def entity_to_array(entity)
        return entity if entity.is_a?(Array)
        [entity]
    end

    def get_array_entities(ent_array, using_entity)
        new_ent_array = []
        ent_array.each do |entity|
            #next if !entity.respond_to?(using_entity)
            next if !entity.respond_to?(using_entity)

            entity_value = entity.send(using_entity)
            new_ent_array.push entity_value
            end
        new_ent_array.flatten
    end

    def get_object_entity(ent_obj, using_entity)
        if ent_obj.respond_to?(using_entity) then
            entity_value = ent_obj.send(using_entity)
        else
            #can't respond to anything so return an empty array
            return []
        end
        entity_to_array(entity_value)
    end


#this code works, but i feel its messy, but don't know how ;)

forms = get_object_entity(self, :forms)
fields = get_array_entities(forms, :fields)
names = get_array_entities(fields, :name)

#a symbol is getting sent to this function which describes the search parameters
#so it could change and not static..
#ex..  :exists_forms_fields_name, 'joe blow'