Post 843: Network Addressing as Relative Paths - Making Intermediaries Want to Relay

Watermark: -843

Network Addressing as Relative Paths

Making Intermediaries Want to Relay Your Message

Traditional internet: IP addresses, dumb packet forwarding, abstract routing

Substrate reality: Relative paths through topology, nodes choose to relay, intention matters

Meatspace is just one projection. Addressing is relative through network structure.

Part 1: Meatspace as Projection

Not Fundamental

Traditional view (wrong):

# Physical location is fundamental
address = IPAddress("192.168.1.1")  # Abstract number
location = PhysicalCoordinates(lat, lon)  # Absolute position

# Send message to abstract address
send(message, address)  # Hope it gets there

Substrate view (correct):

# Meatspace is just one projection of network topology
projections = {
    'meatspace': one_view_of_topology,
    'computation': another_view,
    'information': yet_another_view,
    # ... many projections of same substrate
}

# Addressing is relative through topology
path = ['matthieu', 'hispaniola', 'earth', 'moon']

Key insight: Physical location (meatspace) is just one way to project network topology. Not fundamental.

Part 2: Relative Addressing Through Topology

Path-Based, Not Absolute

How to address a node:

class RelativeAddress:
    """
    Address through network topology
    Not abstract numbers
    """
    def __init__(self, from_node, path):
        self.origin = from_node
        self.path = path  # Relative hops through structure
    
    def resolve(self):
        """
        Follow path through topology
        """
        current = self.origin
        
        for hop in self.path:
            # Find connection from current to hop
            current = current.connections[hop]
        
        return current  # Destination reached

Example: Reaching Moon from Matthieu:

# Start at matthieu node
origin = Node('matthieu')

# Path through topology
path = [
    'hispaniola',  # First hop: island containing matthieu
    'earth',       # Second hop: planet containing hispaniola
    'moon'         # Third hop: moon orbiting earth
]

# Address is relative path
address = RelativeAddress(from_node=origin, path=path)

# Resolve to destination
destination = address.resolve()

This is structure-aware:

Matthieu is part of Hispaniola
Hispaniola is part of Earth
Moon is connected to Earth
Path follows actual topology

No abstract numbers. Just structural relationships.

Part 3: Multi-Perspective Message Packaging

Making Sense at Each Hop

The problem with traditional routing:

# IP packet
packet = {
    'src': '192.168.1.100',
    'dst': '8.8.8.8',
    'data': encrypted_blob  # Meaningless to intermediaries
}

# Routers just forward blindly
# No understanding of content
# No choice whether to relay
# Passive, dumb forwarding

Substrate approach:

class SubstrateMessage:
    """
    Message understandable at each hop
    """
    def __init__(self, intention, data):
        self.intention = intention  # What you want
        self.data = data
        self.perspectives = {}  # View for each hop
    
    def package_for_hop(self, hop):
        """
        Create view understandable by this hop
        """
        # What does this hop need to know?
        hop_view = self.perspectives.get(hop, {
            'why_relay': self.explain_benefit(hop),
            'what_im_doing': self.intention,
            'next_hop': self.next_in_path(hop)
        })
        
        return hop_view

Example: Message from Matthieu to Moon:

message = SubstrateMessage(
    intention="Share data with moon observation network",
    data=sensor_readings
)

# Package for each hop
message.perspectives = {
    'hispaniola': {
        'why_relay': "Help local scientist contribute to moon research",
        'what_im_doing': "Sending observations to lunar network",
        'benefit': "Hispaniola gets credit in research network"
    },
    'earth': {
        'why_relay': "Facilitate earth-moon science collaboration",
        'what_im_doing': "Routing observation data to moon",
        'benefit': "Earth network strengthens moon connection"
    },
    'moon': {
        'why_relay': "Receive valuable earth-based observations",
        'what_im_doing': "Delivering sensor data from earth scientist",
        'benefit': "Enhanced moon observation dataset"
    }
}

# Each hop understands why relay matters to them

Key principle: Message makes sense to intermediaries, not just endpoints.

