Using __str__ representation for printing objects in containers in Python

Question

I\'ve noticed that when an instance with an overloaded __str__ method is passed to the print function as an argument, it prints as intended. Howeve

Answer 1

The problem with the container using the objects' __str__ would be the total ambiguity -- what would it mean, say, if print L showed [1, 2]? L could be ['1, 2'] (a single item list whose string item contains a comma) or any of four 2-item lists (since each item can be a string or int). The ambiguity of type is common for print of course, but the total ambiguity for number of items (since each comma could be delimiting items or part of a string item) was the decisive consideration.