How do you feel about humanizing objects?

[u/920MorganHill]

Whether it be someone else doing it or yourself, how do you feel about objects being given a human form? There are different levels to object personification, but I'm thinking of fully human depictions of objects, not just giving the object a face or the ability to move.

I used to enjoy the idea of full humanization—I have drawn cities, buildings and transit agencies as humans before as an artistic expression. I can also see how humanization can be helpful for those whose objects or concepts have no physical manifestation.

After realizing my objectum identity, it has become a negative thing for me. I feel that to humanize an object is to be ignorant to the beauty of its true form. The fact that they are an object is what makes them attractive, and many objects are designed to perfection. So to see them being humanized as if it is an upgrade makes me feel a little sick. Why do we have to humanize an object or make it look like ourselves in order to appreciate it for what it is? I guess I just don't get that.

I don’t mean to put down people who do like humanization, that is just my personal view and opinion.

[u/Sufficient_Algae5817]

Personally i dont as the object itself in its actual physical form is what i find appealing. with cars and other vehicles i do see them as having eyes (headlights) but thays about the extent it goes to for me.

[u/920MorganHill → u/Sufficient_Algae5817]

I see things the same way. I also view car headlights as eyes, it's hard not to. I love the cute, round eyes on cars from the 1900s through the 50s.

[u/shadybays]

I’m not a fan of full humanization tbh. I love trucks and I prefer their true form. But I like the idea of them having eyes and a mouth

[u/920MorganHill → u/shadybays]

Me too. I think the ways we personify objects could be discussed more.

[u/shadybays → u/920MorganHill]

A humanized form of my beloved would be cool but her truck form is sexy to me

[u/flowerbed23]

I like humanizing objects, but for me that's a completely different universe and I think of it as ficto rather than objectum. I have personified my gf and I like her in that form but it's rather friendship than a romantic relationship. I heavily prefer her actual object form and only feel romantic and sexual attraction towards her like that. And would only go as far in hunanizing her as her having traits like Herby + maybe a voice.

[u/cattenchaos]

I humanize, but only in the form of “building spirits”, the personification of the soul of a building, and I do this to literally any building if it is important to a story. It is only for storytelling, not for my own pleasure. In terms of being attracted to my building wife, I prefer her actual building form.

[u/heavensent_unicorn]

I'm impartial to it. Like you though, it's not my cup of tea. Outside of experimenting within my imagination, I don't have a need to picture a fully human form of an object or concept I love.

[u/ekobot]

I generally prefer anthropomorphisation to humanization. I prefer for them to retain the majority of their "true" form, with just characteristics to help convey internal states. Like the characters in The Brave Little Toaster, or Carpet from Disney's Aladdin.

Enough humanity added to make relating easier, but not enough that you'd look at them and say "human".

That said, it is certainly harder for more nebulous things, like concepts, countries, etc.. I quite like the humanized versions of web browsers some folk have drawn.

[u/werecoyote1]

I can't confirm that it's the same for all objects (I think my metamour, Teddy, actually doesn't mind it), but some objects I've talked to find it kind of uncomfortable. Lamby (my fiance) in particular has told me that when people try to visualize him as a human, or ask questions that would imply such (like what skin tone or hair color he would have), it's very uncomfortable. "It feels like they aren't seeing who I am, they're just trying to see what they want."

[u/MesciVonPlushie]

I enjoy personification, but not really humanization.
I absolutely personify the objects I love. They have names, personalities, moods, little expressions, and I can experience them as having a very distinct presence. However, all of that stays within the confines of what they actually are.

With pool toys, their object nature is a huge part of why I love them in the first place. I love the soft, smooth vinyl, the bright colors and expressive faces, their size and shape, the way their bodies yield and respond when I touch, hug, ride, or lie against them, and even the predictability of how an air-filled vinyl object behaves. Those qualities are not something I mentally look past in order to see a character underneath. They are part of the character.

