paper-net

paper-net
 n.

   Hackish way of referring to the postal service, analogizing it to a
   very slow, low-reliability network. Usenet {sig block}s sometimes
   include a "Paper-Net:" header just before the sender's postal address;
   common variants of this are "Papernet" and "P-Net". Note that the
   standard {netiquette} guidelines discourage this practice as a waste
   of bandwidth, since netters are quite unlikely to casually use postal
   addresses. Compare {voice-net}, {snail-mail}.
    

snail mail
papermail
paper-net

   <messaging> (Or "snailmail", "smail" from "US Mail" via
   "USnail"; "paper mail").  Bits of {dead tree} sent via the
   postal service as opposed to {electronic mail}.  One's postal
   address is, correspondingly, a "snail (mail) address".  There
   have even been parody USnail posters and stamps made.

   The variant "paper-net" is a hackish way of referring to the
   postal service, comparing it to a very slow, low-reliability
   {network}.  {Sig blocks} sometimes include a "Paper-Net:"
   header just before the sender's postal address; common
   variants of this are "Papernet" and "P-Net".  Note that the
   standard {netiquette} guidelines discourage this practice as a
   waste of bandwidth, since netters are quite unlikely to
   casually use postal addresses and if they really wanted your
   {snail mail} address they could always ask for it by e-mail.

   Compare {voice-net}, {sneakernet}, {P-mail}.

   (1995-01-31)