inspect will use that. # This is never what you want. # Can restore the default with this: def inspect pointer = "0x#{(object_id * 2).to_s(16)}" ivars = instance_variables.map do |ivar| "#{ivar}=#{instance_variable_get(ivar).inspect}" end.join(" ") "#<#{self.class.name} #{pointer} #{ivars}>" end