Doll Chat 03. | Shame On You NY Times | Dauhl House TV

[@bbwlanas]

thanks for this!..Im a married 52 year old women with an adult autistic child who lives at home with me...Dolls are my stress relief when I get a moment to myself! I don't give a flip what some idiot from the times thinks or anyone else!The people who are on "dollstagram" are a talented lot!... and yes its MEN and WOMEN on there........ It gives me a little happiness to my day to look at these accounts... or when I work on my own diorama .But your right... this writer had a preconceived notion that it was just women( who They deemed as our failures in life......what kind of idiot in this day and age thinks if you don't have kids or a relationship that your a failure as a women????) doing doll stories dioramas collecting etc....... they didn't bother to check out the situation at all...Hey its okay for Men to work on model cars,airplanes, trains etc collect comic books, action figures and they are not called in to question at all...... Men are allowed to be perpetual children their whole lives ......But women go back to the comfort and fun of dolls, and we are all just bunch of weirdos! Well here's to being WEIRD!!!!!!!!

[@DauhlHouseTV]

I love your comment! ❤️ I agree with you SO much! Men get a pass all of the time for playing with their “toys” but women get stereotyped as weird. I also didn’t like the fact that she assumed that only childless, lonely women took part in this hobby. Although I am a mom, having children doesn’t define a woman’s worth and neither does being in a relationship. I’m thirty-five and I plan on carrying on this hobby until I can’t bend over and take pictures. I’ll be one hundred years old still carrying a doll around just in case I want to do an impromptu photoshoot. 😂

[@trazanna]

In reading the story it sounded like writer was saying how there are some people who have these negative feelings not that she (the writer) felt this way. It did sound more like a highlight on how popular doll stories are becoming.

[@NefertitiJonesaw]

That was the way I understood it. Not like she was calling people those things, but how outsiders thought of doll collectors.

[@wendydirks5659]

@@NefertitiJonesaw, me too!

[@empressariyana]

I know I said this on instagram but yeah that quote really got me heated. I can't stand generalizations to begin with. Like wth is wrong with being single. Since when is single a synonymous with being lonely? I am single by choice not because I never had options. I'm not leading some sad lonely life. And I hate the assumption that I am. That's not what I am about.

[@DauhlHouseTV]

You are SO right! ❤️ I was single for four years before I got with my fiancé and it was absolutely by choice. People assumed I was lonely or unfulfilled because I didn’t have someone. Furthermore they couldn’t wrap their head around the fact that I both enjoyed and chose to be single. Then they assumed that I couldn’t get anyone because I had children. Every excuse was made about me because how dare I go against the norm and decide to be single. 😂 I enjoy taking myself on dates and eating out alone. I bring a book and kick back. I always tell my kids to learn to enjoy their own company so that they won’t look to someone else just because they’re “lonely.”

[@wanubijohari1]

I am a black cloth doll maker living in Brasil(I am from Guyana) and the reason I started making dolls is the very point you made. Growing up we had NO representation of ourselves at playtime. Here in Brasil is is even worse when it comes to racism so through my work\passion\hobby\business I believe I am doing my little part to break down this type of thinking and give black children a sence of pride in themselves, culture and skin tone. thank you for sharing. Just came across your channel and this video has touched on so many sensitive and important issues. thank you thak you. hugs from Brasil.

[@oliviaallison8780]

