From: Brett Simmers <bsimmers@...>
Date: 2007-07-04T03:34:14+09:00
Subject: Re: private method clarification, please


> The only reason it seems strange is that you can use the self
> semantics in some cases -- i.e. when calling a setter method
>
 From what I understand, the difference between private and protected 
methods is that protected methods can only be called by objects of the 
same class, while private methods cannot be called with an explicit 
receiver.  This implies that private methods can only be called from 
within the object itself.  However, you have to use an explicit receiver 
with setter methods from within the class, otherwise the interpreter 
will think you're trying to set a local variable.  If you couldn't use 
self with private setter methods there would be no way to call them.  
You could try "private_setter=(args)" but that might still be parsed as 
an assignment to the local variable private_setter.  It seems a little 
inconsistent but I think it makes sense.

-Brett