Dolly Guilt/Shame...have any of you felt this??

[MitisFeles]

MeltedCaramel & ShortNCuddlyAm: I didn't have bookshelves on my dining room table, but we have our dining room table in our "library" XD It's good to know that I'm not the only under a book siege! I and my hubby are compulsive reader and we love books as physical items too, so we "invested" in two massive bookshelves to put together our books. There is a third, economical Ikea bookshelf in my "study", that got my dolls and all the geeky things (roleplay games manuals, manga, dvd and comics).
We bought an e-book reader this summer, and I have to admit that makes things a lot easier: I read a lot in train, while going to my workplace, and it's really easier carry the e-book reader than an actual book (especially when I'm reading The Three Kingdom Romance, circa 1400 pages). More, I have to read a lot of books that are available only as PDF (i.e. ancient books digitalized from archive.org, but the already mentioned Three Kingdom Romance: it doesn't have an Italian edition and I have to read it in English). I still buy books that I love, but that helped limiting buying books "on the impulse".
Another things I love to collect is manga and comics, but when some years ago I bought on the impulse (seeing a new manga in the bookshop and buy it just for curiosity) after some really bad disappointment now I first read the manga from a friend or see some scanlations and then if it really interests me I buy it.

[DollyKim]

Books are great until you have to move them, then the ones that don't make it in to your room are put out back in a leaky tent by someone who doesn't read in a passive aggressive move. Inches of rain later you have piles of paper based products that have started the beginnings of life never to be read again Won't list them but there were quite a few to weep over.

I make home made books and know the feeling of holding one, I've kept physical art journals for 20 years now. My physical books are leaning more towards craft ones, my ebooks are part classic and free on the internet ones, part books I've scanned to physically lighten my load, and part new ones I've bought. Being able to cart around an entire book shelf feels great and I've read some "classics" that I've always intended to but never got to because I didn't have a copy at my disposal.

[SetsunaKou]

SetsunaKou I understand the feeling of wanting to hold onto a doujinshi...if you look at it and you still feel you want it, to me that's a sign you're not ready to let go yet. If you look at one and it doesn't stir anything in you besides "it's taking up space", then it's a pretty safe bet you can get rid of it!! I didn't know you collected doujinshi as well SetsunaKou! How big is your collection?

Exactly!! There have been times I put some items in a pile for 'auction' on eBay to make space for new items but then, when it came time to actually sell them, I just couldn't and I put the items back. (Then squished the new ones in, too. ) ^^;; This is very bad, I know! :laughs:

But I DO part with some things---I really do! :laughs: Just not as much as I'd like....


Doujinshi? We have about 400-500 books, from the series Kiniro no Corda, Kiniro no Corda 3, Harukanaru Toki no Naka De 1, 2, 3, 4, Gundam Wing, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Sailor Moon, and Final Fantasy X & X-2.
I try not to buy many more unless the artwork is just exceptional. I'm glad the series I follow have become more sparse in terms of doujin, so it's easier to 'abstain.'
But Corda and Haruka are still going strong (and Corda is my all time favorite!) so that's my weakness in doujinshi still!! :laughs:

[Iwa_Hoshi]

Not entirely sure why I even buy some of the comics I own. I mean sure I enjoy the compiled into comic magazine series or the animes. But after a while I regret buying some and sold them off. I sold off my later years King of Fighter series but refuse to let go of my Street Fighter series (Japanese, English and Chinese). I ended up buying back a short series even though I hated the story's pacing in the first place. As for the ones I can't find, I don't really actively search for those.

If I hoard anything it would be the plushies I had when I was very young. almost a hundred by now but only 20 are out and running about(they may end up in the box soon, running out of space because of the dolls). And this is not counting the remaining in-storage action figures, gashaphons I own. I don't collect anymore, but I rather keep them.

[MeltedCaramel]

MitisFeles...ohh, just the sound of old wooden bookshelves gives me a cuddly and warm feeling. I'm a lifelong reader, and books just pry open your imagination like nothing else. I hate that sometimes it feels like people "see the movie" for the instant gratification. I get it that movies themselves have become art mediums, and as an artist as well as a reader/writer/compulsive hobbyist I enjoy those movies for what they are and appreciate the mastery that goes into them. Jurassic Park is one of my favourite books (don't judge me! *Looks around*), and I love both the book and the movie (a classic example of visual effects and puppeteering that hold up and still impress some 20+ years later), but they're completely different experiences for me. Anyone who's read childhood classics like "Watership Down" (etc) and seen the animated or cinematic versions will know what I'm talking about. It's a different kind of wonder and awe for each medium. They tend to be mutually exclusive. Did the fact that Jurassic Park's movie version change many details bother me? No, I just enjoyed it as a separate experience.

But still, I know, again, the whole "Library in a box" thing with e-readers. They're convenient, no denying that one!! Also, there are a lot of beloved books that have been...shall we say, "unofficially" transcribed as e-books. Now let me say I don't advocate this, but I recently ran into an issue when a beloved childhood series was left in the dust, but I found out fans had made them available via e-book (I also found out that the authors knew about this and gave the okay because their books are long out of print and they're not losing but looked at it as in fact gaining a new audience). In instances like those, I love my e-reader.

