def split(object, pattern = /,\s*/)
      object ? (object.is_a?(Array) ? object : object.split(pattern)) : []
    end
def split(object, pattern = /,\s*/)
      object ? (object.is_a?(Array) ? object : object.split(pattern)) : []
    end
Split string into an array unless nil or already an array

 @param [String, Array, NilClass] object to be split
 @param [String, Regex] pattern on which to split; defaults to comma

 @return [Array] split object