It’s no surprise that men comprise only the smallest percentage of doll collectors.  And, its even more rare to find a man willing to go on record as being a collector.

“The act of an adult male playing with a doll is, in itself, not that unusual,” says Dr. Vivian Wilkerson, professor of gender studies at the Remington-Barres University of Knowledge (RBUK)  “It’s the type of man that is often attracted to doll-play that becomes noteworthy.  Often times, men who pursue full time interests in doll collecting struggle from identity crises that transcend garden variety gender role confusion.  Many times what you will see is an adult man who is otherwise engaged in a ‘typical’ male lifestyle, but who secretly and desperately desires to live life as a woman.”

Researchers call this a classic reversal of the widely known and medically accepted phenomenon known as penis envy.  “Men who collect dolls, play with dolls, or associate with online doll communities often suffer from what we refer to as ‘womb envy,’” says Dr. Wilkerson.  “It can be more complicated than that, though,” she adds.  “Sometimes the underlying issue has to do with perceived sexual inadequacies, so the man acts out in the safest environment – playing with dolls.  Dolls don’t judge, don’t question, don’t criticize.  They are completely accepting of all failures.”

While this might sound like a reasonable form of self therapy, Dr. Wilkerson warns of negative outcomes. “Some men go beyond the mere desire to play with dolls and begin to practice harmful dominant behaviors, possibly in an attempt to apologize for their feminine tendencies by becoming outwardly aggressive.”

Often, the easiest and safest way to display this aggression is to become an online bully.  Participants of online doll forums are easy targets, not just because they share the common interest of doll collecting, but because these communities are frequently subjected to acts of jealousy by anonymous parties who infiltrate the communities with the sole intent of weakening their infrastructures.

Perhaps the strongest example of this lies in the recent actions of male doll collector and would-be moderator of the Internet entire, who asked to be identified only by the alias “Swollen BlueComb.”   Mr. BlueComb prides himself upon his ability to, without justification, harass web hosts into compliance with fabricated rules and regulations.

“I don’t care what people think, I only care what people type.  And they goshdarn better not type anything I don’t approve of, or I’ll go after ‘em.”  Among Mr. BlueComb’s latest conquests was a series of sites that hosted the much lauded and sensibly moderated “Dramatic Dollies” a place where most anyone was welcomed and encouraged to post.  “I admit, I got tired of them having so much fun.  I reported nonexistent violation after nonexistent violation, until I wore down the forum owners.  It was a chickenshit thing to do, no doubt, but it made me feel better.  I win!  I win!!  I’m a winner!  Look me winning!”

After several full minutes of giggling and unintelligible ranting, Mr. BlueComb added: “The world would be a better place if no one said anything bad about anyone else.  Or, at least if the bad things were said by only me, and a handful of my appointed representatives.  That’s it, though, no other bad things.  And, it would be better if we all wore pretty panties.  Look, I run my own forum, and I think that most forums are under-moderated.  We live in a global community, and it’s past time that community learned to shut its trap.  No one is interested in free speech, least of all me.  If you have an opinion that I don’t approve of, there’s a good chance I’ll shut you down.  Shut you down, I say!  I am, after all, a forum cop of sorts!”

Moderators of Dramatic Dollies are undaunted, though, and say they will continue to resurrect their online community, despite Mr. BlueComb’s efforts to shut them down.  In fact, to exemplify Dramatic Dollies’ giving nature, plans are being discussed to raise enough money to send Mr. BlueComb a year’s supply of fine silken ladies panties.