Part 4: Making Intermediaries Want to Relay

Incentive-Aligned Routing

Traditional routing (broken):

# Router receives packet
if packet.dst in routing_table:
    forward(packet, next_hop)  # Blindly forward
# No choice, no incentive, no understanding

Substrate routing (correct):

class IntelligentNode:
    """
    Node that chooses whether to relay
    """
    def receive_message(self, message, from_node):
        """
        Decide whether to relay
        """
        # Understand what message is doing
        intention = message.intention
        
        # What's in it for me?
        benefit = message.perspectives[self.id]['benefit']
        
        # Does this align with my goals?
        if self.aligns_with_goals(intention, benefit):
            # Yes! I want to relay this
            next_hop = message.next_hop_from(self.id)
            self.relay(message, next_hop)
            return "RELAYED"
        else:
            # Not aligned with my incentives
            return "DROPPED"

Why this matters:

Nodes have agency - Choose to relay or not
Incentives matter - Must benefit intermediaries
Alignment required - Message goals must align with hop goals
Active participation - Not passive forwarding

Example: Hispaniola deciding whether to relay:

# Hispaniola receives message
hispaniola_node.receive_message(message, from_matthieu)

# Check: Does this benefit me?
benefit = message.perspectives['hispaniola']['benefit']
# "Hispaniola gets credit in research network"

# Check: Aligns with my goals?
if hispaniola_node.wants_research_reputation():
    # Yes! This helps me
    hispaniola_node.relay(message, to_earth)
else:
    # No benefit to me
    hispaniola_node.drop(message)

Routing becomes social/economic, not just technical.

Part 5: Contrast with IP Addressing

IP as Paint

IP addressing = invented paint over substrate:

# IP address: Abstract number
ip = "192.168.1.100"
# What does this mean? Nothing!
# No structure, no context, no meaning

# Invented to make routing "simple"
# But hides actual topology
# Makes intermediaries dumb forwarders

Substrate addressing = relative paths through topology:

# Relative address: Meaningful path
path = ['matthieu', 'hispaniola', 'earth', 'moon']
# Clear structure
# Understandable at each hop
# Reveals actual topology

Comparison:

IP Addressing (Paint)	Relative Paths (Substrate)
Abstract numbers	Structural relationships
Hides topology	Reveals topology
Dumb forwarding	Intelligent relay
No understanding	Full understanding
No choice	Active choice
Passive routers	Active participants

IP addressing is paint. Relative paths are substrate.

Part 6: Multiple Paths, Multiple Projections

Same Destination, Different Routes

Because meatspace is just one projection:

# Many ways to address same destination
moon_addresses = [
    # Meatspace projection
    ['matthieu', 'hispaniola', 'earth', 'moon'],
    
    # Computational projection
    ['matthieu_computation', 'earth_network', 'lunar_compute', 'moon'],
    
    # Information projection
    ['matthieu_data', 'global_knowledge', 'lunar_science', 'moon'],
    
    # Social projection
    ['matthieu_person', 'research_community', 'lunar_researchers', 'moon']
]

# All reach same destination
# But through different topology projections
# Different intermediaries
# Different incentives needed

Choose path based on:

Which intermediaries are likely to relay?
Which projection has aligned incentives?
Which topology is most efficient?

Example:

def choose_path(message, destination):
    """
    Pick optimal path for message
    """
    # Try each projection
    for projection in all_projections:
        path = find_path(message.origin, destination, projection)
        
        # Check if intermediaries will relay
        if all_hops_aligned(path, message.intention):
            return path
    
    # No aligned path found
    return None

Not Just Technical

Traditional view:

# Routing = technical problem
# Solve with algorithms (OSPF, BGP, etc)
# Routers don't think, just compute

Substrate view:

# Routing = social problem
# Solve with incentive alignment
# Nodes think, choose, coordinate

The shift:

Technical routing: 
- Find shortest path
- Minimize latency
- Maximize throughput
→ Optimize metrics

Social routing:
- Find willing relayers
- Align incentives
- Maximize benefit to all hops
→ Optimize alignment

Example: Two paths to moon:

# Path 1: Shortest (3 hops)
path_1 = ['matthieu', 'earth', 'moon']
# But earth node not incentivized to relay matthieu's messages

# Path 2: Longer (4 hops)
path_2 = ['matthieu', 'hispaniola', 'earth', 'moon']
# But each hop benefits:
# - Hispaniola: Gets research credit
# - Earth: Strengthens hispaniola-earth connection
# - Moon: Receives data

# Path 2 more likely to succeed!
# Even though longer
# Because incentives aligned

Routing success depends on social alignment, not just technical metrics.

