So, BJDs came up at work...

I was discussing Vocaloids with some of my coworkers while we were huddled around his desk, scrolling through some Google images when the DD Miku came up. Without hesitating my coworkers began talking about how it was creepy, and were pretty degrading to the supposed person who owned her. 

I froze up and didn't say anything (and I feel pretty bad about it) but I just never thought I would see the topic be brought up at work so I was a bit shocked!

 

So my question to you is, would you have said something? Do you talk about BJDs with your coworker friends?

Let me know I'm curious!

A lot of people do find dolls creepy, and there are western cultural norms at work too. I’d probably avoid bringing up something they could affect your livelihood. 

This is so synchronistic! This weekend I was talking to one of my employees, she has me as a Facebook friend which is connected to my Instagram doll account - YIKES! She asked if she could follow the doll account! I just laughed. She and many others have known me for so many years and I don't do a good enough job at hiding my dolls. I let her know that when I am on Zoom with the team I turn my desk around so my dolls are in front of me and not behind me. I guess it is a case by case basis of whether or not your doll addiction should be shared at work.

Wow, I didn't even think about that 😰 That is so unfortunate...

OMG, that is such a nice story! I am close to my coworkers, but now that I know how they would react I'm not sure! For now I probably wouldn't say anything but I hope one day to be able to share my hobbies with them too!

I can't lie I am VERY surprised to hear this. Like, its a doll. Nobody finds barbies creepy; at least that I've ever heard in my entire life. Is it the articulated nature of a bjd? Was it that particular doll specifically? Like even smart dolls are super cute. Outside of those particular people having some kind of Chucky trauma, I'd say they were very closed minded.

The other issue is group think.... 

Leader person: Yellowwwwwww!
Wanda: Yellow is so cool!
Bobby: Yea yellow!
Tom: *smiles*
Jane: "yay!"
Leader person: So say we all, it is agreed yellow is the best color (meanwhile Jane likes green and Tom loves lilac).

Now you may not have to say "Hey I have one...... (or 20)...... of those.." But to just gently say" Aww come on guys they're not that bad,  I actually think they're kinda cute." That does three things:

1) Opens the door for different thinking and let's you actually be you in your expressions, thoughts and feelings.

2) Possibly opens the door for someone else who may actually want to be different too but is hiding behind social queues.

3) Reminds everyone that different people have different feelings and thoughts. They may not like it themselves but should embrace that what they don't like, others may enjoy.

I'd say if it ever came up again and pictures were being shown don't be afraid to say "awe that's cute" or "that's a cute outfit though" or something to start changing the color from yellow lol. Without revealing your ownership of course.

I bring my Miku to work often. Granted, I sell stuff at (mostly anime) conventions, so I don't often get negative comments about her...

This furthers my fears about entering the workforce 😥 I had fairly decent experiences in school when dolls occasionally got brought up (I even used a couple of DDs for my photography class) but I'm admittedly nervous about how future coworkers might react if the topic should arise. 

I do think a lot of it has to do with the western view of dolls (over here in the States at least), people seem to immediately think chuckie/annabelle etc for some reason. People either assume that or children's toys like barbies/bratz etc.

[edit] I'm also so sorry to hear how your coworkers reacted! I've seen people say similar things in passing, especially when DD Y'shtola was announced, the western side of the playerbase was extremely rude about her to say the least. 

Edited June 2, 2022 by Suiseiseki

I actually bring one of my dolls to work every day (I'm in an office at a desk all day), and I've had nothing but nice comments from the people who work up the nerve to say things! Sometimes I wonder if people just bash em so much in social settings because it's easier to say they're "so creepy" and "just like chucky" rather than admit they're kinda cute. Most people don't like rocking the boat, especially at work with folks you gotta interact with every day, so mentioning your collection offhand might even reduce those kinds of comments!

Your mileage may vary, of course - obviously take into account your workplace environment and job security before you let any of your quirks shine, doll related or otherwise! What's a harmless/interesting fun fact at one company might be grounds for "not fitting corporate culture" or something at another. 😅

17 hours ago, Lochy said:

Without hesitating my coworkers began talking about how it was creepy

Oh my goodness, a new co-worker of mine whom I really get along with called my dolls creepy last Thursday! The two of us talk about gaming and figures and everything else a lot, so it's a bit different from your experience but she called them creepy when I showed her a picture.

