ask.rb

def ask(question, default=nil, valid = /.*/, multiline=false)
  output = question
  output << " [#{default}]" unless default.nil?
  output << " (Optional)" if valid =~ ""
  output << ": "
  puts output
  
  matches = false
  answer = default

  while not matches
    if multiline
      answer = ""
      while not (input = gets).nil?
        answer << input
      end
    else
      answer = gets.chomp
    end

    matches = answer =~ valid
    
    if answer.empty? and default 
        answer = default
        matches = true
    end
   
    unless matches
      puts "The entered input is invalid. Please try again: "
    end 
  end 

  answer
end

man = ask "Are you a man???", "Y/N"
puts man