Dollykim luckily in my household anyone who pulled a passive aggressive move like that knows I would counter it with an aggressive move and I hold grudges. XDD But I understand completely about the whole weight issue of books. That is by far their biggest drawback, but until they create something that I feel sufficiently mimics paper without the "digital" feel of an e-reader, I don't think my book habit is ever going to completely stop. Though I do make it a point to buy most of my books digitally now, unless it's by a favoured author.

SetsunaKou Don't worry, I have a problem getting rid of things too. Doujinshi are a unique item in the book world in my opinion because they're not just words on a page that can just as easily be read on an e-reader, they're art, and being a collector I'm sure you know all about the rarity and value of different circles and books and artists. I have a friend who sells them(like...for a living, not just to get rid of stuff she doesn't want) and she's had people buy one for $400 because it was an old, out of print book from a circle that stopped creating doujinshi and there was a personal story behind it. They're not just something you can shove on a digital screen and feel the same sort of happiness with!

Also, you're lucky that most of your fandoms seem to be becoming sparse with doujinshi output!! Most of my fandoms are pretty quiet in terms of doujinshi, but my number one obsession is going strong despite the fact that the anime is over. A new game is coming out though featuring the same characters and some new ones, so I have a feeling this fandom is going to be very active for a long time to come, and my wallet weeps!

Iwa_Hoshi It sounds like you're suffering from a bit of what I term "collector's fugue". That state where you're almost bi-polar about your collection of (insert items here). Like how you sold off one set because you hated it and then bought it again, despite not liking it. This happens to all of us. XD

I hoard some plushies too, like, weird ones like alligators and whatnot, but I also have my very first stuffed animal (that I actually remember receiving) and I don't think I'd have the heart to EVER throw her (yes, her) away. I just...she was my cuddly companion all through my childhood!

I think collecting, be it dolls, books, doujinshi, plushies, whatever, any hobby has an air of "hoarding" about it. Now, I'm not saying that someone who hoards dolls to the point where it's like "Hey isn't that fluffy the cat from five years ago dead under that box of Sooms?" is healthy in the least, but I think you have to accept a bit of that hoarder nature to be a collector. The same with creating. My room is full of "bits": Half finished projects, projects just beginning, etc. I'm sure SetsunaKou can back me up on this one with all of her and her sister's amazing customs...sometimes things get messy and half completed! But it doesn't mean it will stay that way forever. It's about keeping an eye on what you really want and what you find starts to be "that crap in the corner".

[MelodyT]

Dolls as a hobby is not big in South Africa. Generally speaking, people just don't understand why an adult would want to play with dolls, much less spend money on one unless it's for a child. As I mentioned in a previous post, this attitude inhibits me in that I feel too embarrassed to take my dolls outside and do a photo-shoot with them even though I really want to. Sometimes I also feel guilty about the money I've spent. But having said all that, I'm still 'playing' with my dolls and enjoying every moment!

[Iwa_Hoshi]

The same with creating. My room is full of "bits": Half finished projects, projects just beginning, etc. I'm sure SetsunaKou can back me up on this one with all of her and her sister's amazing customs...sometimes things get messy and half completed! But it doesn't mean it will stay that way forever. It's about keeping an eye on what you really want and what you find starts to be "that crap in the corner".

That sounds like my work table and the bits bag. Sometimes outfits just died halfway, other times they wake up from a coma and become another dolls pants instead or dress. After a while I had to throw away the bits to make space.

[kenaiqueen]

My DH spoils me and doesn't care about my collections as long as they make me happy. My son has 3 Audi's (altho we are technically buying one of them) and I point out to him that my collection costs less and takes up less room.

I'm never afraid to admit I'm buying for me in the toy aisles. And I have met at least 2 other ladies who told me they are buying for themselves too. I think I'm just too darn old to give a hoot about what anyone thinks of me finally.

[versora]

Dollie shame? Hellz no. I have my two favorite Ken and Barbie[Modded, I swapped heads]. And I have an Animaniacs Wakko doll. No shame whatsoever. My mom supports my enthusiasm for dolls especially the Asian BJDs. My husband could care less, he thinks they're just really expensive dolls for grown ups. And I plan on getting my first Asian BJD. Love at first sight.

I think no one needs to be ashamed or feel guilty about what they love to collect and dress up and take pictures of. I can think of worse things to be guilty and ashamed of, but those opinions are staying in the closet.

[Trethowan]

Okay, I made a passing comment in another thread about my initial reluctance to get into 1/6 dolls (all sizes are welcome, but since 1/6 seems to fall into that "Barbie/fashion doll" category I felt it deserved it's own thread here), to the point that my very first 12'' was an insanely hard to find Medicom that cost me almost $600 to buy, because I finally broke down and had to have it.

Now, we're not the only people in our lives, and our friends and families can influence our feelings whether they know it or not. The rest of my family is very unartistic and doesn't get things like "customizing" or "craftsmanship" so I always feel awkward when a family member catches sight of my massive doll/figure collection. Does your family support or discourage you? Are they neutral?

Do you yourself actually put yourself through shame/guilt for your hobby(obsession)? If you did, how were you able to overcome it? And anyone feeling a little down is welcome to share their blues about collecting here! I'm sure everyone will try and cheer you back up! ^_^

haha... I know what you mean about the "have to have it" thing. My husband is supportive to a point, but the rest of my family don't understand. It doesn't matter much to me since I'm older, but I imagine if I were trying to collect 20 years ago things would be very different. Guh.