Funny that you just had a similar experience recently.

Edited June 2, 2022 by Veravey
spelling

Thats what bothers me most! I had no idea my coworkers were so closed minded about that stuff  Especially because we are all pretty nerdy and are openly in some other niches...

33 minutes ago, Veravey said:

Oh my goodness, a new co-worker of mine whom I realty get along with called my dolls creepy last Thursday! The two of us talk about gaming and figures and everything else a lot, so it's a bit different from your experience but she called them creepy when I showed her a picture.

I had a friend who liked to trash talk my dolls, so I would purposely go out of my way to show her pictures of them and talk about them even more to her just to upset her 😇

Don’t let their disapproval ruin your fun!

I didn't take my dolls to work when I used to work in an office, but not because I was worried about negative comments. I just didn't prefer to carry them back and forth every day, but they are too expensive to leave sitting in an open office of hundreds of people that you don't know all of (it's a call center). I did have Funko Pop figs out, because they're a good way to begin a conversation with people of similar interests. 

If I had taken them in though, I wouldn't have been at all surprised if some people specifically talked to me about them just to say that they were creepy. I have had that happen when I'm out with them for photography. I wouldn't have cared though, because my default reaction to creepy doll comments is to start arguing with them about whether they're just saying that because it's trendy right now.

My nephew used to join his sister and mother in calling my dolls creepy (they've watched Annabel), but then this past Christmas he asked me to customize him a little doll to look like himself in his football uniform, so he had just jumped on the bandwagon. 

While we do have a corporate culture in our office for our customer interactions it doesn't involve suppressing your own personality, so it's not like it would hurt my job to be me and disagree with others. In the OP's situation I would likely still just say that I think she's pretty and ask if they are actually afraid of dolls or just defaulting to that reaction. I know that there are other people that just prefer to keep their personal life, hobbies included, out of their workplace though.

I no longer work in an office, though I have the same job, because I work from home. My home office is decorated with anime posters and wall scrolls, and my figure collection and some of my dolls are along one wall as well. When I have virtual meetings I could of course choose to use a virtual background, but I choose to use my real background instead. For the most part no one ever says anything since we have work to do, but in my more laid back smaller meetings the only comments I've ever gotten were positive. My boss totally has a skeleton in her office though. 😅

Anyway, this post has gotten a bit rambly. TLDR: it sucks that people currently feel the need to knee jerk call a doll creepy, just like they do when clowns are brought up. It's just a cultural thing, but I don't have a problem being counter culture, because I'm weird and I'll never fit in in a group that's not specifically dedicated to something I enjoy anyway.

I guess that's another reason I was a bit disappointed, we also talk about video games (I work in games!) and a lot of niches as well, so I was saddened when they had such a negative reaction. But I am sorry that happened to you, I would feel even worse if it was a picture I was trying to share with them intentionally

@Jezrah I am mostly in a similar boat, I used to bring my dolls to school a lot and not really care what others had to say! However I guess I'm unsure since they were so vocal about their negative opinions, so I am feeling like I shouldn't even open that can of worms.

I am a little disappointed that people who work in games would have such a negative reaction to dolls. I used to work in computer games once upon a time.

Granted I was already a part of the conversation, I would've said something. I have weird taste, everyone who knows me more than 5 minutes knows it. Though my work environment is a lot more casual and it wouldn't jeopardize my job to speak out or anything.

In the last place I worked, I wouldn't have taken any of my DDs with me just because no one really decorated their desks that much outside of pictures. The engineering department had nerdy collectible stuff all over the place, so if I sat closer to them, I might've considered it. I did use to take my Cocoriang Niya though! But he's super tiny and a fox, so no one ever said anything about him being a doll.

I really hate the whole "dolls are creepy" western culture thing we have going on. It's been so long since Chucky, can we get over it already? It's one thing to actually dislike them, but I hate feeling like people say it just because they're expected to. I'm sorry you had to deal with that. 😥

Short answer: yes, to the point where I probably would've gone "Oh, I have a couple of those, they're pretty neat! :)" before anyone could really go off otherwise. I'm pretty open about them to begin with, but I also find that people will reign their opinions way in when they're actually face to face with the subject of them.
If people find them creepy, that's fine, they don't live with me, but it costs literally zero monnies to be polite about it.

