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AIBU?

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Original poster

Am I a laughing stock?

814 replies

CovidHeadache · 31/10/2025 09:03

I jokingly call my house “surname towers” so for example if my surname was Jackson, my house would be called Jackson Towers. I’ve called it this for years, it’s very very lighthearted as I’m sure everyone knows. We host a lot of social events and I use the name in invites for example “birthday party, Jackson towers”, “Strictly finale party, Jackson towers” etc
In Christmas/birthday cards “love from A, L and all at Jackson towers”

All my friends and family know I call the house this and some call it this name too either in replies or just in general.

Anyway, last night I’d popped to my mums and my sister was there, we were talking about taking the kids to a Halloween event tonight and I said “why don’t you bring them back to the towers afterward and we can have a little party?”

My sister then said “I’m sorry but can we stop with this towers bullshit, it’s so cringy”. I said “It’s a joke! And you’ve never complained before!” My mum then said “not to your face maybe”. They both started laughing and my sister then said “no I’m sorry, someone needs to say something, people have been ripping the piss out of you for years for it, just give it a rest now”.

so to cut a long story short, turns out almost my entire family have been slagging me off for it for years and my sister hinted that my friends have too.

When I got home I rang my friend and asked her if the towers name annoys her and she said “no course not” so I asked if she knew if it annoyed anyone else to which she hesitated and then said “not annoy as such”. She wouldn’t elaborate further.

Now I’m pretty thick skinned and can mostly laugh it off if I’ve been a dick but this time I’m a bit upset, I keep trying to tell myself I’m not bothered but I can’t stop thinking about it. Have I been a laughing stock for years? If so AIBU to think someone might have mentioned it before now?

OP posts:
Starlight7080 · 31/10/2025 14:30

Its your choice what you call your home.
It does sound like it started as a bit of a joke. But then turned into its official name . Which is very awkward. Makes you sound like a snob .
It is nice they all kept up with it for so long. It doesnt seem like they told you to be mean .

Dancingsquirrels · 31/10/2025 14:27

BJRCEKD · 31/10/2025 13:33

Hyacinth Bucket springs to mind!

sorry OP, i agree with this

time to retire the joke

Tintarella · 31/10/2025 14:26

Don't we all laugh a little bit at the eccentricities of our families? I would find this an irritating and slightly pompous affectation OP but I find plenty of things about my friends, families and acquaintances irritating - doesn't mean I don't love lots of other things about them. I would just try and remember all the things about your sister that rile you and feel free to unleash them on her once in a while ;-)

FrostAtMidnight · 31/10/2025 14:23

Empress13 · 31/10/2025 13:37

Reminds me of Hyacinth Bouquet ! Do you answer the phone Towers residence lady of the house speaking 🤣

Towers isn't her name 😭

bellylaughter · 31/10/2025 14:22

Wouldn't bother me. Especially if it meant I was benefiting from the generosity of the hosts, as it seems people in your circle are! I'd just be glad of the invite.

gamerchick · 31/10/2025 14:21

I like it me. Don't stop being you OP and tell your family that since they like to take the piss you'll bear it in mind for any future invites to your house.

There's no need for nastiness, especially when something is harmless and just someone's sense of humour.

BlueIndigoScarlet · 31/10/2025 14:20

Given that you clearly generously host your family and friends on a very regular basis it’s pretty poor for them to have been making fun of you behind your back.

I would find it endearingly quirky, I don’t why anyone else should find it so objectionable.

Personally I might forget a few people from invitation lists to make a point.

Neemie · 31/10/2025 14:19

It shows you don’t take yourself too seriously and I like people who are like that.

mcmuffin22 · 31/10/2025 14:17

No5ChalksRoad · 31/10/2025 13:59

I tend to use the phrase "and the point is..." when wrapping up an anecdote. One day my sister screamed at me "the point is! and the point is! and the point is!" like I was some dithering fool who can't tell a proper story.

I had no idea that this verbal tic was bothering her so much. It's her problem but she made me feel like a weirdo. I dont' tell her many anecdotes since then.

Show quote history

This is a sibling or family thing. Over many years, annoyances always come to the surface often in an explosive way. Just roll your eyes and guve them a wedgie or something.

