function split (thing) {
    if (typeof thing === 'string') {
      return thing.split('/')
    } else if (thing.fast_slash) {
      return ''
    } else {
      var match = thing.toString()
        .replace('\\/?', '')
        .replace('(?=\\/|$)', '$')
        .match(/^\/\^((?:\\[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\\/]|[^.*+?^${}()|[\]\\\/])*)\$\//)
      return match
        ? match[1].replace(/\\(.)/g, '$1').split('/')
        : '<complex:' + thing.toString() + '>'
    }
  }