Re: math.sci

"Arturo Magidin" <magidin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:e1gobc$3op$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
In article <110420061009457944%bruck@xxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Ronald Bruck <bruck@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I think the explanation is simple enough. Usenet is divided
hierarchically, with the most generic group first, the refinements
following. sci. is the hierarchy most concerned with science,
technology, mathematics, etc.

If the question is about sci . math specifically then of
course this is correct.

If the question is why ANY general category is to the
left of the more specific that has a slightly different
answer (after all DNS does it the other way around for
DNS zones and computers.)

In only a tangentially related note: this is of course the opposite
convention as the one we use for addressing letters, at least in the
west: we begin with the most particular information (name of the
person), then go on to specify the building and street, then the city,
then state or municipality, and finally the country. We go from most
particular to most general.

That actually makes more sense than what we do in the
US for letters, but likely the reasons for the other direction
are included below...

As for the choice of left->right or right to left this is likely
due to some of (maybe all of):

Most OSs (Unix, VMS, DOS, Mac) use the left to right
direction for MORE specific and likely many NNTP
servers are implementing subgroup storage as
actual subdirectories.

Most (western or european) languages read left to right

They just did it that way at first

--
Herb Martin


.

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