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?

My friend names her house this too.
I don't have an issue with it. It's just a 3 bed, normal terrace house.
Who cares. Call it what you want

Oh no! I do the same thing!

I've just remembered when we were students we called our house Hawaii Five-O House followed by street address when we were setting up utilities and registering at university etc. We didn't make a sign but only because we were lazy. Friends used it to send letters (remember them?) to us. All harmless fun.

Wow, are you the spiteful sister? As if OP doesn't feel bad enough and you decide to assassinate her entire character. That says far more about you than OP. Nice work - not. 🙄

I think you need to change the name to 'Dun Hostin'.

I don't see the problem, I actually think your mum and sister went about telling u in a spiteful bitchy ,laughing st you way.
We used to call my mum the countess of (name of village)
Cos in a loveable harmless way she thought she was posh!!
I think it was because she came from a very poor family and our big house,stables fields etc was a far cry from where she began as a child living in a prefab in Sheffield, but she never talked down to people thank god,my pet hate.
Anyhow I've digressed, your mum.and sister sound vile btw

I think your sister was mean, it was just a light-hearted joke and they've made you feel silly. You sound lovely. Don't let other miserable gits bring you down.

I think you sound lovely and likeable - it’s just a bit of self deprecating humour and along the lines of people naming their cat The Professor.

Your sister comes across as a bit mean tbh in this example

I think it is fun and makes you an authentic individual. What a sad load of people you must have around you?!

It was probably funny at first, but people have found it a bit irritating when it’s gone on too long. Your sister could have told
you gently though. She sounds pretty horrible.

Is the reference Fawlty Towers? Implying you’re all a bit wacky? That’s so old now people are more likely to think of Trump Tower. Or is it funny because your house is small?

It is cringey in the same way that people giving themselves a nickname is cringey; like call me crazy carol because I’m so much fun. Just be grateful they’ve humoured you for so long. They are obviously very fond of you to go along with it.

I think you sound like a welcoming, warm and fun person and I’d love to be invited to your gatherings if I knew you. Some people are joyless and mean. Keep being you.

Agree with this post completely. Sister sounds spiteful. Is she jealous? Your house nicer than hers?

Totally this. Some people are happy and joyful and fun and others have to find the fault and negativity in everything. Don't let grumpy people dull your sparkle.

I can kind of understand it going on invites, but Christmas cards - No way.

I like it, it sounds just like a bit of fun and brings some sense of community which is nice.

It's a shame nobody mentioned it before. I think it's unkind of them and I'd be upset too. Nobody likes to think people have been laughing at them behind their back for years and I think you should tell them that.

I'd be really hurt if my mum and sister were slagging me off to each other, and participating in nasty discussion about me with others. Your family should have your back which includes saying: some people dont like that maybe you should stop. not laughing behind your back. I am sorry this has happened and if it were me I would be telling them in a calm way that their behaviour has hurt your feelings and see what happens.

I reckon it was probably mildly funny the first time.

I know a man who used to give his address using Roman numerals for the number - and he painted it on his bin too. That got old very quickly. It might not have been quite as bad if it had spelled out an amusing word or something - or if he'd been a woman called Liv who resided at house number 54, calling her house LIV would have been an intellectual joke to those who got it - but it's just something like CCLXXIV.

I think this depends on personality some people have ideas bigger than them. I.e I love my big house I’m going to call it surname towers. If you’re a genuine jokey person I think it’s fine. Rise above it op just don’t invite the ones who don’t get the joke!

I’ve worked with a woman who was incapable of referring to a drink as a drink - it had to be a beverado or a brewski. Also knew a man who instead of saying bye announced at the end of every day that he was ‘ready to rock and roll’.

A bit silly, not to mention grating, but I can’t imagine ‘ripping the piss out of them’ for it.

I think your sister has been unnecessarily mean and I’d be amazed if anyone has given this much thought, let alone it being a talking point.

Absolutely this. As if any of us is perfect, but OP's sister needs to take a long hard look at herself for being so spiteful (and DM didn't cover herself in glory either). At any time during the years this has apparently grated on them, either one of them could have quietly told OP that the joke was wearing a bit thin. Telling OP this way and implying her wider social circle doesn't find it funny either (and btw, OP only has her DS's word for this!) was just plain nasty.

It's a bit cringe, but harmless. It was funny in the beginning, worn thin after a while and now no one remembers it started off as a joke.
I doubt you are a laughing stock though, people probably just roll their eyes a bit.

Agree!! I'd actually probably do it even more but that's the kind of person I am....
Or add onto it....like Mrs Bucket....." Supper at Jacksons towers in the dining room. Formal clothing"
I would also be a bit peeved that nobody had said anything before but they all thought it ok to take the piss behind my back.....