adults and stuffed animals

[Xara]

i really hate that we have to ask questions like this — like, why do we have to ask if us doing something that doesn’t bother or concern anyone else is socially acceptable? why can’t people just mind their own business and let people do what makes them feel happy, safe, etc, without judging them?

i turn 20 in less than 2 months, and while i don’t carry stuffed animals around with me, i do somewhat collect them, and will —and have— squeal over them in public. they have no age limit in my eyes. heck, i even own a stuffed animal that has a rattle in it, for christ’s sake — i don’t care lol.

i’m personally all for adults carrying stuffed animals around with them — in fact, i wish it was something i saw more often! it would honestly make my day aha.

 

[xSuperMario64x]

i really hate that we have to ask questions like this — like, why do we have to ask if us doing something that doesn’t bother or concern anyone else is socially acceptable? why can’t people just mind their own business and let people do what makes them feel happy, safe, etc, without judging them?

it would be nice if people would just mind their own business, but there will always be people who are like "don't be so childish" and associate stuff like this with being immature. I personally don't really care, being autistic makes me act more "childish" anyways because I have little regard for social norms and I just do whatever I'm happy doing, so why would I bother trying to be someone I'm not?


a few days ago I was going to the store and I brought my big arctic fox plushie with me, seems fitting since it's been so cold out lately. I like to imagine he doesn't get cold easily. but walking out the door my dad was like "why are you bringing a stuffed animal with you?" like bruh you can mind your own business lol. I stopped paying attention to what he says cause he's really transphobic and I don't appreciate that at all. I basically live by the saying "don't take criticism from someone you wouldn't ask for advice"

 

[Mr_Keroppi]

I am not an adult but I would be fine with it! I like to do fun things that my parents think are for "babies" even if they aren't. Alot of the rime I cannot do stuff because "its not socially acceptable!" But I hate that. Like people need to get thicker skin and be fine if you want to do something fun! I miss being able to play outside or draw without being called a baby who hasnt matured. I love stuffed animals and fun things like that! They are amazing and great listeners when I have problems. My plushies are very understanding and thats a good thing! You should do what makes you happy! Even if others are mean do YOU.

 

[pawpatrolbab]

I don't think it's socially acceptable but I think that it should be socially acceptable. Regardless of if it's due to a mental health issue or just because you want to, I think it should be encouraged!

 

[Sonar_Crossing]

I found that plushy’s help my anxiety a lot , I find them calming

 

[iiyyja]

If it's the size of a small throw-pillow, nobody's really going to notice or care. But if it's large and hard to miss (think a torso sized teddy bear), I'll be honest, some people might find that a little off-putting.

Personally, I have a couple of plushies in my room from Pokemon Center of Ditto-Pikachu and Mimikyu. I love showing them off. I got them for Christmas last year : 3

Couldn't find Pikachu, but here's Mimikyu

 

[Belle T]

i really hate that we have to ask questions like this — like, why do we have to ask if us doing something that doesn’t bother or concern anyone else is socially acceptable? why can’t people just mind their own business and let people do what makes them feel happy, safe, etc, without judging them?

Reading it charitably, I imagine the question should framed not as "is it okay to do this" but "does this behavior serve as a red flag for other behaviors that actually could be harmful." Of course, I'm not saying it's right, but many people do look at behaviors which deviate from cultural norms (i.e. adults who partake in public activities typically associated with children) and have an instinctive reaction to assume ill intent for reasons that probably aren't appropriate for this particular forum. Of course, we should people teaching people to get to know others before making these kinds of conclusions and educate them on patterns of behavior that actually do suggest ill-intent, but people cling to short-hand symbols and easy answers when assessing difficult questions like this.

As for the question posed in this thread, I think it's fine? Perhaps I'm just naive, but when I see an adult carrying a stuffed animal, my first thought is that it probably belongs to a child or younger relative. So it probably wouldn't even register as anything suspect to me unless they went to great lengths to otherwise stand out (i.e. make perverse gestures).

 

[xSuperMario64x]

Reading it charitably, I imagine the question should framed not as "is it okay to do this" but "does this behavior serve as a red flag for other behaviors that actually could be harmful." Of course, I'm not saying it's right, but many people do look at behaviors which deviate from cultural norms (i.e. adults who partake in public activities typically associated with children) and have an instinctive reaction to assume ill intent for reasons that probably aren't appropriate for this particular forum.

I see what you mean. one other thing I love doing is going to the park (the kind with playgrounds and slides), and I know often times an adult (especially one who is by themselves) at a park where children usually play can be seen as bad because you never know what that adult might do to children, so it's safe to assume that they may have ill intent. of course I would love for people to know that I'm basically completely harmless and I would never do anything to hurt a child. usually when I go to a park to play on a playground, I take my dog with me so I don't look suspicious to others.

I think in the OP's scenario, though, there isn't really anything threatening about an adult carrying a stuffed animal. I can see how some things that adults do thay are meant for children could possibly be bad, but I can't imagine carrying stuffed animals being one of those things.

 

[Belle T]

I see what you mean. one other thing I love doing is going to the park (the kind with playgrounds and slides), and I know often times an adult (especially one who is by themselves) at a park where children usually play can be seen as bad because you never know what that adult might do to children, so it's safe to assume that they may have ill intent. of course I would love for people to know that I'm basically completely harmless and I would never do anything to hurt a child. usually when I go to a park to play on a playground, I take my dog with me so I don't look suspicious to others.

I think in the OP's scenario, though, there isn't really anything threatening about an adult carrying a stuffed animal. I can see how some things that adults do thay are meant for children could possibly be bad, but I can't imagine carrying stuffed animals being one of those things.

Well, I think the concern would be that they would be attempting to use something a child might find appealing (a toy, for instance) as a method of facilitating conversation with a child and lure them in that way. The "mini-van full of candy" connotation, basically. But again, I think that would have to be something you'd combine with other questionable behaviors if you wanted to analyze a person's character with an iota of honesty, particularly in this age where geek culture is much more mainstream and so typically "childish" things now carry a much broader appeal.

 

[xSuperMario64x]

Well, I think the concern would be that they would be attempting to use something a child might find appealing (a toy, for instance) as a method of facilitating conversation with a child and lure them in that way. The "mini-van full of candy" connotation, basically. But again, I think that would have to be something you'd combine with other questionable behaviors if you wanted to analyze a person's character with an iota of honesty, particularly in this age where geek culture is much more mainstream and so typically "childish" things now carry a much broader appeal.

that's what I was thinking, trying to lure a child with it (which ofc I would never do personally) but like you said it would prob take more than just a stuffed animal to assume that someone might be a predator. I like to think that I don't come off as intimidating, I'm pretty short/small and I actually wear a fuzzy hood with pointed ears and paws wherever I go.

 

[Belle T]

that's what I was thinking, trying to lure a child with it (which ofc I would never do personally) but like you said it would prob take more than just a stuffed animal to assume that someone might be a predator. I like to think that I don't come off as intimidating, I'm pretty short/small and I actually wear a fuzzy hood with pointed ears and paws wherever I go.

For the most part, I'm generously assuming most people would see an adult carrying a stuffed animal and assume it belongs to a child, even if the person happens to be traveling alone. "Oh, they must be bringing that back to their son or daughter," I would think. That's just how I'd see it anyway.

But it's a very multifaceted question, not easily answered as "yes, this is fine and people should mind their own business" or "no, that's weird."