From: Austin Ziegler <halostatue@...>
Date: 2005-12-31T06:53:11+09:00
Subject: Re: What is the difference between :foo and "foo" ?

On 30/12/05, Steve Litt <slitt@earthlink.net> wrote:
> On Friday 30 December 2005 03:50 pm, Caleb Tennis wrote:
> > > I have no idea of the internal representation, but I do know when I use
> > > to_s on a symbol I get a string, and when I use to_i on that same symbol
> > > I get an integer, so in a generic, non-ruby-dependent way, it has an
> > > integer and a string. If it didn't "have" or "possess" or "be cognisant
> > > of" both the integer and the string, I wouldn't be able to deduce the
> > > string and integer with to_s and to_i.
> >
> > I think the nomenclature of "has" isn't valid because the symbol doesn't
> > contain those things.  Much like
> >
> > a = "53"
> > a.to_i
> >
> > => 53
> >
> > "a" doesn't contain an integer.  It does, however, contain a method that
> > allows you to convert it to an integer representation.
>
> I understand what you're saying Caleb. Austin -- is that what you meant?

Yes. I've just sent you a VERY lengthy VERY critical review of your
document that emphasizes that it is a conversion at all times. Symbols
have neither string nor integer values, but has converters.

-austin
--
Austin Ziegler * halostatue@gmail.com
               * Alternate: austin@halostatue.ca