If I do this: X = 'this is a test' # this is a const reference to an object x = X # this is a non-const reference to the same x << '... testing ...' # let's try and modify a "const" object p x p X Then when I run ruby -w, I get: "this is a test... testing ..." "this is a test... testing ..." 1) Should Ruby issue a warning about modifiny a constant object? 2) Should I have frozen X explicitly to avoid this? 3) Could this lead to hidden bugs in Ruby code? Paul