Dollymylove · 31/10/2025 14:14

I bet all your so called friends always enjoyed your hospitality at the Towers though, didnt they? Filling their boots with free food and drink while sniggering behind your back. I wiuld tell the lot of them to fuck right off 😉😉

Equalizer · 31/10/2025 14:09

Struck me as crabs in a barrel mentality.

Delphiniumandlupins · 31/10/2025 14:06

I would assume you are making fun of yourself, as in Fawlty Towers, rather than bigging up your home. I think your sister and mum were a bit cruel so I would carry on using the name for them, even if you stop for others. I think you have been a very welcoming host over the years and I'm sure your friends and family appreciate that.

No5ChalksRoad · 31/10/2025 13:59

QueenClinomania · 31/10/2025 13:52

Its bound to sting when you find out something you've seen as a little running joke has been getting on people's tits.

I doubt they've been maliciously ripping you to bits for years.

I tend to use the phrase "and the point is..." when wrapping up an anecdote. One day my sister screamed at me "the point is! and the point is! and the point is!" like I was some dithering fool who can't tell a proper story.

I had no idea that this verbal tic was bothering her so much. It's her problem but she made me feel like a weirdo. I dont' tell her many anecdotes since then.

ForZanyAquaViewer · 31/10/2025 13:58

I think it’s cringe, but in a sweet silly way. The people we love sometimes do or say daft naff things and it’s really not a big deal for most people.

Your sister was being unnecessarily unkind, imo.

Cheeseplease19 · 31/10/2025 13:58

GwendolineFairfax8 · 31/10/2025 09:20

@CovidHeadache

You sound like a lovely fun person to be around. We make similar jokes like this in our friendship group and won’t stop. We binned the sister and her snidey comments 😊

Absolutely this👆People are so bloody uptight these day 😳

Bionicnose · 31/10/2025 13:56

Jackson Fucking Towers - only in the invitations to your sis.

Hoodlumboodlum · 31/10/2025 13:55

I'd assume you thought you were the bee's knees and had looked down on others. I'm sure that wasn't your intention but that's how it may come across - it would to me. Sorry.

Drylip · 31/10/2025 13:55

You rang up your friend out of the blue and put her on the spot and asked if you irritated her?

Poor woman

And did you expect to get any answer aside from “er no”?

Leavesfalling · 31/10/2025 13:53

Some people do refer to their home by its name rather than "home" I think because they think its posh and makes them sound like they have an estate. Like they will say Come for lunch at X rather than come for lunch at mine. It is a bit affected.

In your case though I'd assume it was a joke as its your own name rather than the actual name of your house. So I dont know why anyone would care a hoot and you shouldn't either. Call your house what you want!

QueenClinomania · 31/10/2025 13:52

Its bound to sting when you find out something you've seen as a little running joke has been getting on people's tits.

I doubt they've been maliciously ripping you to bits for years.

SardinesOnGingerbread · 31/10/2025 13:51

I think it's funny and I would completely love it if my friend did that. I might start doing it myself, I know my mates would love that.

Hotpants123 · 31/10/2025 13:51

We call ours Surname Manor, it was a present from a friend when we lived in a much more modest house. If anyone finds it cringy then so be, we are laughing at ourselves.

RobinEllacotStrike · 31/10/2025 13:50

Roll with it OP - the only proper response to their nonsense it to raise your game.

Elevate Towers to Castle, Palace, Chateau etc - mixing it up will keep everyone on their toes.

"Chateau Jackson" for Xmas
"Jackson House" for SCD finals
"Palace of Jackson" for NY party

keep going.

HedwigEliza · 31/10/2025 13:49

It does sound stupid. Now you know, so can stop doing it.

UnctuousUnicorns · 31/10/2025 13:48

Darragon · 31/10/2025 09:24

It makes me think of those 3 bed semis and terraces in the 70s/80s that had ‘house names’ on plaques. Jimilda etc. I think in my mining town one long street had 3 with Owl Dene on the front and no owls to be seen. 🤪

Edited

Someone in our road had named their house "Disuldous". Now, that did make me cringe. But then, I was a teenager, so everything made me cringe. 😅