gistfile1.txt

## What I'm talking about.

class TestClass

  # calling instance methods (public or private) works just fine
  # if you don't use an explicit self.
  def this_method_works_fine
    foo
  end

  # calling instance methods with an explicit self is also fine,
  # and required by the coding standards at my current job.
  def this_method_also_works_fine
    self.this_method_works_fine
  end

  # Calling private instance methods, however, will *not* work
  # if you give it an explicit self. This is what I don't understand,
  # and honestly seems somewhat arbitrary.
  def this_method_does_not_work
    self.foo
  end

  private

  def foo
    puts "Hoo-ah."
  end

end

t = TestClass.new
t.this_method_works_fine #=> "Hoo-ah."
t.this_method_also_works_fine #=> "Hoo-ah."
t.this_method_does_not_work #=> breaks; "Private method foo called for class TestClass"