Problem with Changing from $defout > $stdout

(Moved to this list from Ruby Talk--I don't think this went through on 
this list when I sent it before.)
Hi,

I'm working on upgrading some Ruby 1.6.x to prepare for a web-server 
wide upgrade to 1.8.2 (We're still running under 1.6.x). $defout is 
obsolete in Ruby 1.8.2. In irb, $defout==$stdout, so I would think that 
I should be able to replace any usage of $defout in a script with 
$stdout. But it doesn't work!

Take the code below. I would expect to be able use either "$defout = 
out" and "$defout = starting_stdout" OR "$stdout = out" and "$stdout = 
starting_stdout". However, only the $defout lines work

Interestingly, while $stdout==$defout is true in irb, it is false in 
mod_ruby as puts puts ($stdout==$defout)==false true.

What am I doing wrong? Why does $stdout==$defout in irb but not in 
mod_ruby?

Ben


class ...
def get_output
     starting_stdout = $stdout
     begin
         out = Object.new
         class << out
             attr_reader :output
             def write(value)
                 @output ||= ''
                 @output << value.to_s
             end
             alias << write
             def flush(*args) end
         end
         ## Either of these lines should result in the same effect, 
correct?
         $defout = out
         #$stdout = out
         yield
     ensure
         ## Again, these two lines are identical in function, right?
         $defout = starting_stdout
         #$stdout = starting_stdout
     end
     puts ($stdout==$defout)==false
     return out.output
 end
end