Well... you don't have to make it smarter, you can rewrite it as 
sub external {
  shift;
  # rest of code
}

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It just requires that it should always be called as a method.

I do this all the time, but I guess it's a matter of taste.

edit: removed class from "always be called as a method"

"What should it profit a man, if he should win a flame war, yet lose his cool?"

In reply to Re^3: Mixing @EXPORT and use base by Joost
in thread Mixing @EXPORT and use base by bmcatt

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