Scary Doll People

I recently started using the hashtag #scarydollperson on Twitter and Instagram, it’s a sassy little clap back of sorts, but also just me owning my hobby.  Some people seem to think my love of dolls, and indeed dressing them up and taking pictures of them, is cause for concern.  It makes me “scary”.  It’s something I should, according to them, be ashamed of.

Some of these people admit that they’re doll enthusiasts themselves, but only among others who are unlikely to “out” them.  It’s sad they can’t share their passion outside of private cliques.

For the most part, people don’t try to weaponize my hobby, but from time to time I get nasty comments from those who wish to discredit my arguments, and have no other leg to stand on. In desperation, they search for something, anything, to use, because their logic and facts simply don’t support their stance.  “You believe in universal healthcare, but because you play with dolls…” if you’ve ever been on the internet, you know the type of person I’m talking about. 

I believe they’re colloquially referred to as trolls. 

I get it, though.  There’s a stigma about being an adult doll collector and, even among us, there’s a disdain for those who dare to take their dolls out of the boxes and play with them.  When did “play” become exclusive to childhood?  Why is a video game acceptable, but posing a doll for a photo shoot unacceptable? Who makes these rules?

I’m not going to blame movies like ‘Child’s Play’ or the ‘Annabelle’ series, the latter of which I really enjoy.  There are people who have a genuine phobia of dolls, similar to how I have an irrational fear of spiders.  No judgement.  Having said that, labelling anyone who enjoys dolls as someone who “has something deeply wrong with them” is, at best, misguided.  After all, I know people who keep spiders as pets; while this is my own personal horror show, there’s nothing “deeply wrong” with them.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 30+ years on this planet, it’s that hiding benign hobbies is a worthless endeavor.  If someone decides don’t like you, based on the fact you play with dolls, odds are they never really liked you in the first place. Are they worth maintaining a relationship with? What happens when you discover a difference in core values?  Global warming?  Vaccinations? Women’s rights?  Universal healthcare?  That relationship has an expiration date.

I shared my blog with my brother not long ago.  I thought I’d told him about it, because my dad, step-mother, significant other, and a host of other people are already aware.  I guess not, though.  His reaction to me dropping it into casual conversation was pretty great.  There was a pause on the other end of the line; for a moment I thought the call had dropped.

“Wait, did you just say you have a Barbie blog?”

Does he think it’s weird?  Undoubtedly.  But he’s cool enough to appreciate different people enjoy different things.  He’s also aware that this love for dolls doesn’t change who or what I am.  I’m always going to be his annoying big sister who goes to great lengths to make him laugh when he’s feeling down.

With my not so dirty and not so secret hobby displayed with pride, I still somehow manage to exist and maintain healthy relationships.  Shocking, I know.
 
What’s the point of this post?  It’s simply to say if you’re hiding your doll hobby, don’t.  It isn’t worth the effort.  Besides, the more of us that come forward as being scary doll people, the less scary we become.  Just my two cents. 

Thanks for stopping in and I’ll see you next time.