and I've been enamored with KDramas & KPop for the last decade (along w/anime) so yeah, doesn't worry me in the LEAST LOL

 

Even though this is one of my hobbies and I spend a lot of money for my dolls, I still have other hobbies that I love and spend my time/money for. I know some people don't understand it because they are scared of dolls, but I don't want to give up my dolls and my hobby just because other people might see it strange. I mean, it's my money, and it's my life... I'm just going to keep do things that I love and spend money for what I want.

 

Well i am kinda new but i am somewat crazy now! I keep looking at dolls, and when i didnt buy any doll stuffs i feel uneasy! I have 10 yosd of different companies and a Volks Dollfie dream! Got a loongsoul yosd coming next month! But i really wish i can stop buying doll and instead spent more effort and time on my current crew. So Its kinda normal i guess in this hobby to want to get more.

 

I am not afraid! Let them call me crazy. I pay my bills, lol.

 

I'm not concerned about being named yet another 'something' for not fitting into what society seems to find 'normal'. I've always been the odd one out so one insult or weird look extra won't tip the scale much further. Den of Angels just proves we're not the only nutcases out here so as the wise saying goes 'An ye harm none, do what ye will'.

The only reason I would be hesitant to display and talk about my ball-jointed dolls openly is if it would hinder my son in any way. I know kids (and parents) can be cruel and although I'd love to teach him to be himself at all times I don't want to make life any harder on him. But until then, who cares if I'm called a crazy doll lady. I'm female, I like dolls and I sure as sushi might be a little crazy too.

Enjoy life ^__^ don't wait for others to approve of what you do...trust me...

 

I would not care because I Am The Crazy Doll Lady!!!(Insert evil laughter here).

 

I used to have a job that paid well, and I got side tracked and spent my money on dolls and also used my cc on dolls and clothes too. Then I lost the job and have no income. So I had to sell some of my possessions to make ends met. I'm always late with credit cards payment and the banks kept hassling me for the payment.
Recently, my older sister tried to kick me out of her house. Her behavior is becoming very strange. She makes a fuss over tiny things despite the fact that I do all the chores and helped driving mum with grocery shopping.
Anyway, it was that point that I got rid a lot of things. I threw away my cpks dolls and books in the charity bins. Thats when I realised that I can live without them. I now prefer simple living. I will think again before buying because moving and packing up can be stressful when you are broke. Throwing away things is the only quick way to reduce clutter. I'm only keeping 3 dolls with me everything goes. I want a minimalistic lifyestyle with less spending. Books can always be borrowed from the library.

 

Yes its a major concern. I am waiting on a bunch of dolls in the mail and I'm concerned of what my family might say once they all are here lol, or how I will display that many dolls. I went kind of hard the last month. Good thing is some have longer waiting times so atleast they all won't show up at once. I can't stop looking at other ones, I really need to pace myself because I haven't been in the hobby that long, only a few months. I don't feel that most people bought this many dolls this early on I'm waiting on 4 dolls and 2 heads... i think lol I am trying to tell myself to slow down, I can only image the hoard this could turn into.... reminds me of lularoe leggings last year, I had to have them all lol

 

I'm already certifiably crazy, so adding on dolls doesn't concern me at all.

 

Oh, I stoped trying to explain people, what my hobby really is, and stoped telling them about it. Once a person is close enough friend to come to my home and see dolls, he/she will not react in a negative way, because he/she will know me. Crazy or not - I'm me.
I really wanted to support those people, who say dolls have nothing to do with children or family replacement.
I do not have children yet and I want to have both children and dolls. There's no way they can or should replace each other.
Dolls are characters. Children are inependant persons you take care of.
I can't see how theese two notions may possibly mix up in people's heads, but I keep hearind that kind of stuff all the time:
"When you have children, you will stop buying dolls".
Well maybe, but only because children needs will have a finantial priority. Not because I will have a living toy to play with)))

Anyway, I'm ok and very happy being crazy.

 

Agreeing with some other sentiments, I'm already a bit crazy so why not just add owning a 700$ doll to the list?
I think in terms of collecting art or having an artistic hobby, doll collecting is a bit more "bizarre", but that's just how niche hobbies tend to go.

 

Yup, like lots of other posters have said. I think the people who know me pretty quickly realize that I tend to throw myself into whatever I'm interested at the moment. I only have the one doll and won't allocate funds for another any time in the near future, but I do desire more dolls than I'd actually want to own. I guess for me, the 'crazy' boat has sort of sailed in many ways, so I'd worry more about ending up with more dolls than I had space for and that it'd become about collecting them rather than... whatever it is now. For me, a collection is a very different thing, because I enjoy it in the aggregate.

