More than a neutered interstate sign

[jwolfer]

This is a eunuch interstate sign. Not only missing the state but the word interstate is missing. Its on the ramp to i95 SB from State St ( US 17/SR 228)

[formulanone]

Saw something like that last year, also in Jacksonville. At Monument Road and I-295:


Generic 295 by me

[SteveG1988]

At least it is mostly in-spec and is not a weird non cut-out, or a 2di on a 3di or a 3di on a distorted 2di.

[jakeroot]

I'm not sure why the removal of the state name would be considered neutering. At least the in strictest definition, neutering is to render ineffective. Certainly having no state name does not diminish the sign's usefulness.

[1995hoo]

That sign is a lot better-looking than DC's version. There are a few of these around town; this one just happened to be the easiest one for me to photograph.

[Scott5114]

I'm not sure why the removal of the state name would be considered neutering. At least the in strictest definition, neutering is to render ineffective. Certainly having no state name does not diminish the sign's usefulness.

Neutering a dog doesn't make the dog ineffective. It is still a perfectly valid dog.

[Pete from Boston]

I'm not sure why the removal of the state name would be considered neutering. At least the in strictest definition, neutering is to render ineffective. Certainly having no state name does not diminish the sign's usefulness.

Neutering, making neutral.  No specific state, just a neutral Interstate shield. 

[codyg1985]

Tennessee does this in a lot of their blue 2/10th mile markers, but most people don't notice since they are so small.

[andy3175]

I'm not sure why the removal of the state name would be considered neutering. At least the in strictest definition, neutering is to render ineffective. Certainly having no state name does not diminish the sign's usefulness.

Neutering, making neutral.  No specific state, just a neutral Interstate shield. 

Thank you Pete. That is the intended context and reasoning why the term "neutered."

[jakeroot]

I'm not sure why the removal of the state name would be considered neutering. At least the in strictest definition, neutering is to render ineffective. Certainly having no state name does not diminish the sign's usefulness.

Neutering a dog doesn't make the dog ineffective. It is still a perfectly valid dog.

I think the difference is that I'm using "neutering" in its verb form, versus the adjective form. The act of neutering is "to remove the force or effectiveness of" whereas something that is neutered is "lacking or having imperfectly developed or nonfunctional generative organs". In our case, you could argue that the state name is an organ and removing it makes the shield ineffective; I'm saying that the state name is not an organ (nor a generative organ) and removing it will not change its effectiveness.

Wait I think I'm OT.

Neutering, making neutral.  No specific state, just a neutral Interstate shield. 

Thank you Pete. That is the intended context and reasoning why the term "neutered."

The state of being neutered is to be neutral, but the verb form of neuter does not include the act of making something neutral.

Again, waaaay off topic at this point. And no I'm not trying to be argumentative.

EDIT 2: I think what I've missed is the point at which we've developed our own definition for "neuter/ed".

[vdeane]

I always assumed that the shields without the state name were called neutered in the roadgeek community to compare losing the state name to losing one's manhood.  People can be VERY passionate about that topic.

[Alex]

EDIT 2: I think what I've missed is the point at which we've developed our own definition for "neuter/ed".

FWIW, the term has been around since 2000.

[hbelkins]

[NE2]

That's FHWA being dicks and not allowing them to call it an Interstate.

[briantroutman]

Likewise, the "Future 99 Corridor"  signs in Pennsylvania also lack "Interstate" .