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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:
CalmTheFuckDownMargaret · 31/10/2025 11:49

The only way I can see anyone bitching about this is if you have the most beautiful envy-inducing house and calling it ‘towers’ seems like you’re rubbing it in. If your house is pretty ordinary, then it’s obviously tongue in cheek and a joke. I’d be a bit upset as they didn’t need to say people are taking the piss behind your back - that’s been said deliberately to upset you which says more about the person saying it.

Chess101 · 31/10/2025 11:49

It is very cringy and you should stop.

BUT your family was unkind in the way that they said it to you.

Bunnycute23 · 31/10/2025 11:49

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KeepAwayFromChildren · 31/10/2025 11:50

I think this is normal banter. When I stay with my cousin, I refer to her spare bedroom (in a 3 bed semi in Bournemouth) as The Cavendish Suite. She calls it that now too. It's just a laugh.

Our house is referred to by some family member s as 'Jackson Heights'. Our surname isn't Jackson either, but you you get the idea. It's just for fun. No one is being pretentious.

I think you have been treated badly by your family @CovidHeadache .It's clear you are just having a laugh.

I bet these people drive about in bigger and swankier cars than they actually need though huh?

ChristmasLightsLover · 31/10/2025 11:50

People are dicks.

Let’s pivot this thread to responses for your Mum and Sister and look for ways to cement it into you life. Make a Google location page for it as a starting point.

cramptramp · 31/10/2025 11:51

I understand it’s obviously a joke. Your family sounds like they have a stick up backsides.

frostedpixie · 31/10/2025 11:51

You sound fun. Ignore the haters. Honestly this is their problem not yours. They sound miserable and should be pitied.

Sockdays · 31/10/2025 11:51

Reminds me of when my friend bought her house 5 years ago and there was a wardrobe like small cupboard space with wifi.
The EA described it as "the office".
She bought the house and uses it for storage, coats and crap, but it is now referred to as "the office".
We thought, think, it was very funny.
But then we aren't nasty bitches who mock each other.

TheMimsy · 31/10/2025 11:51

I see it as a tongue in cheek joke @CovidHeadache maybe some new friends and hobbies and distance from family that don’t mind hurting you is in order.

Bunnycute23 · 31/10/2025 11:52

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JudgeBread · 31/10/2025 11:52

God there really are some boring, joyless cunts in this world aren't there. I'd rather be a bit cringe and call my house something silly than be a massive bitch who slags off my own family member for years while she graciously invites me into her home. Give me slightly cringe over being a huge bag of rats any day.

Fuck em OP, you sound lovely. Keep calling your house whatever you want, but I'd stop extending my hospitality to those who don't properly appreciate it.

Giggles1773 · 31/10/2025 11:52

Ok so first thought was Fawlty Towers. No its not cringy. I call mine The 'Surname' Nuthouse ! And I don't care what people say. You need to say to them have a sense of humour and get a life and stop being so serious. It's my house and I call it what I like. Your sister is obviously jealous as she has not thought of a name for her house and if she does it now it would be like copying ! I've got a sign on mine (my son got it as a mothers day present when he was 4, ) which says Nut House with a squirrel on it.

BlueSlate · 31/10/2025 11:54

Ooh, I know a family who refer to themselves as the Surname Clan.

Eg, if their surname were Jackson it would be...

Merry Christmas from the Jackson Clan.

Photos on SM are captioned along the lines of

Christmas with the awesome Jackson Clan 🫶

They are actually wankers in many respects though 😅

ruethewhirl · 31/10/2025 11:54

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Off you trot to start one, then, no one's stopping you... 🙄

AngelicKaty · 31/10/2025 11:54

SprayWhiteDung · 31/10/2025 11:46

As long as he doesn't talk about 'taking her in for a service' <barf>

Show quote history

😂

BlueSlate · 31/10/2025 11:55

I think the OP might have missed that the reason they're insufferable isn't what they call their house.

Inclined to agree. Sorry, OP!

MadisonMarieParksValetta · 31/10/2025 11:56

I'd take the piss too to be honest.

brunettemic · 31/10/2025 11:57

There’s very little evidence to backup the fact you’re thick skinned.

SprayWhiteDung · 31/10/2025 11:57

ruethewhirl · 31/10/2025 11:49

Tbh that's something DH and I would chuckle at. 😄Just goes to show how variable sense of humour is!

Show quote history

Not in front of the teenagers, though!!

Bwitched1 · 31/10/2025 11:57

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?

I think its cute if you mean it jokingly. My family and I are never serious about anything and they would find it hilarious if I called my lil 3 bed council house 'surname towers' I think your family are a bit miserable and definitely do not deserve an invitation to the bat cave for your next soiree ( maybe call it something different each time to rise above misery arses)

QueenStevie · 31/10/2025 11:58

Please get a house name sign with it in and put it up ready for the next time your sister and mum visit.

dudsville · 31/10/2025 11:58

I think it's obviously a joke, and I get it, it's not so hard. It's very weird and hurtful of your family to have said this and to have talked that way about you.

TeatimeForTheSoul · 31/10/2025 11:59

Yes it a cringy name, but so what.
I voted YANBU as the poor behaviour seems to have been adults apparently making fun/ bitching behind your back and not saying it to your face. This could be called playground behaviour but that would be insulting to well-behaved kids.
You’ve learnt something about these people.
The shame should belong to them, not you, so give it back. I’d suggest sitting down with them and voicing your concern that they could judge the phrase extensively behind your back but not to your face. Show concern at THEIR behaviour.

EmeraldJeanie · 31/10/2025 12:00

I think mean of them.
Perhaps go a bit quiet to recalibrate a bit.
I hope they regret their nastiness.

AngelicKaty · 31/10/2025 12:00

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Wow, projecting much? Your ex' and his DM sound vile, but your story has no relevance to OP's situation and your "And I bet your interiors are hideous" comment is ludicrous and just plain nasty.