 

I gave up a long time ago on being ‘normal’, whatever that is. I’ve had a really hard time in my life, and it’s taught me that as long as I’m happy and not hurting anyone, who cares?

 

wow this is an interesting question. i never really thought about becoming a "crazy doll lady" or any such label like that. i do have my concerns about what people think of me so i'm not always forthright with my interests as i feel like it can be off-putting but then it makes me wonder am i keeping these people around? are we going to become friends or like yeah. but this seems to be digressing into a different topic related to being self-conscious about what people think.
but i'm a bit of a collector type personality in that if i like something a lot, i start to collect whatever i can get my hands on so i have various collections of small toys, albums, stuffed animals, dolls, figures, keychains, etc that take up so much space that only half concern me about what other people think because bottom line is i typically bought these items because they make me happy and doesn't matter too much if someone else likes them or not, they're mine, i bought them for me. it's my concern that yes i'm running out of space for my collection but i will try to make the room for it

not really sure i answered the question here but i'm basically working on not being as concerned with what people think of me cause in reality, it's probably just a passing moment. the ones that seem interested are slightly more likely to stick around and be okay with it (i may be generalizing here but yeah) but yeah not really concerned about being labeled a "crazy doll lady" i am a bit concerned of having a large collection of dolls but being called a "crazy doll lady" is not a concern of mine.

 

I'm really scared of becoming a crazy doll guy... my life's already pretty weird by a lot of people's standards, as are my interests, so having a strong interest in an expensive and semi-obscure hobby really isn't a point in my favour. I'm planning on keeping the doll stuff under wraps with people that aren't in my close inner circle to reduce possible outside perceptions of crazy, and limiting the amount of time and money I spend on it to reduce my inner crazy, so I think it'll be fine, but there's still that "what if". I'm glad most of the other people here are embracing their crazy, but I'm going to try not to.

But hey, at least it isn't anime merch. There's always a worse "that guy" to be.

 

Since I made the decision to embrace the hobby, I have been much more open with friends, family and work colleagues about it, and as a result I think they have normalised and accepted it now, rather than seeing it as weird when they didn't understand what it was. I now bring it up in a matter of fact manner, in context to the conversation or discussion that we are having.
People now see it as a hobby/craft for me, as much as a collection. I limit myself to 10 dolls which I feel doesn't overwhelm my smallish bedroom, nor does it imply I am a collectaholic. Keeping quiet about it didn't make me feel happy and I find that life is so much easier now that I don't make it a secret. Love me love my hobby! End of lol...

 

Some might think this hobby is weird, but in fact you’ll only know if you are a ‘crazy’ person in the eyes of your opponent if you talk openly about what you love.

I was pretty shocked in a positive way. A lot of people are actually loving what I do with my dolls, they love to talk about it and are interested in how far I came with customizing my newest doll. Most of all, I imagined the around me people as grumpy towards this hobby even though - in fact - they weren’t.

Sure, they were giving me a funny look at first, but that’s just breaking the doll hobby’s bad image.

As a person using dolls as shells for my OCs, it’s quite hard to control and keep myself from buying too many dolls. Yet, as an easy limitation, I use my room. All of my dolls are sitting or standing decoratively everywhere in my room, so when you enter my room, you’ll not notice them at first even though most of them are SDs, because they blend in so nicely. The moment I’ll notice they no longer blend, is the moment to stop buying more dolls or either sell a doll to get another.

That works pretty good for me.

 

I identify with exactly what you have written so much so, that it might as well be me writing the above lol!

My boss calls me the 'Dobby' painter lol and teases me light heartedly now about my dolls. I told him that I paint and characterise bjd dolls when he asked me what my hobby was. He asked to see photos and said they were weird but said I was very talented to do what I do. I showed him an elf....hence the Harry Potter 'Dobby' comment. He often asks to see my latest doll and is honest as to whether it is to his taste. I find it flattering that he shows interest in them.

I think I built up an expectation that no-one would appreciate them, but like you, I have found that people are accepting and intrigued. I think that they respect the fact that I talk about a more unusual hobby with them.

Body language plays a big part. Act embarrassed or secretive about anything in life, then it becomes something weird - own it and you take control. My view is that I accept others for what and who they are, and I don't see why I should not receive the same in return.

Anyway I digress from what I meant to say, which was that I use dolls as shell's for characters too ( rather than the other way round) and also limit my dolls to my room. I purposefully blend mine in too, to tone in with my colour scheme and to prevent me feeling cluttered or overwhelmed. My key dolls stay but I frequently am required to sell a doll to fund another character.

 

It did at first, but I’m more concerned with doing what makes me happy (as cheesy at that sounds lol). Like if I end up with 20+ dolls, I might look totally nuts but I’ll probably be happy, so who cares!