AARoads Forum

National Boards => General Highway Talk => Traffic Control => Topic started by: jwolfer on December 07, 2014, 12:20:39 PM

Title: More than a neutered interstate sign
Post by: jwolfer on December 07, 2014, 12:20:39 PM
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) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftapatalk.imageshack.com%2Fv2%2F14%2F12%2F07%2Feeca33fc237c1e4cde4efef5539b5749.jpg&hash=20314a9a97787f3219dccf0deccef65ec85555af)
Title: Re: More than a neutered interstate sign
Post by: formulanone on December 07, 2014, 01:35:57 PM
Saw something like that last year, also in Jacksonville. At Monument Road and I-295:

(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3929/15517336571_6aa47e9e6c_b.jpg)
Generic 295 (http://flic.kr/p/pDdpxH) by me
Title: Re: More than a neutered interstate sign
Post by: SteveG1988 on December 08, 2014, 12:02:56 PM
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.
Title: Re: More than a neutered interstate sign
Post by: jakeroot on December 08, 2014, 02:06:00 PM
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.
Title: Re: More than a neutered interstate sign
Post by: 1995hoo on December 08, 2014, 02:08:44 PM
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.

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi31.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fc378%2F1995hoo%2FRoad%2520sign%2520pictures%2FMiscellaneousFebruary2013001_zps49ef3463.jpg&hash=cf70a55d6fe34b54b327b85329922b6b5f61192e)
Title: Re: More than a neutered interstate sign
Post by: Scott5114 on December 10, 2014, 07:27:13 AM
Quote from: jakeroot on December 08, 2014, 02:06:00 PM
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.
Title: Re: More than a neutered interstate sign
Post by: Pete from Boston on December 10, 2014, 12:46:24 PM

Quote from: jakeroot on December 08, 2014, 02:06:00 PM
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. 
Title: Re: More than a neutered interstate sign
Post by: codyg1985 on December 12, 2014, 02:16:30 PM
Tennessee does this in a lot of their blue 2/10th mile markers, but most people don't notice since they are so small.
Title: Re: More than a neutered interstate sign
Post by: andy3175 on December 15, 2014, 01:32:30 AM
Quote from: Pete from Boston on December 10, 2014, 12:46:24 PM

Quote from: jakeroot on December 08, 2014, 02:06:00 PM
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."
Title: Re: More than a neutered interstate sign
Post by: jakeroot on December 15, 2014, 02:02:21 AM
Quote from: Scott5114 on December 10, 2014, 07:27:13 AM
Quote from: jakeroot on December 08, 2014, 02:06:00 PM
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.

Quote from: andy3175 on December 15, 2014, 01:32:30 AM
Quote from: Pete from Boston on December 10, 2014, 12:46:24 PM
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".
Title: Re: More than a neutered interstate sign
Post by: vdeane on December 15, 2014, 12:49:08 PM
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.
Title: Re: More than a neutered interstate sign
Post by: Alex on December 15, 2014, 03:58:32 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on December 15, 2014, 02:02:21 AM
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.
Title: Re: More than a neutered interstate sign
Post by: hbelkins on December 15, 2014, 09:47:31 PM
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.millenniumhwy.net%2FGreenville_SC%2FGreenville_SC-Images%2F125.jpg&hash=94838ff8f87096b6119fcf68d146426924886c6a)
Title: Re: More than a neutered interstate sign
Post by: NE2 on December 15, 2014, 10:23:06 PM
That's FHWA being dicks and not allowing them to call it an Interstate.
Title: Re: More than a neutered interstate sign
Post by: briantroutman on December 15, 2014, 11:04:25 PM
Likewise, the "Future 99 Corridor"  signs in Pennsylvania also lack "Interstate" .

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2F8%2F8c%2FFuture_I-99_Corridor.jpg&hash=9a8620cd2f42ff74bd0b8957d442e53482aa1230)