Please, hobby, stop this "racial aesthetic" nonsense.

[embyquinn]

The irony of the whole "Asian aesthetic" thing is that the original BJDs, Volks Super Dollfies, were based on their original 27cm Dollfie line, which were in turn inspired by anime figures...and Japanese anime style was most heavily influenced by Western animation, notably Disney. So the generally accepted "Asian aesthetic" is based on a Western aesthetic.

Has your head exploded yet?

The very term "Asian aesthetic" makes my fangs want to come out. I realize it's not meant to sound racist, but that doesn't change the fact that it does. And no, I'm not Asian--the closest I come to it is having a grandmother whose family came from Greece. I admit to being as serious a Sinophile as can exist, but I don't consider myself qualified to judge what is "Asian enough" and what isn't.

The whole question of "Asian enough" reminds me of Margaret Cho's experiences with her sitcom, All-American Girl, where the network actually hired an Asian consultant to teach a Korean actress how to be Korean.

Kind of silly, right?

[Wardah]

I think the whole being against Chinese made dolls isn't so much racist as elitist. Chinese dolls are usually less expensive and for certain members of the ABJD community it is all about who spends the most money. It is kind of the same as the ones in the fashion doll communities who go on and on about how wonderful Fashion Royalty dolls and consider Barbies not worth their time.

[embyquinn]

I think the whole being against Chinese made dolls isn't so much racist as elitist. Chinese dolls are usually less expensive and for certain members of the ABJD community it is all about who spends the most money. It is kind of the same as the ones in the fashion doll communities who go on and on about how wonderful Fashion Royalty dolls and consider Barbies not worth their time.

And yet if it weren't for Barbie, neither FR nor BJDs would even be here. But that's a whole 'nother discussion.

I don't pay attention to where the company is based. I will agree that an "Asian ball jointed doll" should come from a company based in Asia, but that doesn't mean that a BJD made by someone living in Ohio is inferior to one made in the shadow of Mt. Fuji.

Last I checked, China is on the Asian continent...

[Greyhaunt]

Am I the only one who has no idea what this is about? Which companies' dolls aren't approved according to the 'Asian aesthetic standard' you speak of..?

Basically this all stems from the policies of another doll forum who is very influential in the BJD hobby because of it's size. At some point (long before I ever got involved with dolls of this sort) they decided to put a limitation on what dolls could be talked about in their forum. The standard used to determine what doll can be included is how closely it meets the "asian aesthetic". The problem is, there is no real definition of what they consider to be an "asian aesthetic" and very often that standard seems to be somewhat capricious in it's application.

Because of the influence of this other forum there are people who choose to talk about it as some sort of hobby standard, even though that isn't true.

Obviously here at DS we do not believe in, encourage, or allow any such doll discrimination

[catshem]

I've heard about this, but I have never personally come across the "aesthetic" thing. To which, I guess, I'm going to be grateful for. I love my Volks/Obitsu's, I love my Barbies, I love my one Hujoo, and I love the one Monster High dolls I have. Many more in variety are going to come into this house, why would I halt it over some "aesthetic" issue someone else was having?

...Actually I think I did come across an "aesthetic" issue. Though they didn't call it that. They were trying to tell me Barbie doesn't measure up and I was like "lol that's your opinion but I grew up with and loved Barbie, so she isn't less of a doll because she's not ABJD."

[Evelien]

@quidam, seriously, that's what it's about..?! ...damn. That link is pretty interesting too, by the way.

[embyquinn]

As an ironic giggle, I usually refer to Cherry as an ABJD, because:

1. She was made in China.

2. She has (some) ball joints. Her legs are even held on at the hips with elastic.

3. She's a doll.

So, by the broadest definition, she's an Asian ball-jointed doll...even though she's a Liv/Moxie Teenz hybrid.

[GooglyDooglyV.2]

This is what they get for trying to be nice and politically correct, and trying not to hurt anyone's feelings. So they came up with a bullfeathers' way of excluding dolls they do not find appealing.

What they should have done is to be honest and hurt feelings be damned, and simply say...

"Look, this is OUR forum. YOU don't have to be here. You DON'T have a right to be here. We as a group happen to like some dolls, we happen to dislike other dolls. We as a group, meaning the moderators and owner(s) of this PRIVATELY-OWNED forum, decides which dolls we like to be discussed in OUR forum. If you do not agree with our rules, then feel free to join other forums that will cater to your personal hobby better. We wish you the best in finding enjoyment in your PERSONAL hobby. The least you can do is not rain on ours. We are entitled to enjoy the hobby as we see fit, the same as you."

But I guess, that's too much honesty for the delicate snowflakes they have to deal with every day.

[Greyhaunt]

Hmmmm, I like that - can I incorporate that into OUR rules?

oh...wait a minute...we don't exclude any dolls....(well, except for sex dolls)....damn.....

though I really do dislike reborns...they give me the creeps ;p

[OkamiKodomo]

lol maybe as something that's a catch-all for stuff that's not allowed? Hm... except we have plushies, and action figures, and collectible figurines and.... hm... Nope, at a loss here, GH. XD