For those who would like to answer a question for my paper

[absynthe1972]

Short, sweet and straight to the point : I like the people here. They're nice, smart, friendly, helpful, caring. It's kinda like hanging out in Callahan's without the booze, but dolliehs in lieu of. (Callahan's is a bar, fictional, a reference to Spider Robinson.)

[LiveLoveYarn]

Thank you thank you ALL for sharing your stories. Your tales run the gambit from matter-of-fact, to heartwarming, to somewhat sad with happy endings. This community is seriously amazing. You have all given me little gems of wisdom and so far I have got a lot of great stuff to use in my paper, but I really did like how Kirahfaye put it:

Not only is no dollieh left behind, no person is either.

I think that is how most of us feel, in some way or another. I joined because I fell in love with a girl made of ABS. I was goner, and I knew I couldn't share my love for her on a certain other forum. I don't understand how anyone could think less of my sweet Adelayde, but that is why I love this forum. I stayed because I have never felt so welcome on a forum. We're here for the love of dolls and in the midst of that we get pretty special friendships. Ok, ok I will try not to get too sappy on ya

Again thank you SO much for contributing and for those who haven't please do if you want. Paper aside, this is a great conversation that's happening right now.

[Trethowan]

Why am I loyal to DS:

First off, the only people who "get us" are ourselves. I can't talk about dolls with just anyone. Well, I can talk but I won't be understood. We're our own little culture with our own lingo. This place truly is a sanctuary, and it's a place where I share a big part of my life. DoA has a function in my life but it's something I use, really it's just a tool. It has the biggest marketplace and it has tutorials. It isn't a community for me though, it's too big and the rules are too strict. There's a feeling of walking on egg shells over there. But here it's different. We're small, we're close knit, we're friends. When someone posts a rejoice or a suck, we don't just gloss over that stuff. We read it. We share our heartaches and triumphs on this board. We're friends. This place might as well be a coffee shop where we all sit down for a chat. It's online but it isn't impersonal.

Secondly, (it takes me a while to work around to this concept.) I took Micah to a con once, about 2 years ago, and this person screamed, "OMG Micah!" and ran up to him and made grabby hands. They didn't recognize me but they knew my doll. hahaha... it was super cute and she cuddled him for a while. But see, she didn't say, "Oh look, a white-skinned Angel of Dream Hao." She called him by name. Micah. Through us, our little hunks of plastic have attained a sense of "personhood." They might show up in galleries or they might star in photostories. Point is, they become 'someone.' It's not just a brand and sculpt at that point, it's the physical embodiment of the idea of a person. It's at THIS forum where we cultivate, appreciate, and celebrate the personhood of our dolls.

We all know each others' dolls, the characters, their stories. It's at this sanctuary where that comes to life. It happens here, baby! Think about what we have stored here if you go back page after page. Somewhere within the bowels of this forum is my first post, my first photostory, Ivan's new face-up, Micah's new wig, that story where so-n-so was introduced and now you all know who he is.... it's not like anyone just "knew" Foster overnight.

There is no Ivan if there is nobody to read about him. I'm loyal to the forum that makes all of that possible. I'm loyal to people I call friends and I love every darn one of you.

[DollyKim]

When I was younger I was kept out of the Cabbage Patch owners club, the Koosa cat was more my thing, so I never want dolls to be used to divide people.

When it comes to dividing us I'm more or a remove the warning labels and let nature take it's course type, possibly kidding.

[LadydracoWD]

Definitely because of the sense of community. Everyone is awesome and helpful. It just feels like a big family, as opposed to a private snobby club. ^_^

[Alopecia No Hime]

Hey friends!

If there is anyone that wouldn't mind taking a few minutes to answer a question for me I would really, really appreciate it. If you don't know, I am writing a short paper about the DS for my Anth class and there is a thread ("A big favor to ask my DS friends" if you want to check that out, too

I've talked with Greyhaunt about how the DS came to be and now I would like to ask you all why it continues to be. There are lots of other forums out there (all with their pros and cons- except for the DS, the DS has no cons that I am aware of yet ), so why you do choose to visit the DS loyally? There is clearly a special bond between forum members and I just love that everyone seems to know everyone's dollieh.