Hi! I totally agree with you about this article. I am a journalist myself (and a doll collector), so I can really read the negative undertones... For example, the quotes the writer chose to use from her interview subjects: “I spend quite an absurd amount of money on handmade clothing for my dolls.” “I’m sure my dolls are counting the days until they’re walking the red carpet!” “My mom and I both spend hundreds of dollars and thousands of hours so they can live comfortably,” she said. “Most of the time they’re pretty chill, but sometimes one will start demanding something and it’s important to give them what they want before a full-on riot ensues.” “A lot of people in the community deal with mental health issues." These quotes were meant to paint a picture of just that- that all members of the doll collecting community are mental. Even the mention of Ms. Paulsen advocating for doll's rights was framed and delivered in a way meant to make her sound a few fries short. I know this writer had to have acquired a lot more quotes to choose from than just those. She used those quotes and those alone to try and make the reader see things her way. She was leading the reader in a specific direction- a reiteration of a negative stereotype. There were so many different directions she could have taken this, like you said. How about highlight the talent of all these people, the fact that males are a part of this, the beautiful diversity of not only dolls nowadays, but the doll collecting community? As a news writer, you are taught to never inject your opinion into your news report or feature. How do you avoid doing that? By covering both sides of a topic fairly and equally and only stating facts. Where the writer gave herself away so obviously was when she said, "As an outsider, it’s easy to make fun of Dollstagrammers. Surely these people have a creepy, perhaps even unhealthy obsession with dolls? They’re seeking Instagram fame, but incapable of achieving it in their own right. These are women without children or romantic love, channeling their maternal instincts into plastic figurines." Sure some people may think that she is only implying that OTHER people feel that way, but how does she know that? How does she know how people as a whole feel about this topic? Did she survey people? Did she ask each person on earth what their personal opinion of doll collectors is? Did she even ask one? I doubt it. So she broke the rule, that statement was not a fact, it was an assumption. She has no evidence to back it up, no way to fact check it. So where did she get this information? Her own brain, it is her opinion. As a former newspaper editor, I can say that a statement like that is definitely a no-no. If one of my reporters would have turned in a story with a statement like that, I would have cut if from the piece immediately and reprimanded the reporter for not doing his or her job properly. This article would have been better suited as an op/ed. Well actually, it's best suited for the trash bin. But so is the entire New York Times. Such hypocrites. Always crying about micro aggressions yet running a piece so clearly and blatantly making fun of doll collectors. I'm not sure where this lady gets off calling doll collectors creepy, unhealthy, weird and lonely. Most journalists are creepy, weird and lonely. I should know, I know quite a few personally. I enjoyed hearing your thoughts on this DAUHL HOUSE, thanks for posting the video. I look forward to watching more of your vids.

[@Toyskram]

Such a shame she came to that faulty conclusion. Doll lovers can be any gender . Also most of the people on dollstagram have kids ... not that it matters. 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@DauhlHouseTV]

Exactly! ❤️ I follow a lot of accounts run by men and their talent blow me away.

[@eviesunshine9256]

Good chat. The writer for this piece does not sound like she delved into the community at all. Had she tried it herself, she may have enjoyed it or at least began to understand why people start Dollstagram. The NY Times definitely dropped the ball.

[@DauhlHouseTV]

Exactly! I think if she would have done the interviews and then took a doll and spent a few hours photographing she maybe would have seen the why as to why we enjoy this hobby so much. My sister didn’t get it at first until I actually took her with me while I did a photoshoot outside. We spent about an hour laying on the ground taking pictures at different angles and cracking up. She actually told me that she enjoyed herself and told me if I wanted to team up again to let her know. The writer should have at least attempted.

[@mmmm-uy2se]

I agree with you! This article made me very upset,

[@lisahoward1754]

I agree with you because when I was growing up all we had was white dolls I only had 2 black baby dolls and I am so happy that we have more lack baby dolls now and yes I also buy my baby dolls and I love it you keep doing want you are doing don't let this article stop you keep up the good work

[@DauhlHouseTV]

Thank you! ❤️ The diversity that we have in dolls now is amazing. I am really enjoying the natural hair barbies and the different skin tones. Now my daughters don’t have to be limited in their choices.

[@Stephanie-wp3th]

I know I had DMed you on Instagram but I totally agree. Like idk how many views that article is going to have and how many people are even interested in reading it but thanks, NY Times. Thanks for calling me weird. I already know I'm weird, I have my own quirks but everyone does. Not only that but what happens when someone who loves doll collecting has low self esteem looks at the article and sees themselves being called 'weird' or that what they love doing is considered 'creepy?' Thats real nice. And the generalization. I have a wonderful boyfriend, thank you very much. I might not have kids but I'm only 19! How can you generalize the entire Instagram population like that when some of the most creative accounts on Instagram are male? Did you bother talking to them? And maybe I do like to have my dolls live in an ideal house or have the perfect vacation but that's no different than these people who go on Pinterest and pin wedding ideas or room decor. And I definitely agree. Barbie was always a great role model to me as a child; she was brave, smart, spoke her mind, was kind, and could do whatever she set her mind to. I can't necessarily understand how it was not to have a doll that you could identify with as a child, as I'm pale, blonde, and have blue eyes but I definitely can agree that all girls need a doll that they can identify with. All girls should have the opportunity to feel like they can be something, that they can do anything like I did when I was little with Barbie. It truely is a lost opportunity that the article didn't say anything about dolls of color. All girls of all colors deserve that. Its just sad. I don't see why the journalist couldn't have been inspiring and featured some of those accounts instead of just portraying dollstagram as a bunch of lonely women who have nothing else to do in their lives. We're more than that.

