If one gets a new domain name for the future, why does it need to be "parked"?

What could happen if it weren't "parked"?

If one already owns the domain but doesn't "park" it, that doesn't mean someone else with a different registrar could buy it too, does it?

What if you just point the domain to any old place even though that server may not handle the domain, is that better in any way than doing nothing?

Thanks.

They don't need to be parked. It just won't show a pretty page, that's all. Some registrars will even let you have no name servers. I wouldn't point the domain to name servers that don't handle the domain unless you have control over those name servers or to name servers that don't exist because I've gained control of domain names that I didn't own that way. :look:

Your domain gets "parked" so that your registrant can advertise a pretty page for there services until your site gets up. :D

Originally posted by ToastyX
Some registrars will even let you have no name servers.

Really? I could use a registrar who offers this -- know of any names?

GoDaddy let me have no name servers until they switched to their new interface. I don't use anyone else so I don't know what other registrars allow this, but I've seen domain names with no name servers when doing a WHOIS, but I don't remember any specific one at the moment.