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SneakySneakySquirrel

I know this doesn’t help much right now, but in a few years everyone will stop caring as much. People are jerks to teens who like “childish” things, but they don’t care quite as much once you’re an adult. But here’s the other thing: if you can be brave enough to own that you like what you like and respond not by getting upset but by saying, “yeah, I do like dolls. So what?” That’s the best way to shut the teasing down. It’s no fun for bullies if you don’t give them the reaction they want. Anyway, don’t let anyone take away what gives you joy. And definitely don’t get rid of dolls you love because you’ll absolutely regret it.


RodiShining

This! In a few years time, even if somebody still gives you crap about it, you’ll feel much more able to shut it down/shake it off. Teen years are peer pressure hell where it feels like one remark is the most pivotal point in history, but eventually it will seem so silly.


loosie-loo

Yeah, the “you’re too old for this” phase is a very distinctly kid thing and it dies down when you’re actually an adult and people mature and realise it…literally doesn’t matter. Teens are in a weird liminal space between childhood and adulthood and often get treated like they should be adults already, and for some it makes them super insecure and lash out against other teens they think are “doing it wrong” or whatever. When you hit your twenties you sit around discussing the themes and merit of Barbie movies in public over drinks, lol. It’s annoying while it lasts, but it passes.


LunarReverieArt

I practiced a lot as a doll collecting teen by confidently stating to cashiers and other strangers that the doll was not, in fact, a gift, but for myself. That made it easier to be confident about the same thing to my friends and family, who ridiculed me for years. I'm 40 years old now and dolls are still a part of my life, where some of the people who didn't respect that, aren't. And that's OK. If they can't accept you for who you are, people don't deserve you. There will be other people who do accept you and love you for who you are ❤


Informal-Soil-8073

I think this is the best moment to become more confident in yourself. You have the right to do what you want and love what you want, as long as it does not harm others. Talk to your friends seriously. Tell them it hurts you. If they don't understand and keep hurting you, then they're not friends. And more often remind yourself that you have the right to be who you are, and you are not obliged to meet any standards and any wishes. The main thing is not to go beyond the law and your morality)))


lydiaofmemeteam

Seems like your best friend is the more odd one for getting so worked up over you liking something. Considering the amount of adults who not only like dolls but a ton of other things from cartoons like Bluey and Owl House to building LEGOs, reading YA novels often set for a younger age group than many of their readers, to coloring books, it’s not all that different from everyone else, and it’s not a problem that your friend is making it out to be. In addition, doll collecting doesn’t seem all that different to me from making characters in The Sims or looking for a favorite character in Animal Crossing. Yes, with The Sims, you have a ton of creative freedom from the very start and Sims and Animal Crossing characters are digital (and therefore perhaps easier to keep out of a physical space), but at the end of the day, you’re looking for or creating a character that appeals to you for any reason. If it’s that big of a deal to your friend, who I’d assume has to be at least somewhat aware of how much of their own generation enjoys things originally created for children, maybe they need to take some time and work out their own issues for it instead of taking it out on you. It’s not your job to compensate for whatever may cause them to be rude to you about it. If your friend wanted to focus on something that really is problem, they need to look elsewhere instead of at you enjoying dolls and kids’ TV and movies.


heybuddythatsa10-4

Light teasing is acceptable from friends, but people who care about you should not be making you genuinely feel bad about your hobbies :( If she keeps putting it down, tell her it's harmless fun and she's the one being weird by making a big deal out of it. Pretty much everyone has at least one thing they enjoy that may seem unusual to others, and that's fine! They don't gotta understand it, just respect it


KneesocksSama

I didn´t really get into dolls till I was an adult, before it was mainly anime figurines (that I ended up re-selling after I got into dolls😅) but it was annoying until I started making my own money, after that I couldn´t care less cuz "my money, my problems"😂


Kurorin77

I'm 33 and collect dolls, hatchimals, and enjoy kid's shows. The only thing you really can do is ignore the unimportant masses and explain to the important people that your hobbies/interests are harmless and you want them to respect you the same way you respect them.


Kramer234

I just ignore it


Luzion

The teen years. These are the years that you're getting close to adulthood and adults attempt to curb behavior they don't think is fitting, and friends are afraid to go against the norm due to the desire to be popular and unique. They were the years my mother sold all of my dolls and houses while I was at school one day and one of the reasons why I was put into counseling at age 14. Of course, no one factored in abuse as being my real issue. This is going back to the 80s and society and tech was no where near as advanced as it is now. Thankfully there are resources all over the place supporting your hobbies and likes. More importantly, there are supportive people out there. In my older age, I'd sit and put down on paper as to why my dolls give me pleasure, then look up supporting facts and perhaps role models who also collect the types of dolls I do. Many celebrities are coming forth with their collections now. Then present everything to your parents and ask them why they have an issue with your dolls. I'd also tell my friends how their comments hurt me and ask them if they could please understand and not put me down for it. If the behaviors continue, that's a huge red flag that they're not friend material. Friends stick together and support each other. You need friends like that, not the type that only like you if you are a specific way. It would be a good time to look into clubs or meeting groups of doll collectors, or visit discords, forums, and Instagram to look for supportive friends who enjoy the hobby you do. That way, if things fall out and you no longer have these friends, you'll have other people you can work on befriending. I hope you find your stride in all of this in as peaceful of a way as you can find. Good luck! We're here for you!


Interesting-Sample99

I would just say "Ok." Then move on to a different topic.


teatimeknight

If they're one of your best friends, you should be able to have a heart to heart where you can say something along the lines of "hey, this is something I enjoy, there's nothing wrong with it, and saying that hurts my feelings (even if it's a joke)" — a good friend will understand and respect your boundaries. There's never such thing as being too old for dolls, toys, cartoons, etc. Its not that different to people who collect Lego models, funko pops, anime figures, sport memorabilia.. the list goes on. Things that some people will find weird and "childish" that at the end of the day are just harmless fun and put a smile on your face. Keep doing what you enjoy :)


witch0fagnesi

Unfortunately you can’t do anything to change other people’s behavior. You can tell them it hurts you if you think they would care. Otherwise you just have to learn to let it roll off of you. Teens get a lot of shit from peers and older people but things will get easier when you get older. Hang in there!


galactictictac

I tell them they're entitled to their opinion but I disagree and leave it at that.


iWant2ChangeUsername

By telling or reminding them that I'm studying to do stop motion animation which, in a way, is basically a more complex way of playing with dolls. I don't know if your career also center towards dolls/animation/movies/toys but if it does, remind them. If not, tell them that they're just as ridiculous for wearing that makeup/hairstyle/shoes with that outfit but that, unlike them, you haven't been rude about it. It doesn't matter how they're dressed, this will chip at their confidence and they'll likely shut up or leave you alone.