If you want to play you don't have to answer my exact question, just give me a general gist about why you love the DS/why it is special/why you choose to be a member/ect. if you can, and you can answer as long or short as you want. Honestly, write me a book or a sentence. I love, love, love getting to know you all and really do find all your stories fascinating (I'm in the Humanities, gimme a break!) I can't promise I will quote you all but I will read every single one and be so very grateful that you have taken your time to help me out.

<3

For me I could find all my answers for questions on dolls that I eventually added to my collection like my Obitsu's and everyone here is so nice it's like coming home when you log onto Dollieh Sanctuary.

DOA is a good site and I frequent there every day now but there isn't any real 'home' feeling to it. There's the Resinsoul MSD thread where I've made some friends but DOA isn't DS. Their both great sites but here...

There's hardly ever trolls...We get like what one troll per year?

There's great people to talk to and have a good laugh with.

You can be yourself and post what's wrong if your upset and not get judged for it.

And everyone here is so nice and helpful...I know nearly everyone's dolls and it seems everyone knows mine too. That's probably the best part of it. We're that close.

[Iwa_Hoshi]

For one, with the range of dolls, its not confusing to hang around. i don't feel like i have to do things to keep up with the Joneses so to speak. I don't have to get certain types of dolls just to fit in. I may not have certain types of special company/LE dolls or my dolls may be a bunch of mostly customised 1/6 but somehow there are people who find the things I made my dolls do to be amusing and enjoy the pics as such. Likewise, I don't have to own specific dolls just to be able to enjoy other people's dolls.


I like seeing what people do with their dolls, whether its new clothes, equipment or places to visit. we enjoy each others' dolls through photostories and projects. there's the off chance that if I'm stuck at doing something, somebody else may already have done it and might be able to provide guidance.

There are other doll forums out there that I lurk in but I gotten used to the easy going atmosphere of DS, people are just more willing to mix with owners of different doll types (Been in real ife situations whereby certain doll type owners got ignored). There is none of that compettiveness I seen in another forum and none of that getting specific doll just because someone special has one

I tend to get stress out from my job so visiting DS after a long hard day is a way to destress for me.

[Lamia of the Dark]

Well, this IS the one and only forum where ALL of my dolls are on-topic. And, of course, I come for the photostories... and doll news... and the random chatter thread...

And all my dollfriends are here >_<

[famedglory]

Well, I first found and joined DS after I got my Hujoo Berry. I wanted to find other owners and stumbled across here. I’m personally primarily interested in resin bjds but I love seeing what all everyone is into and being on here has introduced me to a couple of things that I’ve added to my collection that I wouldn’t have otherwise. I love looking at pic spam but I prefer pic spam when I can recognize the doll and the character that it represents. Everyone here has their own aesthetic and no one here is going to be hated on just because their aesthetic doesn’t look like someone elses. Everything is appreciated for what it is and what the owner wants it to be. I also love that the mods are actually part of the community. On the very rare occasion that unpleasantness will arise, whatever they do or decide is respected without grumbling because we know each other. The general problem with internet communities is that the medium tends to lend itself to anonymity which leads to unaccountability which leads to idiocy and disrespect. I guess what I love most about DS is that that anonymity isn’t really here. Everyone knows each other and everyone respects each other. There’s a sense of trust that I haven’t found elsewhere. I have no problem giving someone my name and address here for a swap which is something I wouldn’t do on any other forum.

EDIT: and then I read everyone else’s posts who said everything much better and more concise than me. So yeah. Love the people, love the community.

[richila]

I like Dollieh sanctuary because of the wide range of dolls represented. I like the "no dollieh left behind" attitude and that any hybrid I create is accepted. I love the variety of topics that spark my imagination and inspire me to new creations. The icing on the cake is is the people. I have made friends here that I have been blessed to meet in person as well.