gistfile1.rb

class Regularship < ActiveRecord::Base

  ...
  belongs_to :user
  belongs_to :regulee, :class_name => "User", :counter_cache => true
  ...

end

class User < ActiveRecord::Base
  ...
  # assocs for regular/regulee self-referential relationship FYI: referred to as "following" in app UI
  has_many :regularships, :dependent => :destroy
  has_many :regulees, :through => :regularships
  has_many :reguleeships, :class_name => "Regularship", :foreign_key => "regulee_id", :dependent => :destroy
  has_many :regulars, :through => :reguleeships, :source => :user
  ...

end