[devnonymous]

Hmm, your mental model possibly could use a tweak. Yes, a pointer is like a map. It tells you how to get to the thing but it isn't the thing. It is a reference point, a pointer to the thing. The thing that it points to might be a library, a museum or a place to pick up more maps. Irrespective, the thing to remember is it something to takes you there it is not the place.

You may also pass around the map to your friend in effect showing them how to get to the place, without possibly even having seen the place yourself.

And if you are a bad person, you could share maps that lead to dead end dumps