From: Tim Hunter <cyclists@...>
Date: 2006-02-24T08:18:33+09:00
Subject: Re: Private methods and self:

James Byrne wrote:
> E. Saynatkari wrote:
> 
> 
>>Private methods are not allowed to have an explicit receiver
>>(using the 'self' there is like going out of the object and
>>then sending the message). The only exception to this rule
>>are writer methods (def foo=(); ...; end) because without
>>the self., foo = x is always interpreted as an assignment
>>to a local variable.
>>
>>E
> 
> 
> Curious that this restriction does not appear to be mentioned in the 
> Pickaxe book.  It also seems, to me, somewhat counter-intuitive.  Is it 
> purposeful behaviour or an artifact of a stylistic convention?
> 
> Regards,
> Jim
> 

Page 35 in the 2nd Edition: "Private methods cannot be called with an 
explicit receiver—the receiver is always self. This means that private 
methods can be called only in the context of the current object; you 
can’t invoke another object’s private methods."