sub can { # ------------------------------------ # this is the code tilly is talking about below # sorry , it was late # ------------------------------------ # my ($calling_package) = caller(); # if ($calling_package eq __PACKAGE__) # ------------------------------------ # however, this is what I meant ... my ($self, $method_name) = @_; # if this is called with by an object specifically # blessed into this __PACKAGE__, then we # will handle this because of AUTOLOAD if (ref($self) eq __PACKAGE__) { return my_special_can_that_plays_nice_with_AUTOLOAD(@_); } else { return $self->SUPER::can($method_name); } }