[@eviesunshine9256]

Honey you really have a great understanding of yourself at 19, good for you because I didn't. I couldn't have worded that any better. You go girl!😄👍

[@Stephanie-wp3th]

@@eviesunshine9256 Aw, thank you so much! ^^ I really appreciate that!

[@chungafea1879]

OMG. That’s awful. Who is this bish?? Lol. She is definitely bias and didn’t even make an attempt to understand or delve into our community deeper. She’s the one who sounds lonely and unhappy. I’m not even going to bother reading the whole article as the quote was more than enough for me. Very well said my friend! On a much happier note, I love your sweater!! 🎃👻🎃

[@DauhlHouseTV]

I agree with you. She was very biased and it was so evident in her writing. The majority of the article made me grit my teeth but I’ve reminded myself that I don’t need the approval of anyone, let alone a journalist who did absolutely no research, to validate my love for this hobby. ❤️

[@kellystory74]

Amen !, I know I have come late to this party,... But please let me say this,... I am a Barbie Lover from way back, for one it was the only thing I really had to play with as a child. Now being blue eyed and yes, a blond haired kid there was a lot of "me" :( but I wanted , my doll to have friends, so I wanted more choices , different dolls. When I had my little girl, she had dark hair, and was a bigger , but BEAUTIFUL child. I made sure she had a lot of dark hair,... She ask me why, she only had a few with blond hair,.... She called me out, I guess. But like I told her I wanted her to know Barbie was not always blond. Now she did NOT really like Barbie, as I did (I know ?? Right ??) But they started to make the curvy, the short, the tall dolls just before she stop altogether playing with them, so of course I made sure she had plenty .... And now that she is older, she is going to help me start a new Barbie Show ! So Bless You,... keep on, keeping on !

[@wendydirks5659]

Wow! I think you have misread that paragraph completely. The writer wasn’t saying that’s what we are, she’s saying this is what people think we are, then goes on to explain why it isn’t true. I can relate because my family, with a few exceptions, thinks i’m crazy. ☹️

[@DauhlHouseTV]

No, there is no explanation of her saying that after this paragraph. In the last three paragraphs of this article under the paragraph that I quoted she asked one person if they ever find themselves embarrassed and then there is a quote from another where she explains why it’s an escape for her. There is absolutely no explanation for that paragraph whatsoever.

[@wendydirks5659]

Dauhl House TV, hmmmm. I didn’t read it that way. But at any rate, we know how fabulous we are! 😁

[@wendydirks5659]

Dauhl House TV, and you are absolutely right about how she could have written this very differently, especially as so many of us embrace diversity extensively in our collections and spend hours writing complex plots for our stories. ❤️

[@DauhlHouseTV]

I agree with you! This community is amazing and I genuinely enjoy it so much. It’s the people and the creators behind these doll accounts that have made my experience so nice. I wish I could have interpreted her words differently. The community has mixed reviews about it but what I love with that is that we can all have different opinions and still respect and enjoy each other’s accounts. At then end of the day, if anything, this article made our little small knit niche community closer. ❤️

[@jenniferboston6692]

FACTS!!!!!!!!!

[@okewoyefamily8445]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ thank you from trycreatebelieve 👍🏽

[@DauhlHouseTV]

You’re welcome! 😘

[@ellie.from.finland8054]

Aaaah what a bullshit. Not you. You are so right and I have same opinion as you have. She put every dollstagranmer to same "crazy people" community. Why always woman's who like dolls,or don't want kids or something don't want to do what woman "should" to do they have something wrong with them? I have been almost 8 years with my man very happily (I'm 24 and our anniversary is November 7). I am nothing what that article is saying and I think that others are not either. This is just a hobby like some other hobby! Why doll collectors have to be only "crazy people who have something wrong inside their heads"? Cant believe. I'm very agree with you! Greetings from Finland!❤ (Sorry bad English skills.)

[@DauhlHouseTV]

Your English is just fine. ❤️ I understood exactly what you meant and I agree with you 100%!