Xref: utzoo comp.mail.uucp:3138 comp.mail.misc:1912 Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!unmvax!ncar!boulder!pikes!udenva!isis!scicom!zebra!vern From: vern@zebra.UUCP (Vernon C. Hoxie) Newsgroups: comp.mail.uucp,comp.mail.misc Subject: Re: rewriting FROM: lines Summary: Please explain _domains_ Message-ID: <160@zebra.UUCP> Date: 20 May 89 20:23:13 GMT References: <31051@sri-unix.SRI.COM> Organization: Alpha Science Computer Networks, Denver, Colo. Lines: 33 In article <31051@sri-unix.SRI.COM>, jthomp@hemaneh.Central.Sun.COM (Jim Thompson Sun Dallas IR) writes: > > UUCP (and 'bang addressing') are a really stupid way of doing things. > Hence, foo@bar.UUCP is (almost) as bad as bar!foo. I have no idea > which 'bar' you mean. foo@bar.baz.{com,edu,org,net,...} Does tell me > which 'bar' you mean, and I have some hope of delivering it. > Jim: I have been confused for a long time about how to interpret domain names. "Bang" pathes seem quite logical in that they describe the step by step path from one user to another. In fact, bang pathes are used in domain addressing until we get to that weird stuff at the end. Suddenly the logical sequence of names is inverted so that the users name precedes the machine or whatever is inferred. That flip in logic is what makes me think of domain addressing as "stupid". Perhaps you can enlighten some of us who are not exactly in a "domain" as to the virtues of this style addressing. First, my dictionary has one definition of "domain" as "a sphere of influence". I can't see how the .COM on your address has any relevance to the delivery of a message when there are so many .COM's scattered all over the country. In your address, "jthomp@hemaneh.Central.Sun.COM", what are the meanings of the encryptions following the "@" sign? ..and of what concern are they to me so far from your organization. If we are not large corporations or universities, but individuals not affiliated with any defined domain, what addressing should be used? -- Vernon C. Hoxie {ncar,nbires,boulder,isis}!scicom!zebra!vern 3975 W. 29th Ave. voice: 303-477-1780 Denver, Colo., 80212 uucp: 303-455-2670