our net persona is effectively our email address
This is really an Internet-elitist attitude. Because you got in early
on the game or can afford your own node, you can have an email address
which is your persona, for example hallam(_at_)w3(_dot_)org for Phill
Hallam-Baker.
But try to sign on to netcom.com or msn.com and be username hallam.
My friends go through several iterations before they get something
unique and it always ends up resembling their own name as little as
their telephone number does.
The days of Internet "handles" are over. (Quotable quote)
The only way people will be able to find each other on the net is to
remember their real names and use a query facility like User Friendly
Names, and distinguished names are suitable for carrying people's real
identifying information.
- Jeff
jefft(_at_)netcom(_dot_)com (NOT to be confused with
jeff_t(_at_)netcom(_dot_)com(_dot_)
jefft(_at_)ix(_dot_)netcom(_dot_)com, jeff(_at_)netcom(_dot_)com,
geofft(_at_)netcom(_dot_)com,
jt(_at_)netcom(_dot_)com, jthompson(_at_)netcom(_dot_)com,
j_thompson(_at_)netcom(_dot_)com, etc...)