BlytheLife.com opened in July 2010 and is a blog and resource hub for all things Blythe!
The comments of others
Written on May 18, 2012 at 12:00 pm by MichelleFiled under: Musings
Last month I hung out at a friend’s house. She also happened to be a Blythe enthusiast and we were chatting about Kenners and dressing up the dollies. While we were setting up the dolls on the couch, her boyfriend and his friend arrived.
Cue the awkward looks at dolls. The friend physically recoiled away from the dolls whenever they went close to him and just shook his head.
I likened the doll hobby to people having hobbies in other aspects – video games, model cars or trains. He just shook his head and said something about model cars and trains not having eyes. It’s always back to the eyes. Which is funny, because I find that one of their more endearing qualities. Large head, large eyes, small body. It’s basically the same traits that make human babies and other mammal babies super cute so we don’t kill or eat them (speaking in an evolutionary sense, of course).
I’ve had awkward (or outright negative) comments about Blythe before. And funny looks. I’m sure we’ve all gotten some form of negative feedback at one time or another.
At the same time, how can you think something negative towards these sweet little faces?
Maybe I’m biased… I probably am (a lot biased…) – the two on the left belong to me.
I always get weird looks from people when I look at blythes online at work. Trying to explain it to them is a lost cause.
I love their eyes too!!!
I have definitely gotten more negative feedback from others re: my Blythes than positive. My dad never misses an opportunity to tell me, “Those things are SO FREAKY!” or look bemused whenever I am toting one around to photograph. I know some people are legitimately creeped out by dolls (not just Blythes, even though their big-eyed-ness is really one of their obvious/selling features!), but still, I would never disparage someone’s hobby to their face, so I have never understood why it is so incredibly acceptable to others to do this. Especially with collectors, who have a clear amount of passion and dedication, people seem so bemused by the level of interest that even that is somehow weird.
I’ve brought my girl to school once. It was quite entertaining though. Hearing “DUDE THAT’S FREAKING SCARY!” Once I was asked how much she was, I told them that i paid $120 for her. Their mouths hung open. IMO, positive or negative responses are somewhat funny.