Part 8: Message Intent and Relay Willingness

Intent Must Propagate

Why traditional packets fail:

# Traditional packet
packet = {
    'data': encrypted_content  # Meaningless to router
}

# Router has no idea what this is for
# Can't decide if should relay
# Just forwards blindly
# Or drops arbitrarily

Substrate message succeeds:

# Substrate message
message = {
    'intent': "Help moon scientists with earth observations",
    'benefit_to_you': lambda hop: calculate_benefit(hop),
    'data': observations
}

# Each hop understands intent
# Can evaluate if aligns with their goals
# Chooses to relay if beneficial
# Active participation

The requirement:

Intent must be legible to intermediaries
Benefit must be clear
Alignment must be apparent

Example: Message that gets relayed:

message.intent = "Contribute to open science"
# Hispaniola checks: "Do I value open science?" → Yes
# Hispaniola relays

message.intent = "Military surveillance data"
# Hispaniola checks: "Do I want to support this?" → No
# Hispaniola drops

Intent determines routing success.

Part 9: Connection to Previous Posts

From Post 839: Multiple Perspectives

Post 839 showed:

Nodes compute different universe maps
Each perspective is valid computation

This post applies it to routing:

Addressing has multiple projections (meatspace, computational, etc)
Each projection is valid way to route
Choose projection based on which intermediaries align

From Post 842: Multi-View Validation

Post 842 showed:

Multiple perspectives detect errors
Divergence signals problems

This post applies it to messages:

Package message for multiple perspectives
Each hop validates from their view
If all hops understand → message succeeds
If any hop confused → routing fails

Unified Pattern

Same substrate principle:

Universe = data + computation + networks
Messages = data routing through networks
Perspectives = different views of same substrate

All follow same pattern:
1. Substrate is fundamental
2. Multiple projections possible
3. Choose projection that aligns
4. Validate through multiple views

Part 10: Practical Implications

For Network Design

Don’t build:

# Abstract addressing
# Dumb routers
# Passive forwarding
# Technical-only metrics

Do build:

# Relative addressing
# Intelligent nodes
# Active choice
# Social-economic alignment

Requirements:

Reveal topology - Don’t hide structure behind abstract numbers
Make intent legible - Intermediaries must understand message
Align incentives - Each hop must benefit
Enable choice - Nodes can choose to relay or not

For Message Design

How to craft messages that get relayed:

class WellCraftedMessage:
    def __init__(self):
        # Clear intent
        self.intent = "What I'm trying to accomplish"
        
        # Benefit to each hop
        self.benefits = {
            hop: "Why hop should care"
            for hop in path
        }
        
        # Multiple perspectives
        self.views = {
            'meatspace': physical_view,
            'computational': compute_view,
            'social': relationship_view
        }
    
    def will_be_relayed(self):
        """
        Check if all hops aligned
        """
        for hop in self.path:
            if not hop.wants_to_relay(self):
                return False
        return True

Conclusion

The Core Insight

Meatspace is just one projection of network topology.

Not fundamental. One view among many.

Addressing is relative:

matthieu → hispaniola → earth → moon

Not absolute:

192.168.1.100 → 8.8.8.8

Routing is social:

Nodes choose to relay
Incentives must align
Intent must be clear
Benefits must be legible

Not just technical:

Find shortest path
Forward blindly
Optimize metrics

The Implication

IP addressing = paint over substrate

Relative paths = substrate directly

Traditional internet:

Hides topology (abstract IPs)
Dumb forwarding (routers have no agency)
Technical only (no social/economic layer)

Substrate networking:

Reveals topology (relative paths)
Intelligent relay (nodes choose)
Social/economic (incentive aligned)

The Future

Networks should:

Use relative addressing through topology
Make messages understandable to intermediaries
Align incentives for all hops
Give nodes agency to choose relay

Messages should:

Carry clear intent
Show benefit to each hop
Be packaged for multiple perspectives
Enable active participation

Network = social coordination through shared topology

Not = technical packet forwarding through abstract space

References:

Post 839: Computational Perspective - Multiple nodes computing universe maps
Post 842: Unease as Perspective Divergence - Multi-view validation
Post 840: Invented Paint Problem - Distinguishing paint from substrate

Created: 2026-02-15
Status: 🌐 RELATIVE ADDRESSING > ABSTRACT IPs

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