Wow, again everyone - I'm floored by the responses. It's great to see the passion about the way dolls have been misrepresented in the media and I'm so glad to get so much great feedback. Again, I will try to respond to everyone, but in the meantime - keep the answers coming!
Kaori wrote:Ok firstly please define and draw distinctions between the hobby and lifestyle aspect of our interest in dolls.
Definitely! I think this needs to be a primary goal. As others have mentioned, there is way too much of a focus on the sex aspect and not the emotional bonds as you mentioned.
It's an interesting point as well - the size of the doll vs the perceived age. I've spoke to some members of the community who have 1/6th figurines, but I wonder what the most popular doll size/perceived age is!
Mark Spencer wrote:So while I don't find the stigma coming from one particular faith, I do find it coming
from people whose moral center is based on religion's accumulated and comprehensive
indoctrination over many centuries.
That definitely makes sense. I think we see a lot of that in modern times (perhaps too much).
@kruiser: wow, great answer! I do wonder if it is particularly the power women hold, or as you mentioned more of the power sex holds (as there are woman in the community etc). I do think you've hit on a really powerful phrase: "A sex doll is a tool of liberation for men."
It seems to be a common theme in the responses and research I've done that, as you said: dolls offer a better compromise that simply works for people, better than any woman (or human partner) ever could. I wonder, if you don't mind me asking - would anything make you go back to searching for that needle in the haystack? Please note I'm totally not saying you should - I definitely understand your points and in fact the whole purpose of the documentary is to prove that you don't need to search for that needle if you don't want to. But I am personally curious, and I wonder if you've given it any thought! Thanks again for the response.
@Dolly Dearest : I hear you! I think a lot of people would agree with you here. It's just a shame that there is so much negativity that the community doesn't feel safe enough to share that perspective
@Stewie studmuffin : Serious noob question here: is 'organic woman' the preferred term in the community? I want to make sure I have all the terminology straight! Aside from that, I hear you. I wonder at what point the growing popularity will hit 'the mainstream.' As in, people will be comfortable saying that they are in a relationship with a doll. I wonder whether it is a matter of people coming to terms with it, or dolls advancing enough?
@DollDaddy27 : Very true. But I do think dolls are different than dildos because dolls have other purposes than just sexual stimulation!
@ LJ69: I am truly sorry you had such poor experiences with those relationships, but I am happy you are in a better one now
. Serious question, but it is an extremely hard one, so feel free not to reply haha :p. You mentioned that your relationship with your tpe ladies has progressed to where they are your girlfriend(s), and I think that is awesome. Do you feel your relationship with them matches with the 'real-life' (and I use that term sparingly) relationships you had?
You know, answering my own question, I suppose that there are ways that it is better and ways that it is worse, but overall you've decided it's better? You tell me! I wonder if the relationship struggles because it must be kept hidden? (I am assuming you are not public with your doll lifestyle, as I assume most people are here!).
Anyways, it's great to hear how supportive this community has been. Thanks for the response!
@itvman: Great response! I love this so much because you really hit the nail on the head.
itvman wrote:If you really want to make a thought provoking film, just show dolls for what they are: beautiful objects. Then show the different things they can be used for and let the viewer decide for themself. Stay away from the "pervy old men with dolls" theme and the "dolls are scary and creepy" theme. Promote the idea of inclusion and tolerance. It stuns me that people who wouldn't be caught dead offending a gay or black person are happy to heap their bigotry on safe options like doll owners. They need to take a look at themselves in the mirror and examine their own principles.
Absolutely. I think a big part of the film will be depicting the beauty the doll has an object, and also the beauty the relationship has between the owner and the doll. Long term, I hope to find a doll owner who is comfortable being camera for an interview, and one of the benefits for them (beyond helping reduce the negative stigma against the community) will be cinema-quality video and photo of their doll as just that - a beautiful object. I am relatively in the beginning of my film career, but I do trust in my ability to make beautiful images with cinema-grade cameras, and I hope that I can show that the general public by showing depicting the beauty you mention.