I did this: Python 2.3 (#46, Jul 29 2003, 18:54:32) [MSC v.1200 32 bit (Intel)] on win32 >>> d1 = [1,2] >>> d2 = d1 >>> d2.reverse() >>> print d1 #note: d1, not d2 [2, 1] >>> Surely that can't be right: d1 should still be [1,2]. If it is "right", then I expect that many people are in for a suprise.