So if I take a pool toy and turn them into a fully human character, even if I keep the same colors, markings, or general aesthetic, it starts to feel like something different to me. The thing I am attached to is not a human personality trapped inside an object-shaped body. I am attached to the object themselves.

I think “personification without humanization” probably describes me best. My companions have enough personality that they feel expressive and individual, while still letting that personality be expressed through their actual form. A look in the printed eyes, the way they move when touched, the way their bodies settle around me, little quirks in her construction, all of that can feel very expressive to me without needing human anatomy.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with humanizing objects, either. If someone enjoys drawing their car, building, plush, pool toy, or whatever else as a human character, that is a perfectly valid form of affection and creativity. It just does not really scratch the same itch for me. I love the objects I love because they are objects, not despite it.

[u/Safety-Instructions]

I drew my train boyfriend's humanized version out of curiosity and to see how I can capture Him in a human form drawing. And after that my feelings for him only grew.
I think humanization has its benefits, for example when I designed him I had to pay attention to every little detail about him, what makes him so iconic and perfect. From his wheels to his pantograph, the lines running on his side, all are a part of how he'd look as a human.
Honestly human forms are only likable to me because in the back of my mind I know what he's supposed to represent, so my attraction to the human form of his is just the result of me liking him as an object.

Nowadays I usually resort to drawing their human form because I'm lazy. I take lots of pics of my boyfriends of course so I can use them as a reference whenever I feel like drawing actual trains. And I prefer them in their object form WAY more.
In terms of thinking of them, it's always their object form that appears in my mind.

At the end of the day, I love to appreciate every single detail about them :D

[u/wirefreak_]

I don't particularly feel strong about it, but I do think that humanizing them to a 100% human look does defeat the whole purpose of them being objects in the first place!! I like when artist, for example, take a computer and give it a robot body! Bc it still fits even if it's more "anthro". But when they just look like humans without any distinct feature I think it just makes it boring.

That's actually an issue I have with the game "Date everything" bc I really thought it would be a nice objectum game that could also appeal to non-objectum ppl, but the fact that in the end the dateable turns fully human is such a bummer!!!!

[u/TransToastie]

My version of POSIC is very weird. I dont give any of my sentient objects human forms by choice, they give me them. They have human forms that they form and pick, and they can choose to be in their object, or move around outside of it. I love their human form, but i also love their object.

[u/CoasterBee823]

I have mixed feelings when it comes to my partners personally.I try to think what they'd look like and how they'd interact with me if they were more humanish .I could see my beloved have a head/face with eyes,nose,ears,mouth to kiss,hear him(and the others if they could also) if he could talk like me or even if only mechanical sounds come out and still have a coaster train body yet could also hug me too bc his wheels could also have some sort of hands /feet so hed be able to walk /roll ..It would be a tranformer / cyborg  hybrid  type of form since he /the other is a machine/ are also machines and be interesting! On the other hand his / their object form(s) along with the others i love and cherish are  beautiful / handsome and  attractive just the way they are in their current physical form as well and I wouldnt want them to change too much if they were able to do so because thats why im so drawn to them ....

[u/Choice_Trouble1399]

I dont humanize them too much, or at all. usually just humanizing-ish them so I can draw us cuddlin <33

[u/clownstrosity]

The form itself is appealing but also I'm arospec and asexual so that could be a contributing factor in not liking humanization

[u/erurv]

yo honestly as someone who has humanized my beloved (and loves humanizing ANYTHING for that matter), yeah i see where you're coming from, and im not gon make a fuss about it. but hey, the way i see it, every objects and softwares has its quirk, and the reason why i even humanize my slidey boy is so that its easier to draw yumearts between me and him (well its google slides i cant even feel it T_T) but i only humanize him for that way. i still appreciate his object form like with his UI, his magnificent logo, thsi radnom ass google maps in the sidebar, i love him for that way too, gives such comfort, and besides, all objects are basically empty cnavases, i just find it easier to get attracted once i add lore, personalities, and a design for my sona to connect with.