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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Pricelessadvice · 31/10/2025 11:14

Yeh that’s a bit cringeworthy OP.

Me and my mates would all be eye rolling and laughing at that.

tipsyraven · 31/10/2025 11:14

It wouldn’t bother me in the slightest if a friend did this. It’s a joke and a harmless one at that. I certainly wouldn’t laugh at you.

YourRealAquaOP · 31/10/2025 11:14

Hi I wouldn't take any notice,small minded people just do it and be dammed if you back down they've won

RB68 · 31/10/2025 11:15

some people have no sense of humour. I think the phrase "Let it go" is useful here just stop calling it that and let it go. Anyone says anything just say that despite it being meant as a bit of a joke you had snarky comments from people who clearly didn't get it

Some people will pick on anything to bring people down if they are feeling less than for whatever reason.

WestwardHo1 · 31/10/2025 11:15

I think it's funny and pretty clear you are doing it ironically.

purplecorkheart · 31/10/2025 11:15

First time I heard it I would have laughed, the second time I would roll my eyes and after the third times I would find it cringey. However I would not tell you or bitch about you.

It does seem a bit strange that you have made it some much of the family identity as to use it as sign off in Christmas Cards.

theDudesmummy · 31/10/2025 11:16

If you want to double down you could officially rename your house Jackson Towers! My own house has a name and no number, the name having been registered with the land registry and the post office by us.

TheZanyZebra · 31/10/2025 11:17

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”

too far...

Using it as a joke once in a while is fine, but you basically re-named the place and yes, it's cringey. Everybody gets it, you have 3 storey, and you are VERY proud of that.

A joke calling it a "Palace, Chateau" and NOT on actual invitations would be more funny.

I don't care, but I am sure people are indeed laughing at you about it.

ClaireEclair · 31/10/2025 11:19

I don’t think it’s cringey at all. It’s funny. Lots of our friends refer to their homes in a similar way.

HelenSkeleton · 31/10/2025 11:19

I pass a house with a Turner Towers plaque every day. It's a bog standard semi on a main road. They've taken the joke too far!

miss79guided · 31/10/2025 11:19

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?

Have I been a laughing stock for years?

> Flip the coin - you HAVE been talked about for years
people only try to bring others down for 1 reason - to elevate themselves
if people cannot rise - bring others down to elevate themselves

I AM sure you CAN laff it off

Keep Jackson Towers goin - if you STOP doin it - you HAVE given those who comment the power

Toydrum · 31/10/2025 11:20

HelenSkeleton · 31/10/2025 11:19

I pass a house with a Turner Towers plaque every day. It's a bog standard semi on a main road. They've taken the joke too far!

Why would it bother you though? Or anyone for that matter. It’s so irrelevant.

DabOfPistachio · 31/10/2025 11:20

It's just a silly joke. They sound mean. It's the making fun behind your back that's the issue. If they joked about it sounding with you, then that'd be different.
I'd be upset too.

WellYouWereMythTaken · 31/10/2025 11:21

JudgeBread · 31/10/2025 10:47

If she was actually "blunt as fuck" she'd have told OP years ago. Bitching about someone behind their back for years and then finally, sneeringly telling them you've been bitching about them for years is not being "blunt as fuck". It's being a massive bitch.

Show quote history

I meant she was blunt as fuck when she said what she said. You’re splitting hairs.

Sasssquatch · 31/10/2025 11:21

MagpiesAreBastards · 31/10/2025 10:06

We refer to one of friends' houses as Surname Towers sometimes. They do the same with us. It is a bit of mutual piss taking.

We have a downstairs bedroom. It gets called the Garden Suite when we are telling guests which room they are in. There aren't any other options.

Maybe we are sad unfunny middle aged gits. I am ok with that

We refer to our shitty diy loft conversion as the penthouse. I think most groups of friends or families have jokey names for part of their houses.

we also have a bizarre redundant hall left in a bit of the house that was extended (see a theme with the ill thought out “improvements” the previous owner did). We call that the anteroom. And the cellar is the oubliette. I don’t think any of our friends are under the impression I believe I live in the goblin kings castle.

Toydrum · 31/10/2025 11:22

miss79guided · 31/10/2025 11:19

Have I been a laughing stock for years?

> Flip the coin - you HAVE been talked about for years
people only try to bring others down for 1 reason - to elevate themselves
if people cannot rise - bring others down to elevate themselves

I AM sure you CAN laff it off

Keep Jackson Towers goin - if you STOP doin it - you HAVE given those who comment the power

Show quote history

I agree. I think I’d want to shout “DOES IT FUCKING MATTER?”. But silently.

katgab · 31/10/2025 11:23

Makes me think of Trump Towers. We’ve named our cat tree “cat towers”. I think it’s a bit naff but wouldn’t laugh at you, wouldn’t give it much thought tbh.

AngelicKaty · 31/10/2025 11:23

BackToLurk · 31/10/2025 10:50

Start calling it "the property formerly known as Jackson Towers"

Love this! 💜 Or maybe "the welcoming home formerly known as Jackson Towers".

mjf981 · 31/10/2025 11:23

Its like when people pick their own nickname.
We had a lad at school called Luke Mo*.
He decided it would be cool if everyone started calling him L-Mo. It was when J-Lo was huge. He banged on about it for weeks and weeks trying to get it to stick. It didn't stick. People just thought he was up himself.

Alliod40 · 31/10/2025 11:24

It's absolutely hilarious and id continue to do it..I always said if I won the euromillions id build Allisonville and build houses for my friends and siblings so we could all live together but it would be called after me..they all love it..honestly I'd say your sister is jealous she didn't think of something like this so has made your family against it..good god why can't people have a laugh ffs

smallsilvercloud · 31/10/2025 11:25

If you’ve got a bigger house than them it’s may of sparked a bit of envy and think you’re boasting. Even though you’ve said it light hearted.

Catwalking · 31/10/2025 11:26

For family it might be that they’re always having to explain the inexplicable?

Slightly wonder if referring to ‘the towers’, could give an impression that there are other homes/named premises/options, but OP uses ‘the towers’ for this particular sort of occasion/event?

RafaFan · 31/10/2025 11:27

madaboutpurple · 31/10/2025 09:15

I have to add I think you are fair enough. I remember when Sarah Kennedy was on radio 2 and she always called her home Kennedy Towers and nobody seemed to comment on that. I reckon some people do not have much of a sense of humour and I find that sad.

Sarah Kennedy was kind of naff though...I used to find her cringey. A bit like Terry Wogan and his "Sally Forth" running joke which was amusing the first time you heard it but wore thin very quickly.

KnewYearKnewMe · 31/10/2025 11:28

God, how hurtful 😥

. I can see that the ‘towers’ thing has probably gone a bit far, but it’s not uncommon in our circle ‘Casa Surname’ Chez Surname’ etc…

however- you sound like the super sociable hosts, the centre of gatherings.,, how fucking horrible of them to laugh behind your back.

they could fuck off ans start hosting at their own towers now, in my book,

heatdeath · 31/10/2025 11:30

It smacks of 'I'm mad me' and, like all 'jokes', has become a bit tedious after a while.