The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003):
paper-net
n.
Hackish way of referring to the postal service, analogizing it to a very
slow, low-reliability network. Usenet 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. Compare voice-net,
snail-mail.
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):
snail mail
papermail
paper-net
(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)