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Re: Explanation of list reference

From Ned Batchelder <ned@nedbatchelder.com>
Subject Re: Explanation of list reference
Date 2014-02-16 20:43 -0500
References (4 earlier) <52ff0dc5$0$29973$c3e8da3$5496439d@news.astraweb.com> <mailman.6970.1392447892.18130.python-list@python.org> <bm948tFht88U1@mid.individual.net> <mailman.6988.1392467055.18130.python-list@python.org> <bmcttoFcg7qU1@mid.individual.net>
Newsgroups comp.lang.python
Message-ID <mailman.7077.1392601440.18130.python-list@python.org> (permalink)

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On 2/16/14 5:54 PM, Gregory Ewing wrote:
> Chris Angelico wrote:
>> Because everything in Python is an object, and objects always are
>> handled by their references.
>
> <beginner_thought> So, we have objects... and we have
> references to objects... but everything is an object...
> so does that mean references are objects too?
> </beginner_thought>
>
> This is the kind of trouble you get into when you make
> a statement of the form "everything is an X"[1]. When
> we say "everything is an object", we don't literally
> mean everything, only... well, those things that *are*
> objects. Which doesn't really help the beginner much.
>
> [1] Mathematicians tried this. "Everything is a set!"
> Yeah, right...
>

The correct statement is "all values are objects", or "all data is 
objects".  When people mistakenly say "everything is an object", they 
are implicitly only thinking about data.

That said, "all data is objects" is really mostly useful in contrast to 
other languages where some data is objects and some is not.

I think Ben Finney's point from nearby in this thread is spot on: 
there's a huge difference between a beginning programmer and an 
experienced programmer new to Python.  The latter category is sometimes 
the harder to teach, because you have to undo the things they learned 
about their earlier language X, but which they mistakenly believe to be 
true about all programming languages.

