From: Paul <pdavidow@...>
Date: 2007-12-18T09:45:04+09:00
Subject: self and private setter

A private method cannot be called with an explicit receiver -- even
self -- except when calling a private setter method, because otherwise
an assignment to a local variable will be assumed.

For example:
-----------------------
class Q

  def a1
    @p = nil
    self.p=(3)
    @p
  end

  def a2
    @p = nil
    p=(3)
    @p
  end

  private

  def p=(obj)
    @p = obj
  end
end
-----------------------

CONSOLE

>> Q.new.a1
=> 3
>> Q.new.a2
=> nil
-----------------------

Since there is already this exception to the rule, why not allow
explicitly using self for ALL private methods?  What harm can be done?