What are some good ethnic-neutral last names? [more inside]
posted by razdrez on Jan 19, 2009 - 45 answers

Searching for a gender neutral term for Aunt/Uncle? [more inside]
posted by gleea on Jun 5, 2008 - 53 answers

Photography: How to make your own DIY Neutral Density filter? [more inside]
posted by sidereal on Sep 15, 2007 - 10 answers

Renaming myself in grey. I need to come up with an ongoing supply of carefully neutral yet non-random (and non-lame) pseudonyms, for judging processes that require anonymous entry. [more inside]
posted by allterrainbrain on May 17, 2007 - 33 answers

Is it OK to switch to neutral while driving a car with automatic transmission? [more inside]
posted by jadanzzy on Feb 28, 2007 - 34 answers

Auto Mechanic Filter: What is preventing my car from starting? Happens about every 10th time I attempt to start. No click, no churn, but the lights (including those on the dashboard) work fine as does the radio. I get it going by rocking the front end of the car up and down, and back and forth for a few seconds. Head back in, turn the key and it starts normally. [more inside]
posted by terrier319 on Jul 10, 2006 - 19 answers

Does it make any difference if the ground and the neutral in a power outlet are reversed/swapped? Can this be detected somehow? How? [more inside]
posted by yeoz on Oct 3, 2005 - 17 answers

Suppose you are talking to someone (an acquaintance, a workmate, a person at a party) who you are pretty sure is gay. This person is talking about someone s/he is dating and is being completely gender neutral. What is the appropriate response? Do you maintain gender neutrality with your questions and comments (which can get awkward and feel silly)? Do you make a comment that includes the phrase "he or she" to indicate that you're aware that it may be either and that you're nonjudgmental (but potentially putting this person on the spot to pick a gender and out him/herself)? Do you pick the likely gender and continue the conversation blithely the way most people do in assumed-heterosexual conversations (again with the potential outing)? For the purposes of this exercise, assume no one else is in earshot.
posted by xo on Apr 25, 2005 - 51 answers