I seldom get emotional when watching the news, but when I see a child hugging a stuffed animal in a warzone, or when you see a dirty stuffed animal in on the ground after an attack, that really stings.

Stuffed animals are symbols of innocence, love and security.

I am a 37 year old man, I have my childhood stuffed animals on a chest of drawers next to my bed, and my stuffed toad I got from my mom and have had my entire life is in the top 5 items I would try to save from a fire.

I've had girlfriends steal my plushies. Now they stay in a locked cabinet (the plushies) until I know who I can trust.

Both my wife's and my stuffed teddies have now been retired. They now sit, cuddled together, overlooking the bedroom. On a shelf, in pride of place. Their tour of service done, but not forgotten.

Had a giant stuffed ladybug nearly all my life. Somehow abandoned it and just recently, after a few years, discovered that I now need a pillow to hug at night. Miss you, giant ladybug :(

62 year old guy.

I was given a bear when I was born. His name is Growl. I have never once been ashamed of him or hidden him away.

Much more recently (last 10 or 15 years) I was gifted a Build-a-bear Chewbacca. I will never hide him away either.

Everyone I date has so many more stuffed animals than I do. I get stuffy envy. 🥺

I would never hide my stuffed animals. I have exactly one, and it's a hedgehog I keep on my bookshelf. Not a Sonic-style hedgehog, a British hedgehog.

I will be keeping that hedgehog until I or someone in my family has kids, at which point I will pass it down to them.

my blahaj is called bloop and he is soft and he loves hugs ❤️

This but replace "stuffed animals" with "your friends." Nothing like someone coming along thinking they can somehow be the one to "fix" or "save" the homie and ends up separating them from longtime friends (and then they're still not happy and now we're all a little more lonely)

I'm a guy, I have a shelf of a couple of different stuffed animals. One of every dog breed I've had and one of each for each dog of that breed

I don't sleep with them or play with them, I have actual living pets to do that with

Wait - - the ones my wife has? Ah, silly me, I am not dating.

But I'd also not hide my transformers or gaming stuff.

My fiance's plushie inventory has increased since we met. It's kinda a problem but whatcha gonna do.