[Info-vax] bizarre SMTP problem

[Richard B. Gilbert]

Phillip Helbig---remove CLOTHES to reply wrote:
> I just noticed that an email address like foo.bla at bar.doo.da works fine
> but foo.bla+xxx at bar.doo.da doesn't, giving
> 
>    %MAIL-E-NOSUCHUSR, no such user foo.bla
> 
> In other words, something happens with the parsing when the + sign is 
> reached.  The problem can be demonstrated with fantasy addresses, i.e. 
> whether or not they are "real" in some sense doesn't matter; it's all a 
> matter of parsing in syntax.
> 
> Fortunately, SMTP%"foo.bla+xxx at bar.doo.da" DOES work.  Since this is an 
> address I would almost never type in manually, but rather reply to, use 
> in a distribution list etc, this isn't a problem.  However, is this a 
> bug or a feature?
> 
>   HP TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS Alpha Version V5.4 - ECO 7
>   on a DEC 3000 - M600 running OpenVMS V7.3-2
> 
>   Compaq TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS VAX Version V5.3 - ECO 4
>   on a VAX 4000-105A running OpenVMS V7.3
> 
> (Same error with both architectures/VMS versions/TCPIP versions.)
> 
> ---------8<-------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> MAIL> send
> To:     foo.bla at bar.doo.da
> CC:
>  Cancel
> 
> %TCPIP-E-SMTP_ABORT, SMTP session aborted
> 
> MAIL> send
> To:     foo.bla+xxx at bar.doo.da
> %MAIL-E-NOSUCHUSR, no such user FOO.BLA
> Do you want to send anyway (Y/N, default is N)? n
> %TCPIP-E-SMTP_ABORT, SMTP session aborted
> 
> MAIL> send
> To:     SMTP%"foo.bla+xxx at bar.doo.da"
> CC:
>  Cancel
> 
> %TCPIP-E-SMTP_ABORT, SMTP session aborted
> 
> MAIL>
> 

You don't consider the "+" in the address to be bizarre?  I've been 
using e-mail for something like 24 years and have NEVER encountered such 
an address!  Even if it's legal, it strikes me as a very poor choice!