Actually took one of mine to work for a day when we were training with 3D scanners and needed stuff to scan, and while I converted no one to the hobby they had to admit that he's super good at standing still 😛

I don't work anymore (disabled), but I wouldn't bring them. The topic of how much they cost will come up. It happens if you do enough outdoor photography or bring them in a social setting. While people might not look down on you for having an adult, anime looking doll, most people will gawk and think you are just insane when asked how much one costs. I think carefully the places I take them now, because I don't have time for someone else's judgement of what a waste of money is. They aren't a waste to me; they make me happy. My happiness counts.

Yeah, I've had too many people in nerd spaces call my dolls creepy over the years. Not like they can talk 😛 they were furries haha. Which is fine, but you'd think they'd know what it's like, y'know?

On 6/1/2022 at 11:11 PM, Jezrah said:

When I have virtual meetings I could of course choose to use a virtual background, but I choose to use my real background instead. For the most part no one ever says anything since we have work to do, but in my more laid back smaller meetings the only comments I've ever gotten were positive. 

I kind of want to do this for virtual meetings but it's because I think people will absolutely find them creepy or weird.  I despise being on the camera and would love them to tell me to never use it again.  Dolls could be my catalyst!

I would never take them to the office though, I don't want to deal with the questions and weird looks in person.  That'd be a bit too awkward.  Virtually though, I don't really care.

I never bring up any of my hobbies at work because I know I have very little in common with my co-workers on multiple levels. I don't really mean that in a negative way or anything though, I'm just kind of an "oddity" among my "normal" co-workers. 🤣

Although my friend group is pretty nerdy and they'd probably "get it" if I showed them my doll a few of them did comment on the Y'shtola Dollfie being creepy when she first came out, where as I thought she was super pretty but a bit too expensive for me. I'd pay that much to get my own Warrior of Light as a Dollfie, however!😂

Depending on my mood, I probably would have laughed at them 😂 

I honestly think it's a little funny whenever people say they think my dolls are creepy; the idea of a (presumably) intelligent, emotionally mature adult experiencing discomfort or fear in the presence of what is essentially a piece of plastic that probably looks nothing like a real person.  I'm sorry, I know people have (often debilitating) phobias, but that's hilarious, especially when you account for the fact that a lot of people seem to be saying it more out of social obligation than genuine fear. 

I'm terrified of spiders, but I still know it's absolutely hilarious to watch me- a grown adult- scream at the top of her lungs flailing around at the sight of this teeny tiny goofy looking creature with a hilarious amount of legs lol. 
 

I try to keep hobbies like BJDs to myself unless my coworkers or friends ask me. Though, I did have positive reception when I bought my former Smart Doll to my workplace as a guest one time.

I just need to get my own very Dollfie Dream doll soon once I completely pay it off!

On 6/6/2022 at 6:04 AM, Mizuumi-no-Otome said:

I honestly think it's a little funny whenever people say they think my dolls are creepy; the idea of a (presumably) intelligent, emotionally mature adult experiencing discomfort or fear in the presence of what is essentially a piece of plastic that probably looks nothing like a real person.  I'm sorry, I know people have (often debilitating) phobias, but that's hilarious, especially when you account for the fact that a lot of people seem to be saying it more out of social obligation than genuine fear.

I have my Alice regularly sitting out on my dresser so I can look at her and my sister always comments on it whenever we FaceTime. The last time she noticed her, she seemed visibly weirded out and asked, “Aren’t you scared she’s going to attack you while you’re asleep?”

Completely deadpan, I was like, “She’s a piece of plastic, [sister’s name].” 😐

On 6/6/2022 at 6:04 AM, Mizuumi-no-Otome said:

I'm terrified of spiders, but I still know it's absolutely hilarious to watch me- a grown adult- scream at the top of her lungs flailing around at the sight of this teeny tiny goofy looking creature with a hilarious amount of legs lol. 

Yeah, but spiders can move fast and they bite! They’re legitimately horrifying!