-- 
Ned Batchelder, http://nedbatchelder.com

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Thread

Explanation of list reference dave em <daveandem2000@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 10:08 -0800
  Re: Explanation of list reference Jussi Piitulainen <jpiitula@ling.helsinki.fi> - 2014-02-14 20:26 +0200
    Re: Explanation of list reference dave em <daveandem2000@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 10:54 -0800
      Re: Explanation of list reference Denis McMahon <denismfmcmahon@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 19:20 +0000
      Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-14 21:56 +0200
        Re: Explanation of list reference Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 13:17 -0700
          Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-14 22:58 +0200
            Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 08:16 +1100
              Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-14 23:43 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ned Batchelder <ned@nedbatchelder.com> - 2014-02-14 19:00 -0500
                Re: Explanation of list reference dave em <daveandem2000@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 16:26 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 06:07 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-15 11:00 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 11:57 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 17:55 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 13:08 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 18:34 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 13:42 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 19:14 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 14:33 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 20:24 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 15:37 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 06:54 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 18:19 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 22:20 -0700
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 07:03 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 16:31 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 22:07 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2014-02-15 17:19 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 22:31 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 17:23 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 01:08 -0700
                Re: Explanation of list reference Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2014-02-15 12:42 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-15 15:44 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-16 06:00 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ned Batchelder <ned@nedbatchelder.com> - 2014-02-16 11:29 -0500
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-16 08:50 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-16 20:01 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2014-02-16 18:36 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-17 05:52 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Terry Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu> - 2014-02-15 15:40 -0500
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-16 02:27 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Grant Edwards <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2014-02-15 19:02 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 06:44 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 18:05 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Gregory Ewing <greg.ewing@canterbury.ac.nz> - 2014-02-16 00:29 +1300
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 06:15 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 22:24 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Gregory Ewing <greg.ewing@canterbury.ac.nz> - 2014-02-16 00:32 +1300
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 22:37 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-15 11:10 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 10:31 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Christian Gollwitzer <auriocus@gmx.de> - 2014-02-15 10:44 +0100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-15 12:10 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 10:53 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Gregory Ewing <greg.ewing@canterbury.ac.nz> - 2014-02-17 11:40 +1300
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-17 05:57 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 22:21 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Alister <alister.ware@ntlworld.com> - 2014-02-16 19:16 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2014-02-15 15:20 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-15 11:31 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-15 12:13 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 11:17 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-15 14:07 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 14:41 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-15 18:29 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2014-02-15 12:02 -0500
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 09:30 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 11:37 -0700
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 11:45 -0700
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 19:05 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 10:11 -0700
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-15 22:20 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 14:20 -0700
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 09:47 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 19:17 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-15 23:01 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-16 02:25 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-16 13:18 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 22:31 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 10:40 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 22:17 +1100
            Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-14 23:20 +0200
            Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-16 10:08 +0200
              Re: Explanation of list reference Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2014-02-16 01:28 -0700
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-16 12:52 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-16 22:24 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-16 12:04 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-16 18:17 +0200
              Re: Explanation of list reference Jussi Piitulainen <jpiitula@ling.helsinki.fi> - 2014-02-16 10:35 +0200
              Re: Explanation of list reference Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2014-02-16 01:35 -0700
              Re: Explanation of list reference Alan Bawden <alan@scooby-doo.csail.mit.edu> - 2014-02-16 03:38 -0500
              Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-16 08:40 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-16 21:18 +1100
              Re: Explanation of list reference Dennis Lee Bieber <wlfraed@ix.netcom.com> - 2014-02-16 12:10 -0500
        Re: Explanation of list reference Ned Batchelder <ned@nedbatchelder.com> - 2014-02-14 15:45 -0500
      Re: Explanation of list reference Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 13:12 -0700
      Re: Explanation of list reference Jussi Piitulainen <jpiitula@ling.helsinki.fi> - 2014-02-14 22:36 +0200
        Re: Explanation of list reference Gregory Ewing <greg.ewing@canterbury.ac.nz> - 2014-02-16 01:03 +1300
        Re: Explanation of list reference Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2014-02-15 23:21 +1100
  Re: Explanation of list reference Ned Batchelder <ned@nedbatchelder.com> - 2014-02-14 13:42 -0500
  Re: Explanation of list reference Ryan Gonzalez <rymg19@gmail.com> - 2014-02-14 12:31 -0600
    Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 05:36 +0000
      Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 17:07 +1100
        Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-15 06:48 +0000
          Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 17:57 +1100
            Re: Explanation of list reference Gregory Ewing <greg.ewing@canterbury.ac.nz> - 2014-02-16 01:18 +1300
              Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-15 23:24 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-15 15:25 +0200
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2014-02-16 00:59 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Gregory Ewing <greg.ewing@canterbury.ac.nz> - 2014-02-17 11:54 +1300
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-17 10:02 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2014-02-16 18:46 -0500
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-17 12:26 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2014-02-17 10:05 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2014-02-16 18:43 -0500
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2014-02-17 11:04 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-17 06:31 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-17 05:43 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ned Batchelder <ned@nedbatchelder.com> - 2014-02-16 20:43 -0500
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-17 12:59 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2014-02-16 22:28 -0500
                Re: Explanation of list reference Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2014-02-17 14:52 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2014-02-16 20:35 -0800
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-17 08:03 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-02-17 06:21 +0000
                Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-17 18:11 +1100
                Re: Explanation of list reference Rotwang <sg552@hotmail.co.uk> - 2014-02-17 18:24 +0000
          Re: Explanation of list reference Dennis Lee Bieber <wlfraed@ix.netcom.com> - 2014-02-15 14:30 -0500
  Re: Explanation of list reference Terry Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu> - 2014-02-14 16:37 -0500
  Re: Explanation of list reference pecore@pascolo.net - 2014-02-14 23:34 +0100
  Re: Explanation of list reference Christian Gollwitzer <auriocus@gmx.de> - 2014-02-15 10:38 +0100
  Re: Explanation of list reference Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2014-02-16 01:20 +1100
  Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-16 01:26 +1100
  Re: Explanation of list reference Joshua Landau <joshua@landau.ws> - 2014-02-15 20:44 +0000
  Re: Explanation of list reference Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-02-16 09:27 +1100

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