# File lib/maruku/string_utils.rb, line 108
        def spaces_before_first_char(s)
                case s.md_type
                when :ulist
                        i=0;
                        # skip whitespace if present
                        while s[i,1] =~ /\s/; i+=1 end
                        # skip indicator (+, -, *)
                        i+=1
                        # skip optional whitespace
                        while s[i,1] =~ /\s/; i+=1 end
                        return i
                when :olist
                        i=0;
                        # skip whitespace
                        while s[i,1] =~ /\s/; i+=1 end
                        # skip digits
                        while s[i,1] =~ /\d/; i+=1 end
                        # skip dot
                        i+=1
                        # skip whitespace
                        while s[i,1] =~ /\s/; i+=1 end
                        return i
                else
                        tell_user "BUG (my bad): '#{s}' is not a list"
                        0
                end
        end