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Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!ll-xn!ames!xanth!kyle
From: kyle@xanth.UUCP (kyle jones)
Newsgroups: comp.mail.misc
Subject: Re: Precedence in network mail addresses
Message-ID: <958@xanth.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 13-May-87 03:15:38 EDT
Article-I.D.: xanth.958
Posted: Wed May 13 03:15:38 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 16-May-87 05:48:32 EDT
References: <588@bsu-cs.UUCP>
Organization: odu computer science, norfolk, va
Lines: 24
Summary: augh! no more address operators... PLEASE!!

In article <588@bsu-cs.UUCP>, dhesi@bsu-cs.UUCP (Rahul Dhesi) writes:
> I have seen articles complaining about the problems caused by mixed
> addressing.
> ...
> The solution is trivial though it would need a change in most
> software.  Introduce symbols that allow you to group address
> components.  I have used parentheses above, but they are already
> taken.  Perhaps square brackets could be used.

Square brackets are out; the Internet uses them in address specs to specify a
host number instead of a domain name, e.g. gurgler@[87.9.2.47] .

Furthermore, no further address operators are needed.  RFC822 states how
addresses are to be parsed; the problem is getting people to accept the
standard and do whatever it takes to get their mailers up to snuff.

What we DO need are some rules on how to interpret the wild mixes of the
non-standard operators such as "%", "!", and "::".  The precedences we use
here are "@ then "!" then "%".  "::" is a horror from some network of which
we're (apparently) not a member.  Also I've seen addresses with "@!" and "!@"
in them.  Any ideas on what to do with these???

kyle jones   <kyle@xanth.cs.odu.edu>
old dominion university, norfolk, va