Am I a laughing stock?

[CovidHeadache]

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?

Sorry op, i think stop using it immediately and laugh it off as taking the joke too far, do not for a second let them see you be negatively impacted by it

But that would be the last time I trusted my mum or sister tbh

I think it might grate on me after a while, sorry. Like a joke that’s been done to death.

Aw op, it’s ok. Honestly.

It’s such a small thing I bet comments have only been made from time to time, I can’t imagine it being a constant source of ridicule…and so what if they have been laughing anyway? That says more about them than you. I’m sure every one of us have been slagged off or talked about at some point. I have quite an eccentric style and suspect some people might comment, but who cares.

It's very twee. Sorry, OP, but you did ask.

I already have the door plaque 🙈 it’s in the hallway though, not on the outside of the house 😂

It's all a bit 'you don't have to be mad to live here... but it helps pahaha' - very cringe, harmless though!!

Indeed. Or answer OP's original question which was " AIBU to think someone might have mentioned it before now?" (Which, of course, they should have - years ago when they were first bothered by it - and done so kindly so that OP could take it on board, not in the spiteful way OP's 'D'S did.)

Or a keyring? I live in somewhere with a posh, historic bit and a 1980's estate for the rest of us. This keyring works for me...

We have a family around here who have named theres their surname and manor, so like mumsnet manor.... its a standard 3 bed house.
They post on Facebook. Decorating the xmas tree - at mumsnet manor.
Watching the fire works- at mumsnet manor.
Brilliant day out with friends, back to mumsnet manor for takeaway.
Myself and a few others I know have always cringed at it tbh

I think you sound great fun @CovidHeadache 😆

Get an outdoor one and invite your sister round for the unveiling? 😁

It’s difficult, as with most lame jokes you hope that the person will catch on themselves when no one else is laughing or calling it “the towers.” And then before you know it things have gone too far (see, getting a plaque put up).

OP I am sure you’re not a laughing stock, you just made a minor misjudgements- just chalk it up to experience and move on.

I would go with HMP Jackson

You sister sounds a bit thoughtless. Ignore and carry on best you can. I know someone who does and I think it's cute and funny.

People criticising this sound pretty mean.

You can call your house whatever you want. You're allowed to do and say things other people don't like or enjoy.

Anyone getting worked up about your name for your own home is laughable. I wouldn't bow to this kind of public pressure, I'd double down.

Keep on keeping on Towerhouse.

Stop making fetch happen.

I have an (ex) friend who referred to her family as #teamawesome in every single social post, put it on their wedding invites etc.

Like all jokes, it got less funny with repetition.

My husband and I sometimes say "team cool" to our son, because he's two and we needed to encourage him to enjoy an admission bracelet once.

That's about the right level to pitch this joke.

Ultimate cringe 😖

It sounds like you host lovely kind parties. I do think the benefit of siblings is they are able to give to a light ribbing which might highlight useful things others wouldn’t say out loud.

But don’t worry you’ve really not done owt wrong and sounds like you’re a generous host.

I think this kind of thing is harmless BUT you do have to do it knowing most people will think it's cringe and bitch about it behind your back.

Not your problem tho, is it? Let them have it.

I know someone who's house name is just awful and people openly laugh at it - until they get to know her personally and then it becomes clear that it's a very personal situation connected to a very close family death.

And anyway - who is it hurting?

I'd be tempted to ramp up the ridiculousness and buy in a job lot of 'FamilyName Towers' merch - think beer mats, towels, mugs and beer glasses, maybe the odd scatter cushion and a sign for above the front door.

Fuck 'em!

I wouldn’t find it ‘wanky’ - just a jokey thing.

Dh used to have a colleague who was infamous at the time for writing cars off (this was in a Middle Eastern desert) and was nicknamed ‘Deadly’ by another colleague, who also referred to his house as Deadly Towers.

I'd be amazed if people hadn't roll their eyes in private

I think on an invitation is nice, but casually mentioned in person is unnecessary. However, I don't agree with people talking behind your back about it. That's even more unnecessary!

Is your house very big? Can people think you are bragging?

We have nice friends who’ve done this, to us it was a symbol of the love and welcome they have - the way they host. You aren’t a laughing stock…people with an issue with it are a bit pathetic trying to knock you for absolutely nothing…sad that they feel so insecure to be like that really