Reject vs. bounce

[Jethro R Binks]

On Wed, 4 Oct 2006, Glenn Steen wrote:

> > > To be able to do that type of thing, you'd be needing "bounces" yes.
> > 
> > Bouncing should always be done at SMTP time and not by MailScanner - for
> > reasons already stated by others.
> Jim, who are you trying to convince?;) I'm part on the choir on this
> one (although I prefer to refer to SMTP time "bounces" as the
> rejections they really are;-).

While I think 'bounces' is fairly clear, I always felt that 'reject' was 
slightly ambiguous: is that reject before receiving (at SMTP time), or 
afterwards (by bouncing)?

Hence, I try and force myself to say "refuse to accept" instead, which is 
also clearer when explaining things to the end user (failed sender or 
potential receiver).

Jethro.

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Jethro R Binks
Computing Officer, IT Services
University Of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK