>>>>> "R" == R Seymour <switch / atdot.org> writes: R> <<<badGuyType>>>[badGuyShow] = badGuy You have not given enough information. Imagine this example def change_monkey(gt, gs, g) # how do you want to access, in this method, the local variable # mutantMonkey, with only `gt', `gs', `g' end badGuyType = "mutantMonkey" badGuyShow = "powerPuffGirls" badGuy = "Mojo Jojo" SenselessNames = Struct::new( :powerPuffGirls ) mutantMonkey = SenselessNames.new change_monkey(badGuyType, badGuyShow, badGuy) In #change_monkey it's not possible to access the local variable `mutantMonkey' (because it's defined outside of the def) Guy Decoux