From: Robert Klemme <bob.news@...>
Date: 2005-01-15T05:01:12+09:00
Subject: Re: Duck Typing and automated Conversions


"itsme213" <itsme213@hotmail.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag 
news:ORTFd.3354$Ta2.397@fe2.texas.rr.com...
>
> "Robert Klemme" <bob.news@gmx.net> wrote
>
>> >     silly_example will not have other access to x, y
>> >     (*: since you did: str=str.to_str; count=count.to_int)
>>
>> Wrong, because to_str need not create a new instance:
>
> The fact that String#to_str returns self, and Fixnum.to_int returns self, 
> is
> purely coincidental aliasing (from inside your method body). The original
> parm-list variables might as well be anonymous.

But it's aliasing nevertheless and thus the caller can't rely on that the 
instances he provides remain unchanged thinking that the body of the method 
never gets access to them.  In fact, the aliasing might even be desired as 
object creations are rather expensive and people are likely to provide 
String instances where #to_str is needed.

Of course you can view "original arguments" as anonymous but what difference 
would that make?

I don't seem to get your point with this.  Can you attempt another 
explanation?

kind regards

    robert