From: Pete Yandell <pete@...>
Date: 2006-09-28T11:53:57+09:00
Subject: Re: String starts? and ends? methods


On 28/09/2006, at 12:36 PM, Marcelo Alvim wrote:

> On 9/27/06, Pete Yandell <pete@notahat.com> wrote:
>> For non-predicate methods, the second person makes sense. Take
>> String.squeeze for example...that's really about you (the second
>> person) squeezing the string.
>
> Sorry for entering this thread now to give my two cents. I'm sorry
> because I'm a Ruby newbie AND a non-native english speaker, but I
> thought I should say this.
>
> I don't think the person is really the question here. I think it's the
> imperative form of the verb.
> In that case, I have always interpreted that (both in english and in
> my native language) as you telling the string to squeeze itself.
> File.open, for example, reads like "Hey, File class, open this for me,
> please". I'm imperative, but polite :).

I think you're absolutely right Marcelo, and you've once again proved  
that non-native English speakers tend to know way more about grammar  
than native English speakers like me. :)

Pete Yandell