If `self` is always the implied receiver in Ruby, why doesn't `self.puts` work?

Question

In Ruby, my understanding is that self is the implied receiver for any bare method call. However:

~: irb
>> puts \"foo\"
foo
=> nil
>         


        

Answer 1

You can't access private methods in ruby using the self. syntax, or generally speaking using any receiver (something in front of the .). That is only possible for protected methods.